Actress Louise Henry 1911-2011

[jlp]

In Memoriam: Louise Henry (June 14, 1911 - December 12, 2011)
There were a great many supporting actors and actresses who performed
during the days of Hollywood's Golden Age and some had contributions
to specific thier studios or the film history of a household name. One
of which was the late Louise Henry. She was born on June 14, 1911 in
Syracuse, New York as Jessie Louise Hieman to Swedish immigrants who
came to America for a better life. With the coming of the Depression
in the 1930s Louise decided to leave her hometown which was suffering
from crippling effects brought on by economic turmoil and like many
during that time she came to Hollywood in search for stardom. She got
employment at MGM Studios and after some tests and vocal training she
made her debut in Paris Interlude. She then appeared as a nightclub
singer in Hide-Out with Robert Montgomery. She appreared in
approximatley 21 films between 1934 and 1939 and she co-starred
opposite such reigning stars as Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, James
Stewart, Ricardo Cortez, Virginia Bruce, and others.

In 1935 when Anita Loos backed out of writing a script for a motion
picture called Remember Last Night? Louise jumped in and helped with
the script formation. She had a lead role in Remember Last Night? but
her writing wasn't attributed with the credits at that time. She later
became close friends with her other lead costars, Robert Young and
Constance Cummings. In the late 1930s she appeared in several Charlie
Chan mysteries either as a Girl Friday or a suspect. In 1939 after she
completed Charlie Chan in Reno Louise chose not to renew her MGM
contract and with enough financial security that included Studio
Income, Pension, and stock investments in film, oil, and real estate
she returned to her home roots that same year and she bought a mansion
like home in the fashionable and rich Meadowbrook neighboorhood in
Syracuse.

In 1941 she opened her own Drama Classes until 1979 when she retiered
a second time. She also dabbled in Republican politics, even admitting
later that she took her screen name in honor of Mrs. Herbert Hoover,
and was active spiritually in the Atonement Lutheran Church. She never
married or had any children of her own but she considered her MGM
friends, neighbors, and congregation members to be like a family. In a
2010 phone interview she was asked what her secret was to having lived
a long life; she later said it came from a good diet, religious faith,
and having a good laugh at least once a day. On Monday, December 12,
2011 in the comfort of her lavish home and loving live-in nurse and
secretary, Louise Henry passed away in a sweet repose at the age of
100 from complications of advanced age.

At her memorial service held on Friday, December 16, 2011 at the
Atonement Lutheran Church her secretary said, "Louise was one of the
unsung heroines of the original Hollywood. She acted, sang, and danced
and she even wrote a script. Though her time in the spotlight may have
been short her time in the sight of the Lord was great, rewarding, and
wonderful". Following the service she was laid to rest at the Woodlawn
Cemetery in Syracuse, New York. In the end Louise was considered to be
a true star by those who knew her and she was well recieved by those
in her prime who had succeeded her.
http://fan.tcm.com/_In-Memoriam-Louise-Henry/blog/5664337/66470.html?createPassive=true

[DRF...@aol.com]

This woman lived to be a Century, and she receives to what amounts to be an honorable mention at Wikipedia. Amazing! Wife and I used to live in Rochester, NY, which is down the road from Syracuse. Had I known Miss Henry lived in Syracuse, we would have dropped in while she worked, and requested (kindly) an autograph. I started watching her as a vamp in one of Charlie Chan's movies, but had to take my afternoon nap. Old age requires this. I have to live another thirty years to reach the Century Mark. Thanks Miss Henry for making decent movies that young people could watch!