Beverly Roberts
Encyclopedia
Beverly Roberts was an American film and stage actress of the 1930s, and entertainment business executive through the 1970s.
talent scout while singing in a nightclub
in 1935. Having performed as a stage actress prior to that, she was signed to a contract with Warner Brothers, starring in her first film in 1936, titled The Singing Kid, in which she appeared opposite Al Jolson
. That same year she starred opposite Humphrey Bogart
in Two Against the World
. The following year, in 1937, she starred in God's Country and the Woman, Warner Bros.' first Technicolor
film, in which she starred opposite George Brent
.
From 1937 to 1939 she starred in sixteen films. In Hollywood she was a friend of Humphrey Bogart
, Spencer Tracy
, Pat O'Brien
and George Jessel
. She also knew Errol Flynn
who signed up to Warner Bros.
on the same day as her. She reportedly quit film-making after losing parts to other actresses including Bette Davis
and Olivia de Havilland
. By 1940 she had returned to singing and stage acting. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, she was showcased in numerous radio
and television
appearances.
In 1954, Roberts returned to New York City and took up a new career as administrator of the "Theater Authority", whose members comprised the five entertainment unions. The organization exercised jurisdiction over performers appearing at charity
functions and telethons. Roberts retired in 1977, and moved to Laguna Niguel, California, where she lived through the rest of her life.
, whom she had known since they worked together on the 1938 feature Flirting with Fate, followed her to New York; the two shared homes together (both in West Babylon, Long Island
, and in Laguna Niguel, California) until Gibson's death in 1987. In 2000, Roberts was featured in the documentary I Used to Be in Pictures, which revisited Hollywood's early years and featured interviews with former actresses and actors of the day.
In 2002 Roberts was honored by the "Del Mar Theater" in Santa Cruz, California
, and her 1936 film, China Clipper, was shown at its grand opening. That same year she was honored at the "Cinecon Film Festival" in Hollywood. In her later years, she worked in watercolor painting.
In one of her last public appearances, on October 18, 2006, Roberts was a guest of honor at the 84th Anniversary of the opening of the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood with Sybil Jason
, where she answered questions from the audience after a screening of her debut film from 1936, The Singing Kid with Al Jolson
.
Career
Born as Beverly Louise Roberts in Brooklyn, New York, she was first spotted by a Warner Bros.Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
talent scout while singing in a nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
in 1935. Having performed as a stage actress prior to that, she was signed to a contract with Warner Brothers, starring in her first film in 1936, titled The Singing Kid, in which she appeared opposite Al Jolson
Al Jolson
Al Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer"....
. That same year she starred opposite Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey DeForest Bogart was an American actor. He is widely regarded as a cultural icon.The American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star in the history of American cinema....
in Two Against the World
Two Against the World (1936 film)
Two Against the World is a 1936 drama film starring Humphrey Bogart, Beverly Roberts, and Linda Perry. It is based on the play Five Star Final by Louis Weitzenkorn...
. The following year, in 1937, she starred in God's Country and the Woman, Warner Bros.' first Technicolor
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
film, in which she starred opposite George Brent
George Brent
George Brent was an Irish film and television actor in American cinema.-Early life:He was born George Brendan Nolan in Raharabeg, County Roscommon on the opposite bank of the River Shannon from the town of Shannonbridge, County Offaly, Ireland, the son of a British Army officer.During the Irish...
.
From 1937 to 1939 she starred in sixteen films. In Hollywood she was a friend of Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey DeForest Bogart was an American actor. He is widely regarded as a cultural icon.The American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star in the history of American cinema....
, Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
, Pat O'Brien
Pat O'Brien (actor)
Pat O’Brien was an American film actor with more than one hundred screen credits.-Early life:O’Brien was born William Joseph Patrick O’Brien to an Irish-American Catholic family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served as an altar boy at Gesu Church while growing up near 13th and Clybourn streets...
and George Jessel
George Jessel (actor)
George Albert Jessel was an American illustrated song "model," actor, singer, songwriter, and Academy Award-winning movie producer. He was famous in his lifetime as a multitalented comedic entertainer, achieving a level of recognition that transcended his limited roles in movies...
. She also knew Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
who signed up to Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
on the same day as her. She reportedly quit film-making after losing parts to other actresses including Bette Davis
Bette Davis
Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis was an American actress of film, television and theater. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional...
and Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland
Olivia Mary de Havilland is a British American film and stage actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1946 and 1949. She is the elder sister of actress Joan Fontaine. The sisters are among the last surviving leading ladies from Hollywood of the 1930s.-Early life:Olivia de Havilland...
. By 1940 she had returned to singing and stage acting. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, she was showcased in numerous radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
appearances.
In 1954, Roberts returned to New York City and took up a new career as administrator of the "Theater Authority", whose members comprised the five entertainment unions. The organization exercised jurisdiction over performers appearing at charity
Charity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
functions and telethons. Roberts retired in 1977, and moved to Laguna Niguel, California, where she lived through the rest of her life.
Personal life
Actress Wynne GibsonWynne Gibson
Wynne Gibson was an American actress of the 1930s.Early in her career she had a small part in a film but had no special interest in appearing before the camera. It was the stage that interested her and she began her stage career in chorus and was soon playing leads...
, whom she had known since they worked together on the 1938 feature Flirting with Fate, followed her to New York; the two shared homes together (both in West Babylon, Long Island
Babylon (village), New York
Babylon is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 12,615 at the 2000 census.Its official name is The Incorporated Village of Babylon...
, and in Laguna Niguel, California) until Gibson's death in 1987. In 2000, Roberts was featured in the documentary I Used to Be in Pictures, which revisited Hollywood's early years and featured interviews with former actresses and actors of the day.
In 2002 Roberts was honored by the "Del Mar Theater" in Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, and her 1936 film, China Clipper, was shown at its grand opening. That same year she was honored at the "Cinecon Film Festival" in Hollywood. In her later years, she worked in watercolor painting.
In one of her last public appearances, on October 18, 2006, Roberts was a guest of honor at the 84th Anniversary of the opening of the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood with Sybil Jason
Sybil Jason
Sybil Jason was a motion-picture child actress who, in the late 1930s, was presented as a rival to Shirley Temple.-Career:...
, where she answered questions from the audience after a screening of her debut film from 1936, The Singing Kid with Al Jolson
Al Jolson
Al Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer"....
.
Death
Roberts died in her sleep on July 13, 2009, aged 95, in her home in Laguna Niguel from natural causes. She never married and had no children.External links
- Fresno Bee obituary
- Interview at ClassicImages.com
- Beverly Roberts - Daily Telegraph obituary
- Online memorial - LastingTribute.co.uk