Mary Astor Biography

Fast Facts

• Upon receiving her Oscar Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "The Great Lie," she thanked both Bette Davis and Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky in her acceptance speech
• Learned how to play the piano from her father who insisted she practiced daily, which she later used the talent in both "The Great Lie" and "Meet Me in St․ Louis․"
• Quote: "I was never totally involved in movies․ I was just making my father's dream come true․"
• Quote: "There are five stages in the life of an actor: Who's Mary Astor? Get me Mary Astor․ Get me a Mary Astor Type․ Get me a young Mary Astor․ Who's Mary Astor?"
• Made her film debut in the silent movie "The Scarecrow," and the following year appeared in a small role of "Sentimental Tommy" which was eventually cut from the film
• Once talkies came into the film industry Fox had her take a sound test, which she failed and was out of work for eight months
• Almost lost her life while on a cruise ship, giving birth to her daughter who was two months early