Alla Nazimova

Alla Nazimova, born on June 3, 1879 (O.S. May 22) in the Russian Empire, was a prominent American actress, screenwriter, and film producer who left an indelible mark on both theatre and cinema. Initially known as Alia Nasimoff, she emigrated to the United States and became a naturalized citizen in 1927.

Nazimova made her Broadway debut in New York City in 1906, quickly gaining acclaim for her performances, particularly in works by Henrik Ibsen and Anton Chekhov. She was so celebrated that a theatre in her honor was named after her, and Dorothy Parker praised her portrayal of Hedda Gabler as the best she had ever witnessed.

Her foray into film began in 1916 with a silent adaptation of her notable play, War Brides. A young actor named Richard Barthelmess, who appeared in the film, had his mother teach Nazimova English. In 1917, she secured a lucrative contract with Metro Pictures, a forerunner of MGM, which paid her $13,000 weekly. This move to Hollywood was pivotal, as she starred in several successful films during the silent era, influencing the industry significantly until her retirement from filmmaking around 1925 due to financial constraints.

Nazimova returned to Broadway, delivering memorable performances in productions such as Turgenev's A Month in the Country and Ibsen's Ghosts. She reappeared in films in the early 1940s, portraying maternal roles alongside actors like Robert Taylor and Tyrone Power. Nazimova passed away from coronary thrombosis in Los Angeles on July 13, 1945, and her ashes were interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Her legacy endures, marked by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.