Irene Dunne
“A versatile star equally at home in screwball comedy, weepy melodrama, and song.”
In 1929 an RKO talent scout caught Irene Dunne performing in a touring company of 'Show Boat,' leading to a film contract and her 1931 breakout in the Oscar-winning epic 'Cimarron.' Already in her thirties, she defied the era's youth obsession to become one of Hollywood's most versatile leading ladies, equally adept at drama, musicals, and screwball comedy.
From Opera to Hollywood
Irene Dunne trained as a singer and worked on Broadway, including a national tour of 'Show Boat,' before RKO signed her in 1929. Her 1931 role in 'Cimarron' launched a film career that began later than most stars but lasted two decades.
Mistress of Every Genre
Dunne moved effortlessly between weepy melodramas, lavish musicals, and fast-talking screwball comedies. Films like 'The Awful Truth' and 'Theodora Goes Wild' proved her timing could match her dramatic depth.
Grace Without a Statuette
Five Oscar nominations never yielded a win, yet Dunne earned lasting respect for her range and professionalism. She retired in 1952 and later served as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations.
Career Timeline
- 1898Born in Louisville, Kentucky
- 1929RKO scout discovers her in stage 'Show Boat'
- 1931Breakthrough in 'Cimarron'; first Oscar nod
- 1936Shines in screwball comedy 'Theodora Goes Wild'
- 1937Stars in 'The Awful Truth' with Cary Grant
- 1939Romantic drama 'Love Affair' a major hit
- 1941'Penny Serenade' earns another Oscar nomination
- 1948Plays the mother in 'I Remember Mama'
- 1952Retires from films after 'It Grows on Trees'
- 1990Dies in Los Angeles at age 91
Biggest Hits
- She is often called one of the finest actresses never to win an Academy Award, despite five nominations.
- She originally trained to be an opera singer before turning to Broadway and film.
The Moment You Remember
Audiences fondly recall her sparring with Cary Grant in The Awful Truth, two soon-to-be-divorced spouses undone by their own jealousy, her sly comic timing matching his at every turn.
Portrait: Harry Warnecke and Robert F. Cranston (National Portrait Gallery) · CC0 (Public Domain Dedication) · via Wikimedia Commons