Loretta Young, was a luminous figure in Hollywood’s Golden Age witn a career spanning silent films, talkies, and television. She starred in over 100 films and hosted a groundbreaking TV anthology series. Her work combined ethereal beauty with strong dramatic roles. Young transitioned from child actor to leading lady and TV pioneer. She also won an Academy Award, two Golden Globes and three Emmy Awards.
Early Life of Loretta Young
Loretta Young was born Gretchen Michaela Young on January 6, 1913, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her father, John Earle Young, worked as a railroad brakeman. Her mother, Gladys Royal, was a dressmaker. Loretta had two older sisters, Polly Ann Young and Elizabeth Jane Young (later Sally Blane), both actresses. She also had a half-brother, John R. Young, from her mother’s second marriage to George Belzer. The family moved to Hollywood in 1916 after her parents separated. Her uncle, Walter Belzer, supported their early film careers.
Loretta grew up in Hollywood amid the growing film industry. Her mother opened a boardinghouse for actors. Loretta attended Ramona Convent Secondary School in Alhambra, California. The Catholic school emphasized discipline and arts. She left formal education early for acting but continued self-study. Her early roles provided on-set tutoring. Loretta changed her name at age 14 on the advice of Colleen Moore’s manager.
Commencing her journey as a child artist, Young’s first role was at the age of two or three in the silent film “Sweet Kitty Bellairs,” which led her to an illustrious career spanning over seven decades. Her career took off in the silent film era, with her first credited role in “Sirens of the Sea” in 1917. Her mother signed her and her sisters to contracts. Loretta appeared in bit parts during the 1920s. She signed with First National Pictures in 1927. Her first credited role came in Naughty but Nice (1927).
Transitioning to talkies, she was first billed as Loretta Young in 1928’s “The Whip Woman.” Loretta changed her name on the advice of Colleen Moore’s manager. Slowly, she became one of the most sought-after leading ladies, working with prominent directors like Cecil B. DeMille and Orson Welles.
Breakthrough
Loretta Young garnered widespread recognition, earning accolades like an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and three Primetime Emmy Awards. Her contributions to both film and television are commemorated with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 1934 she starred in Lowell Sherman’s Born to Be Bad (1934) opposite Cary Grant. Young starred in William Wellman’s The Call of the Wild, alongside Clark Gable and Jack Oakie, in 1935. This was an adaptation of Jack London’s action-adventure novel The Call of the Wild, set against the Klondike Gold Rush.
The same year she collaborated with Cecil B. DeMille for the historical epic The Crusades (1935), where she played Berengaria, Princess of Navarre. The film went on to win the award for Best Foreign Film at the Venice Film Festival.
Her cinematic repertoire includes notable works like Eternally Yours (1939), He Married His Wife (1940), The Doctor Takes a Wife (1940), The Lady from Cheyenne (1941), The Men in Her Life (1941), Bedtime Story (1941), A Night to Remember (1942), China (1943), Courageous (1944), And Now Tomorrow (1944), Along Came Jones (1945) and many more.
Loretta Young The Star
Orson Welles’ thriller The Stranger (1946) features Loretta as Mary Longstreet, married to a Nazi fugitive. She conveys denial and awakening. Critics highlighted her intense scenes with Welles. Young clinched the Academy Award for Best Actress for her remarkable performance for her portrayal of Katie Holstrom, a Swedish-American farm girl who becomes a congresswoman in “The Farmer’s Daughter” (1947). Directed by H.C. Potter, the comedy-drama features Loretta as Katrin Holstrom, a Swedish maid running for Congress. She learned a Swedish accent for authenticity.
She starred in Henry Koster’s “The Bishop’s Wife (1947),” a romantic comedy. Loretta plays Julia Brougham, a neglected wife. Her chemistry with Cary Grant and David Niven drives the narrative. Loretta’s graceful performance adds warmth to the holiday classic. She got her second Academy Award nomination for Clarence Brown’s “Come to the Stable (1949).” In this heartwarming film, Young played Sister Margaret, a French nun who, along with another sister, seeks to build a children’s hospital in New England. The film earned seven Oscar nominations, including Loretta’s for Best Actress.
In 1951 she starred in Tay Garnett’s suspense film Cause for Alarm! as Ellen Jones, trapped by her husband’s paranoia. The low-budget movie showcased her range in noir elements. Some of her later films include Rachel and the Stranger (1948), The Accused (1949), Mother Is a Freshman (1949), Come to the Stable (1949), Key to the City (1950), Cause for Alarm! (1951), Half Angel (1951), Paula (1952), Because of You (1952), It Happens Every Thursday (1953) nd many more.
Later Career
In the 1950s, Young transitioned to television, pioneering the way for film actors in the medium. “The Loretta Young Show” not only showcased her acting prowess but also her skills as a host, earning her three Primetime Emmy Awards. The show’s success led to a re-run on daytime TV and syndication, proving her enduring appeal.
Later, she headlined “The New Loretta Young Show” from 1962 to 1963. A resurgence on the small screen occurred in the 1980s, featuring Young in two NBC television movies, namely “Christmas Eve” (1986), where she secured the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film, and “Lady in a Corner” (1989).
Personal Life
Loretta married Grant Withers in 1930. The union ended in annulment in 1931. She had daughter Judy Lewis in 1935 with Clark Gable. Judy became an actress and therapist. Loretta married Tom Lewis in 1940. They had sons Christopher Paul Lewis and Peter Charles Lewis. Christopher became a film producer. The marriage ended in divorce in 1969. Loretta married Jean Louis in 1993. They remained together until his death in 1997. Loretta had no more children. In later life, she focused on Catholicism and charity. She resided in Palm Springs, California.
Loretta Young died on August 12, 2000, at age 87 in Los Angeles, California due to complications of ovarian cancer. After her death, biographer Edward Funk published The Authorized Biography of Loretta Young in 2001. Her daughter Judy Lewis wrote a memoir Uncommon Knowledge in 1994.
In 2015, Young’s son Christopher authorized the release of letters confirming Gable as Judy’s father. The letters also alleged date rape by Gable. This revelation sparked media discussions on Hollywood’s past. Young’s TV show episodes entered public domain, preserving her legacy. Hollywood honored her with retrospectives. Her contributions influenced victims’ rights through family advocacy.
Loretta Young on IMDB
