Deanna Durbin
Known for Acting · 34 credits
- Born
- 1921-12-04
- Died
- 2013-04-20
- Place of birth
- Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Also known as
- Edna Mae Durbin
Biography
Edna Mae Durbin (December 4, 1921 – April 17, 2013), known professionally as Deanna Durbin, was a Canadian-born actress and singer, who moved to the USA with her family in infancy. She appeared in musical films in the 1930s and 1940s. With the technical skill and vocal range of a legitimate lyric soprano, she performed many styles from popular standards to operatic arias. In 1946, Durbin was the second-highest-paid woman in the United States, just behind Bette Davis; her fan club ranked as the world's largest during her active years.
Durbin was a child actress who made her first film appearance with Judy Garland in Every Sunday (1936), and subsequently signed a contract with Universal Studios. She achieved success as the ideal teenaged daughter in films such as Three Smart Girls (1936), One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937), and It Started with Eve (1941). Her work was credited with saving the studio from bankruptcy, and led to Durbin being awarded the Academy Juvenile Award in 1938.
As she matured, Durbin grew dissatisfied with the girl-next-door roles assigned to her and attempted to move into sophisticated non-musical roles with film noir Christmas Holiday (1944) and the whodunit Lady on a Train (1945). These films, produced by frequent collaborator and second husband Felix Jackson, were not as successful; she continued in musical roles until her retirement. Upon her retirement and divorce from Jackson in 1949, Durbin married producer-director Charles Henri David and moved to a farmhouse near Paris. She withdrew from public life, granting only one interview on her career in 1983.
Known For
Los Angeles Plays Itself
2004
as Penny in Three Smart Girls (archive footage)
That's Entertainment!
1974
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Christmas Holiday
1944
as Jackie Lamont / Abigail Martin
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
1940
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood’s Children
1982
as Self (archive footage)
Show-Business at War
1943
as Self
Movies (34)
Los Angeles Plays Itself
2004
as Penny in Three Smart Girls (archive footage)
That's Entertainment!
1974
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Christmas Holiday
1944
as Jackie Lamont / Abigail Martin
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
1940
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood’s Children
1982
as Self (archive footage)
Show-Business at War
1943
as Self
First Love
1939
as Constance (Connie) Harding
It Started with Eve
1941
as Anne Terry
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
2002
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Nice Girl?
1941
as Jane 'Pinky' Dana
Spring Parade
1940
as Ilonka Tolnay
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
2009
as Self (archive footage)
Mad About Music
1938
as Gloria Harkinson
Marlene Dietrich: Her Own Song
2002
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Lady on a Train
1945
as Nikki Collins / Margo Martin
It's a Date
1940
as Pamela Drake
Every Sunday
1936
as Edna
That Certain Age
1938
as Alice Fullerton
Hers to Hold
1943
as Penelope “Penny” Craig
Can't Help Singing
1944
as Caroline Frost
For the Love of Mary
1948
as Mary Peppertree
Three Smart Girls Grow Up
1939
as Penny Craig
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
2009
as (archive footage)
His Butler's Sister
1943
as Ann Carter
One Hundred Men and a Girl
1937
as Patricia Cardwell
The Amazing Mrs. Holliday
1943
as Ruth Kirke Holliday
Three Smart Girls
1936
as Penny Craig
Something in the Wind
1947
as Mary Collins
Up in Central Park
1948
as Rosie Moore
Because of Him
1946
as Kim Walker
The Shining Future
1944
as Self
I'll Be Yours
1947
as Louise Ginglebusher
Angels of Mercy
1940
as Self / Performer
A Friend Indeed
1941
as Self / Performer
About Deanna Durbin
Edna Mae Durbin (December 4, 1921 – April 17, 2013), known professionally as Deanna Durbin, was a Canadian-born actress and singer, who moved to the USA with her family in infancy. She appeared in musical films in the 1930s and 1940s. With the technical skill and vocal range of a legitimate lyric soprano, she performed many styles from popular standards to operatic arias. In 1946, Durbin was the second-highest-paid woman in the United States, just behind Bette Davis; her fan club ranked as the world's largest during her active years. Durbin wa… With 34 credits spanning from 1936 to 2009, Deanna Durbin has appeared in 34 films and 0 TV shows.
Fans searching for Deanna Durbin movies, Deanna Durbin filmography, or the latest projects starring Deanna Durbin can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Deanna Durbin Movies
- Los Angeles Plays Itself (2004) — as Penny in Three Smart Girls (archive footage)
- That's Entertainment! (1974) — as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Christmas Holiday (1944) — as Jackie Lamont / Abigail Martin
- Cavalcade of the Academy Awards (1940) — as Self (archive footage)
- Hollywood’s Children (1982) — as Self (archive footage)
Where to Watch Deanna Durbin Films
Most Deanna Durbin movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Deanna Durbin, check our movies catalogue and browse page.