Probably the finest actress ever to grace the silver screen, Irene Marie Dunne was born on December 20, 1898 in Louisville, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Joseph Dunne, who inspected steamships, and Adelaide (Henry) Dunne, a musician who encouraged Irene in the arts.
Her first production was in Louisville when she appeared in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at the age of five. Her "debut" would set the tone for a fabulous career.
Following the tragic death of her father, when she was 12, she moved with her remaining family to the picturesque and historic town of Madison, Indiana to live with her maternal grandparents at 916 West Second Street. During the next few years, Irene studied voice and took piano lessons in town. She was able to earn money singing in the First Baptist Church choir on Sundays.
After graduating from Madison High School in 1916, she studied until 1917 in a music conservatory in Indianapolis because music was still her first love. After that she accepted a teaching post as a music and art instructor in East Chicago, Indiana, just a stone's throw from Chicago, Illinois. She never made it to the school.
While on her way to East Chicago, she saw a newspaper ad in the Indianapolis Star and News for an annual scholarship contest run by the Chicago Music College. Irene won the contest, which enabled her to study there for a year. After that she headed for New York City because it was still the entertainment capital of the world. Her first goal in New York was to add her name to the list of luminaries of the Metropolitan Opera Company. Her audition did her little good as she was rejected for being too young and inexperienced.
She did win the leading role in a road theater company which was in turn followed by numerous plays. During this whole time she studied at the Chicago Music College from which she graduated with high honors in 1926.
In 1928, Irene met and married a promising young dentist from New York named Francis Dennis Griffin. She would remain with Dr. Griffin until his death in 1965, almost unheard of with Hollywood's elite.
Irene came to the notice of Hollywood when she performed in a play on the East Coast. By 1930 she was under contract to RKO.
The first motion picture she appeared in was called LEATHERNECKING the same year. Her film debut went almost unnoticed.
In 1931, Irene appeared in CIMMARRON for which she was to receive the first of five Academy Award nominations. Films such as NO OTHER WOMAN (1933) and ANN VICKERS the same year followed.
Later, in 1937, she was teamed up with popular Cary Grant, in THE AWFUL TRUTH. This helped her garner a second Academy Award nomination. She starred with Grant later in MY FAVORITE WIFE in 1940 and PENNY SERANADE in 1941. They WERE Hollywood's team.
But it was the tear-jerker I REMEMBER MAMA in 1948 that helped her be remembered forever as the loving, self-sacrificing Norweigian mother. She got another nomination for that but again lost. This was the picture in which she should have won the Oscar.
She began to wean herself away from films toward the many charities and public works she championed. Her last major movie was as Polly Baxter in 1952's IT GROWS ON TREES. After that she only appeared as a guest on television. Irene knew when to quit when she was ahead of the game. This would help keep her legacy intact.
In 1957, she was appointed as a special US delegate to the United Nations during the 12th General Assembly by President Dwight Eisenhower, such was her widespread appeal. The remainder of her life would be spent on civic causes. She even donated $10,000 to the restoration of the town fountain in her girlhood home of Madison, Indiana in 1976 even though she had not been there since 1938 when she came home for a visit.
At the age of 91, on September 4, 1990, she died of heart failure in Los Angeles, California. Forty-four good quality pictures were left in her wake!
Irene Dunne Pics! (Hard to find)
Irene Pic 1
Irene Pic 2
Irene Pic 3
Irene Pic 4
Irene Pic 5
Irene Pic 6
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