Loretta Young, born Gretchen Michaela Young on January 6, 1913, in Salt Lake City, Utah, was a luminous figure in Hollywood’s Golden Age. After separating from her husband, Loretta’s mother moved to Hollywood when she was only two, where she, along with her sisters, entered the world of acting as child actresses. Young’s mother established a boarding house to support the family, and the children contributed through their acting work.
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Willum Skeener
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. Transitioning to talkies, she was first billed as Loretta Young in 1928’s “The Whip Woman.” Slowly, she became one of the most sought-after leading ladies, working with prominent directors like Cecil B. DeMille and Orson Welles.
She 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.
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 housemaid and later a congresswoman in “The Farmer’s Daughter” (1947).
She got her second Academy Award nomination for “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.
Her cinematic repertoire includes notable works like “Born to Be Bad” (1934), “Call of the Wild” (1935), “The Crusades” (1935), “Eternally Yours” (1939), “The Stranger” (1946), “The Bishop’s Wife” (1947), and “Key to the City” (1950).
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).
Young married three times: first with actor Grant Withers, then with Tom Lewis, and lastly with costume designer Jean Louis. Young also gave birth to three children.
Her death on August 12, 2000, marked the end of an era, but her work continues to inspire generations of actors and fans alike.
