Judith Wood
Encyclopedia
Judith Wood was an American film actress from the end of the 1920s through the 1940s.
Born as Helen Johnson in New York City
, Wood moved to Hollywood, California to pursue an acting career in the late 1920s. Her first role was in the 1929 film Gold Diggers of Broadway. In that first film, as well as in the four she would star in during 1930, Wood would be credited under her birth name of "Helen Johnson".
Her first film of 1931 was It Pays to Advertise, which starred Carole Lombard
. It would be the last film in which she would be billed under "Helen Johnson", and thereafter all of her film credits would be under the name "Judith Wood". In 1931, she was selected as one of thirteen girls to be "WAMPAS Baby Stars
", along with actresses Marian Marsh
, Karen Morley
, Marion Shilling
, and Barbara Weeks
, among others.
Wood starred in six films in 1931, after which her career slowed to a crawl, and eventually faded out. She starred as Kitty Packard in the original Broadway production of Dinner at Eight
but the film version went to Jean Harlow
. In 1934 she only received three film roles, one of which was uncredited. In 1936 and 1937 she would have small but credited roles in two films, then she would not receive another until 1941, which was uncredited. Her last film was in 1950, when she had an uncredited role in The Asphalt Jungle
(1950).
Following that, she retired from acting, but remained in Los Angeles, California
. She died there in 2002, of natural causes, aged 95.
Born as Helen Johnson in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Wood moved to Hollywood, California to pursue an acting career in the late 1920s. Her first role was in the 1929 film Gold Diggers of Broadway. In that first film, as well as in the four she would star in during 1930, Wood would be credited under her birth name of "Helen Johnson".
Her first film of 1931 was It Pays to Advertise, which starred Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard was an American actress. She was particularly noted for her comedic roles in the screwball comedies of the 1930s...
. It would be the last film in which she would be billed under "Helen Johnson", and thereafter all of her film credits would be under the name "Judith Wood". In 1931, she was selected as one of thirteen girls to be "WAMPAS Baby Stars
WAMPAS Baby Stars
The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers in the United States which honored thirteen young women each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. They were selected from 1922 to 1934, and annual...
", along with actresses Marian Marsh
Marian Marsh
Marian Marsh was an American film actress, and later, environmentalist.-Early life:Violet Ethelred Krauth was born on October 17, 1913 in Trinidad, British West Indies , the youngest of four children of a German chocolate manufacturer and his French-English wife.Due to World War I, Violet's...
, Karen Morley
Karen Morley
-Life and career:Born Mildred Linton in Ottumwa, Iowa, Morley lived there until she was thirteen years old. When she came to Hollywood, she attended Hollywood High School, and she later graduated from UCLA....
, Marion Shilling
Marion Shilling
Marion Shilling was an American film actress of the 1930s.Shilling was born as Marion Schilling in Denver, Colorado in 1910 as per , although some biographers had formerly cited 1911 or 1914. She started her acting career as a stage actress, starring in stage plays such as Miss Lulu Betts and Mrs....
, and Barbara Weeks
Barbara Weeks
Barbara Weeks was an actress of the 1930s. Born in Somerville, Massachusetts, Weeks entered into acting through her participation in the Ziegfeld Follies...
, among others.
Wood starred in six films in 1931, after which her career slowed to a crawl, and eventually faded out. She starred as Kitty Packard in the original Broadway production of Dinner at Eight
Dinner at Eight (play)
Dinner at Eight is a play by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber.-1932 Original Production:Dinner at Eight opened October 22, 1932 at the Music Box Theatre. It closed after 232 performances in May 1933. The play was produced by Sam H. Harris, staged by George S. Kaufman; Assistant Director: Robert B...
but the film version went to Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow was an American film actress and sex symbol of the 1930s. Known as the "Blonde Bombshell" and the "Platinum Blonde" , Harlow was ranked as one of the greatest movie stars of all time by the American Film Institute...
. In 1934 she only received three film roles, one of which was uncredited. In 1936 and 1937 she would have small but credited roles in two films, then she would not receive another until 1941, which was uncredited. Her last film was in 1950, when she had an uncredited role in The Asphalt Jungle
The Asphalt Jungle
The Asphalt Jungle is a 1950 film noir directed by John Huston. The caper film is based on the novel of the same name by W. R. Burnett and stars an ensemble cast including Sterling Hayden, Jean Hagen, Sam Jaffe, Louis Calhern, James Whitmore, and, in a minor but key role, Marilyn Monroe, an unknown...
(1950).
Following that, she retired from acting, but remained in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. She died there in 2002, of natural causes, aged 95.