Virginia Bruce
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Virginia Bruce (September 29, 1910 โ February 24, 1982) was an American actress and singer. Born Helen Virginia Briggs in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1928, she moved with her family to Los Angeles intending to enroll in the University of California, Los Angeles when a friendly wager sent her seeking film work. She got it as an extra in Why Bring That Up?. In 1930 she appeared on Broadway in the musical Smiles, followed by America's Sweetheart in 1931. She returned to Hollywood in 1932, where on August 10, 1932, she married John Gilbert, her co-star in the film Downstairs. She retired briefly after the birth of their daughter Susan Ann Gilbert. The couple divorced in 1934, and Virginia returned to a hectic schedule of film appearances. Gilbert died two years later in 1936. Bruce introduced the Cole Porter standard "I've Got You Under My Skin" in the film Born to Dance and co-starred in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical The Great Ziegfeld. One of her final film appearances was in Strangers When We Meet. In 1949, Bruce starred in a daily 30-minute radio drama. Make Believe Town was an afternoon program on CBS. Bruce married her second husband, film director J. Walter Ruben, in 1937, making the Wallace Beery western The Bad Man of Brimstone with him that year. Together they had a son named Christopher (b. 1941), before Ruben's death in 1942. In 1946, Bruce married Ali Ipar. They divorced in 1951 in order for him to receive a commission in the Turkish Military (which forbade promotions of men married to foreigners), but remarried in 1952 before divorcing again in 1964. Bruce died of cancer on February 24, 1982, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. She was 71.
Known For
Credits
- 2003 ยทComplicated Womenas Self (archive footage)
- 1988 ยทJames Stewart: A Wonderful Lifeas Self (archive footage)
- 1974 ยทThat's Entertainment!as (archive footage)
- 1960 ยทStrangers When We Meetas Mrs. Wagner
- 1955 ยทMatinee Theateras
- 1955 ยทThe Reluctant Brideas Laura Weeks
- 1954 ยทThe Plagueas Nurse
- 1953 ยทLetter to Lorettaas Dee Norman
- 1953 ยทGeneral Electric Theateras Adele
- 1950 ยทLux Video Theatreas Pauline Travis
- 1950 ยทLux Video Theatreas Mildred Pierce
- 1950 ยทLux Video Theatreas Jo Cathcart Archer
- 1949 ยทState Department: File 649as Marge
- 1948 ยทNight Has a Thousand Eyesas Jenny
- 1945 ยทLove, Honor and Goodbyeas Roberta Baxter
- 1944 ยทBrazilas Nicky Henderson
- 1944 ยทAction in Arabiaas Yvonne
- 1942 ยทCareful, Soft Shouldersas Connie Mathers
- 1942 ยทPardon My Sarongas Joan Marshall
- 1942 ยทButch Minds the Babyas Susie O'Neill
- 1941 ยทAdventure in Washingtonas Jane Scott
- 1940 ยทThe Invisible Womanas Kitty Carroll
- 1940 ยทHired Wifeas Phyllis Walden
- 1940 ยทCavalcade of the Academy Awardsas Self
- 1940 ยทThe Man Who Talked Too Muchas Joan Reed
- 1940 ยทFlight Angelsas Mary Norvell
- 1939 ยทStronger Than Desireas Elizabeth Flagg
- 1939 ยทLand of Libertyas (archive footage)
- 1939 ยทHollywood Hobbiesas Self (uncredited)
- 1939 ยทSociety Lawyeras Pat Abbott
- 1939 ยทLet Freedom Ringas Maggie Adams
- 1938 ยทThere's That Woman Againas Sally Reardon
- 1938 ยทThere Goes My Heartas Joan Butterfield
- 1938 ยทHollywood Goes to Townas Self
- 1938 ยทWoman Against Womanas Maris Kent
- 1938 ยทYellow Jackas Frances Blake
- 1938 ยทThe First Hundred Yearsas Lynn Conway
- 1938 ยทArsรจne Lupin Returnsas Lorraine de Grissac
- 1937 ยทThe Bad Man of Brimstoneas Loretta Douglas
- 1937 ยทWife, Doctor and Nurseas Nurse Stephens
- 1937 ยทBetween Two Womenas Patricia Sloan
- 1937 ยทWhen Love Is Youngas Wanda Werner
- 1937 ยทWomen of Glamouras Gloria Hudson
- 1936 ยทBorn to Danceas Lucy James
- 1936 ยทThe Great Ziegfeldas Audrey Dane
- 1936 ยทThe Garden Murder Caseas Zalia Graem
- 1935 ยทA Dream Comes Trueas Herself (uncredited)
- 1935 ยทPirate Party on Catalina Isleas Virginia Bruce (uncredited)
- 1935 ยทMetropolitanas Anne Merrill
- 1935 ยทHere Comes the Bandas Margaret
- 1935 ยทThe Murder Manas Mary Shannon
- 1935 ยทEscapadeas Gerta
- 1935 ยทLet 'em Have Itas Eleanor Spencer
- 1935 ยทTimes Square Ladyas Toni Bradley
- 1935 ยทShadow of Doubtas Trenna
- 1935 ยทSociety Doctoras Madge
- 1934 ยทThe Mighty Barnumas Jenny Lind
- 1934 ยทDangerous Corneras Ann Beale
- 1934 ยทJane Eyreas Jane Eyre
- 1932 ยทKongoas Ann
- 1932 ยทDownstairsas Anna
- 1932 ยทWinner Take Allas Joan Gibson
- 1932 ยทSky Brideas Ruth Dunning
- 1932 ยทThe Miracle Manas Margaret Thornton
- 1930 ยทFollow Thruas Woman in Ladies' Locker Room (uncredited)
- 1930 ยทWhoopee!as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
- 1930 ยทLet's Go Nativeas Wendell Sr.'s Secretary (uncredited)
- 1930 ยทRafflesas Gwen's Friend (uncredited)
- 1930 ยทThe Social Lionas Society Girl
- 1930 ยทSafety in Numbersas Alma McGregor
- 1930 ยทParamount on Paradeas Chorus Girl (uncredited)
- 1930 ยทYoung Eaglesas Florence Welford
- 1930 ยทOnly the Braveas Elizabeth
- 1930 ยทSlightly Scarletas Enid Corbett
- 1930 ยทThe Love Paradeas Lady-in-Waiting
- 1930 ยทLilies of the Fieldas Doris
- 1929 ยทPointed Heelsas Chorus Girl (uncredited)
- 1929 ยทWoman Trapas Nurse
- 1929 ยทHard to Getas Young Woman (uncredited)
- 1929 ยทThe River of Romanceas Southern Belle
- 1929 ยทFugitivesas Extra (uncredited)