Patricia Ellis
Encyclopedia
Patricia Ellis was an American film actress of the 1930s.
Born Patricia Leftwich in Birmingham, Alabama
, Ellis began her stage career after leaving school. Given a film test while appearing on stage in New York
, she was put under contract by Warner Bros. In 1932 she had two small parts, both uncredited, in the films Three on a Match
and Central Park. That same year she was one of fourteen girls chosen as WAMPAS Baby Stars
. Ellis, at 16, was the youngest. Among the others selected that year were future Hollywood legends Ginger Rogers
and Gloria Stuart
.
Ellis's first credited role was the following year, in the 1933 film, The King's Vacation, starring George Arliss
and Marjorie Gateson
. With that film, her career took off, with her working steadily, starring mostly in lower budget B-movies, but still having her working steadily. She would have roles in eight films in 1933, co-starring with James Cagney
in Picture Snatcher
, and another seven in 1934. She started 1935 off with A Night at the Ritz, in which she had the lead female role, opposite William Gargan
. She would star in seven films that year, and another seven in 1936.
Starring alongside some of Hollywood's biggest names, including James Cagney, Ricardo Cortez
, and Bela Lugosi
, Ellis's career was at its peak by 1937. Most of her roles were in comedy films, with some also being mysteries or crime drama, and by 1936 almost all her roles had her playing the lead. She would star in five films that year, then only three in 1938, and two in 1939.
named George T. O'Malley. Ellis left Hollywood behind her, and settled into life raising a family in Kansas City. She was an aunt of actor D. David Morin, who has appeared on television
, including roles on Northern Exposure
and CSI: Miami
. His mother was Ellis's sister. Patricia Ellis remained married to O'Malley for the remainder of her life. She died from cancer, aged 53, on March 26, 1970, in Kansas City.
Born Patricia Leftwich in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Ellis began her stage career after leaving school. Given a film test while appearing on stage in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, she was put under contract by Warner Bros. In 1932 she had two small parts, both uncredited, in the films Three on a Match
Three on a Match
Three on a Match is a Warner Bros. drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Joan Blondell, Ann Dvorak and Bette Davis. The film also features Warren William, Lyle Talbot, Humphrey Bogart , Allen Jenkins and Edward Arnold.-Plot:Three friends from childhood, Mary , Ruth , and Vivian , meet...
and Central Park. That same year she was one of fourteen girls chosen as 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...
. Ellis, at 16, was the youngest. Among the others selected that year were future Hollywood legends Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers was an American actress, dancer, and singer who appeared in film, and on stage, radio, and television throughout much of the 20th century....
and Gloria Stuart
Gloria Stuart
Gloria Frances Stuart was an American actress, activist, painter, bonsai artist and fine printer. Over a Hollywood career which spanned, with a long break in the middle, from 1932 until 2004, she appeared on stage, television, and film, for which she was best-known...
.
Ellis's first credited role was the following year, in the 1933 film, The King's Vacation, starring George Arliss
George Arliss
George Arliss was an English actor, author and filmmaker who found success in the United States. He was the first British actor to win an Academy Award.-Life and career:...
and Marjorie Gateson
Marjorie Gateson
Marjorie Augusta Gateson , was a character actress in Hollywood films of the 1930s and 1940s....
. With that film, her career took off, with her working steadily, starring mostly in lower budget B-movies, but still having her working steadily. She would have roles in eight films in 1933, co-starring with James Cagney
James Cagney
James Francis Cagney, Jr. was an American actor, first on stage, then in film, where he had his greatest impact. Although he won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of performances, he is best remembered for playing "tough guys." In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him eighth...
in Picture Snatcher
Picture Snatcher
Picture Snatcher is a 1933 Pre-Code drama film starring James Cagney as a gangster who decides to quit to pursue his dream.-Plot:After getting out of prison, Danny Kean shocks the gang he leads by quitting. He wants his first stint in jail to be his last, and he has always dreamed of becoming a...
, and another seven in 1934. She started 1935 off with A Night at the Ritz, in which she had the lead female role, opposite William Gargan
William Gargan
William Gargan, born William Dennis Gargan July 17, 1905 in Brooklyn, New York, USA and died February 17, 1979 aged 73 on a flight between New York and San Diego.He was an American motion picture, television and radio actor...
. She would star in seven films that year, and another seven in 1936.
Starring alongside some of Hollywood's biggest names, including James Cagney, Ricardo Cortez
Ricardo Cortez
Jacob Krantz , known by his stage name Ricardo Cortez, was an American film actor who began his career during the silent era.-Life and career:...
, and Bela Lugosi
Béla Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó , commonly known as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen. He was best known for having played Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version, as well as having starred in several of Ed Wood's low budget films in the last years of his...
, Ellis's career was at its peak by 1937. Most of her roles were in comedy films, with some also being mysteries or crime drama, and by 1936 almost all her roles had her playing the lead. She would star in five films that year, then only three in 1938, and two in 1939.
Personal life/death
She chose to retire by 1939, choosing to marry a successful businessman from Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
named George T. O'Malley. Ellis left Hollywood behind her, and settled into life raising a family in Kansas City. She was an aunt of actor D. David Morin, who has appeared on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, including roles on Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure is an American television series that ran on CBS from 1990 to 1995, with a total of 110 episodes.-Overview:The series was given a pair of consecutive Peabody Awards: in 1991–92 for the show's "depict[ion] in a comedic and often poetic way, [of] the cultural clash between a...
and CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
. His mother was Ellis's sister. Patricia Ellis remained married to O'Malley for the remainder of her life. She died from cancer, aged 53, on March 26, 1970, in Kansas City.