Paulette Goddard

Paulette Goddard
Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain · source
Name	Paulette Goddard
Birth date	June 3, 1910
Birth place	Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Death date	April 23, 1990
Death place	Ronco sopra Ascona, Switzerland
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1920s-1970s
Spouse	Charles Spencer Chaplin Burgess Meredith Erich Maria Remarque

Paulette Goddard was a renowned Canadian-American actress who gained prominence during the Golden Age of Hollywood, starring in numerous films alongside notable actors such as Cary Grant, Bob Hope, and David Niven. Her career spanned multiple decades, with notable appearances in films like Modern Times and The Great Dictator, both directed by her then-husband Charles Spencer Chaplin. Goddard's early life and career were marked by her involvement in the Ziegfeld Follies and her association with prominent figures like Florenz Ziegfeld and Irving Berlin. She was also a frequent guest at the Hollywood Canteen, where she would often perform for United Service Organizations (USO) troops during World War II.

● Early Life and Career

Goddard was born in Whitby, Ontario, Canada, to Joseph Russell Levy and Alta Mae Goddard. She began her career as a child model, appearing in various Vogue and Harper's Bazaar publications, and later moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting. Goddard's early career was influenced by her involvement with the Ziegfeld Follies, where she worked alongside notable performers like Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, and W.C. Fields. She also appeared in several Broadway productions, including The Ziegfeld Follies of 1927 and The Ziegfeld Follies of 1928, which featured music by Irving Berlin and George Gershwin. Goddard's association with Florenz Ziegfeld and other prominent figures in the entertainment industry helped her secure roles in films like The Girl Habit and Berkeley Square, which starred Leslie Howard and Heather Angel.

● Film Career

Goddard's film career took off in the 1930s, with notable appearances in films like Modern Times and The Great Dictator, both directed by Charles Spencer Chaplin. She also starred in The Women, a comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor and featuring an all-female cast, including Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell. Goddard's performances were often praised by critics, with The New York Times noting her "vivacity and charm" in films like Nothing Sacred and The Cat and the Canary. She worked with prominent directors like Cecil B. DeMille and Billy Wilder, and appeared in films like Reap the Wild Wind and So Proudly We Hail!, which starred Veronica Lake and George Reeves. Goddard's film career was also marked by her association with Paramount Pictures and United Artists, where she worked with notable producers like Hal B. Wallis and Darryl F. Zanuck.

● Personal Life

Goddard was married three times, first to Charles Spencer Chaplin from 1936 to 1942, then to Burgess Meredith from 1944 to 1949, and finally to Erich Maria Remarque from 1958 until his death in 1970. Her relationships with these men were often highly publicized, with The Hollywood Reporter and Variety (magazine) frequently reporting on her personal life. Goddard was also a frequent guest at the Hollywood Canteen, where she would often perform for United Service Organizations (USO) troops during World War II. She was friends with notable figures like Marlene Dietrich, Bette Davis, and Katharine Hepburn, and was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Goddard's personal life was also marked by her association with The Actors' Equity Association and her involvement in various charity organizations, including the American Red Cross and the United Service Organizations.

● Later Life and Legacy

In her later years, Goddard continued to act in films and television, appearing in productions like What's My Line? and The Ed Sullivan Show. She also made appearances at film festivals and retrospectives, including the Cannes Film Festival and the Telluride Film Festival. Goddard's legacy as a pioneering actress was recognized by the American Film Institute, which named her one of the Greatest American Screen Legends. She was also awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was honored by the Screen Actors Guild with a Life Achievement Award. Goddard's impact on the film industry was also acknowledged by notable directors like Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola, who have cited her as an influence on their work. Her association with The Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Museum of Modern Art has also helped to preserve her legacy as a significant figure in the history of cinema.

● Filmography

Goddard's filmography includes a wide range of films, from comedies like The Lady Is Willing and Kitty to dramas like So Proudly We Hail! and Reap the Wild Wind. Some of her notable films include: * Modern Times (1936) * The Great Dictator (1940) * The Women (1939) * Nothing Sacred (1937) * The Cat and the Canary (1939) * Reap the Wild Wind (1942) * So Proudly We Hail! (1943) * Kitty (1945) * The Diary of a Chambermaid (1946) * An Ideal Husband (1947) * Babes in Arms (1939) * The Girl Habit (1931) * Berkeley Square (1933) * The Lady Is Willing (1942) * Up in Arms (1944) * I Love a Soldier (1944) * The Unholy Three (1930) * The Mouthpiece (1932) * Roman Scandals (1933) * Kid Millions (1934) * Private Worlds (1935) * The Bohemian Girl (1936) * Dramatic School (1938) * The Young in Heart (1938) * Second Chorus (1940) * Pot o' Gold (1941) * Reunion in France (1942) * Standing Room Only (1944) * I Love a Soldier (1944) * Kitty (1945) * The Diary of a Chambermaid (1946) * An Ideal Husband (1947) * Bride of Vengeance (1949) * Anna Lucasta (1958) * The Scapegoat (1959)