Biography
American actress Mary Carlisle was one of the "It" girls of the 1930s before retiring from acting while her career was still in full swing. Details of her birth are disputed (she declined to confirm their accuracy even to her family), but it's known that she relocated with her mother to Los Angeles as a child after the death of her father. Her first experience before the cameras was a small part in the Jackie Coogan silent film "Long Live the King" (1923). Blessed with angelic looks, she originally signed a contract with Universal at the age of 14 and began appearing as a background performer in a number of the studio's productions. When her age was discovered, however, she was forced to return to school. Upon graduation, she signed with MGM. Carlisle appeared in the studio's all-star blockbuster "Grand Hotel" (1932), with such Hollywood luminaries as Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford. In 1933, the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers named her one of its "Baby Stars," along with Ginger Rogers. She continued appearing in MGM studio fare, before being loaned to Paramount Studios to star opposite Bing Crosby in "College Humor" (1933). The part significantly raised her profile in Hollywood, and she began garnering more leading roles. She starred alongside Buster Crabbe in "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" (1933) and appeared in a string of studio productions, like the Lionel Barrymore vehicles "Ladies Should Behave" (1933) and "This Side of Heaven" (1934). She also appeared with Will Rogers in "Handy Andy" (1934) and with Jimmy Durante in "Palooka" (1934). She reunited with Crosby for two more films, "Double or Nothing" (1937) and "Doctor Rhythm" (1938). She also joined Maureen O'Hara and Lucille Ball in "Dance, Girl, Dance" (1940). In 1942, she married James Edward Blakely, an actor who later became a studio executive. After appearing in the horror film "Dead Men Walk" (1943), Carlisle ended her film acting career to devote time to family. She remained in Los Angeles, though, managing a beauty salon in Beverly Hills. She passed away on August 1, 2018. While she refused throughout her life to confirm her age, she was believed to be at least 104 at the time of her death.
