Dagmar Godowsky
Encyclopedia
Dagmar Godowsky was an American silent film
actress born to Polish Jewish parents in Vilna
, Lithuania
. She was the daughter of the notable pianist and composer Leopold Godowsky
.
(1924) with Rudolph Valentino
and A Story Without A Name (1924). The latter co-starred Tyrone Power, Sr.
and Louis Wolheim
. Among her other film credits are Red Lights (1923), The Common Law (1923), Virtuous Liars (1924), The Price of a Party (1924).
in Tijuana, Mexico in 1921. She named actress Anna Luther
as co-respondent in a suit brought against Mayo in March 1925. The marriage was annulled in August 1928 on the ground that Mayo had another wife.
In 1958 Godowsky published a thoroughly candid autobiography entitled First Person Plural. She wrote I lived only for pleasure and I spoiled my own fun. Where was I running? From whom? Little feet running around the globe. Nothing but circles, and I never once bumped into myself. In the book she named Enrico Caruso, Arthur Rubinstein
, Jascha Heifetz
, Charles Chaplin, Igor Stravinsky
, and Valentino among her "great loves". When queried about the number of husbands she had, Godowsky responded Two of my own, my dear, and several of my friends.
In her later years she made frequent appearances in London, England and on television talk shows in New York City
.
. He was married to Frances Gershwin, sister of George Gershwin
.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
actress born to Polish Jewish parents in Vilna
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. She was the daughter of the notable pianist and composer Leopold Godowsky
Leopold Godowsky
Leopold Godowsky was a famed Polish American pianist, composer, and teacher. One of the most highly regarded performers of his time, he became known for his theories concerning the application of relaxed weight and economy of motion in piano playing, principles later propagated by Godowsky's...
.
Silent film actress
Her Hollywood film career spanned the years from 1919 through 1926. She played in A Sainted DevilA Sainted Devil
A Sainted Devil is a 1924 silent drama film starring Rudolph Valentino. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Rudolph Valentino as Don Alonzo Castro* Nita Naldi as Carlotta* Helena D'Algy as Julietta...
(1924) with Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
and A Story Without A Name (1924). The latter co-starred Tyrone Power, Sr.
Tyrone Power, Sr.
Frederick Tyrone Edmond Power was an English-born American stage and screen actor, who acted under the name Tyrone Power.-Early life:Power was born in London in 1869, the son of Harold Littledale Power and Ethel Lavenu...
and Louis Wolheim
Louis Wolheim
Louis Wolheim was an American character actor.His trademark broken nose was the result of an injury sustained while playing football for Cornell University. Despite his rugged visage, Wolheim was intelligent and cultivated, speaking French, German, Spanish, and Yiddish. He was also a mathematics...
. Among her other film credits are Red Lights (1923), The Common Law (1923), Virtuous Liars (1924), The Price of a Party (1924).
Private life
Godowsky wed silent screen actor Frank MayoFrank Mayo (actor)
Frank Mayo was an American actor. He appeared in 310 films between 1911 and 1949.He was born in New York, New York and died in Laguna Beach, California from a heart attack...
in Tijuana, Mexico in 1921. She named actress Anna Luther
Anna Luther
Anne Luther was an American silent film actress. Newspapers described her hair as having an orange hue. She was the daughter of a New York sewing machine peddler.-Silent films:...
as co-respondent in a suit brought against Mayo in March 1925. The marriage was annulled in August 1928 on the ground that Mayo had another wife.
In 1958 Godowsky published a thoroughly candid autobiography entitled First Person Plural. She wrote I lived only for pleasure and I spoiled my own fun. Where was I running? From whom? Little feet running around the globe. Nothing but circles, and I never once bumped into myself. In the book she named Enrico Caruso, Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
, Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was a violinist, born in Vilnius, then Russian Empire, now Lithuania. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.- Early life :...
, Charles Chaplin, Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
, and Valentino among her "great loves". When queried about the number of husbands she had, Godowsky responded Two of my own, my dear, and several of my friends.
In her later years she made frequent appearances in London, England and on television talk shows in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Death
Godowsky died aged 78 in Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan on 13 February 1975. It was the anniversary of her father's birth. Her funeral was held at Riverside Chapel on Amsterdam Avenue and 76th Street. She was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Westchester, New York. She was survived by a brother, Leopold JrLeopold Godowsky, Jr.
Leopold Godowsky, Jr. was an American violinist and chemist, who together with Leopold Mannes created the first practical color transparency film, Kodachrome.-Beginning:...
. He was married to Frances Gershwin, sister of George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
.
External links
- Dagmar Godowsky New York Public Library Digital Gallery photo
- Nickolas MurayNickolas MurayNickolas Muray was a Hungarian-born American photographer and Olympic fencer.-Biography:...
photographic studies of Dagmar Godowsky; photo #1, photo #2, photo #3, photo #4, photo #5