Kathryn McGuire

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Kathryn McGuire (✦December 6, 1903 – †October 10, 1978) was an American dancer and actress.

Early life

Born in Peoria, Illinois, McGuire was recognized by critics and fans alike as one of the rising stars in film. Selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1922, she was the first person in her family to enter the acting profession.

At an early age, McGuire's family moved to Aurora, Illinois, and then to Chicago. McGuire received her education from the Jennings Seminary in Aurora and remained there even after her parents left that city. By the time she graduated at about the age of fourteen, her parents were ready to move to California.

McGuire was highly interested in dancing and took classes under the leading ballet masters when she arrived in California. Even after her film career took off and she became deeply interested in this new endeavor, she continued to pursue her dancing.

Career

While studying at Hollywood High School, McGuire, in addition to her dancing, participated in a program exhibition at the Maryland Hotel in Pasadena.

She was discovered by Thomas H. Ince, who immediately offered McGuire a solo performance in an upcoming film. Her dancing talent not only led her to opportunities at Ince but also at Universal and Mack Sennett. It was Sennett who recognized that McGuire had genuine acting ability, just as talented as her dance skills, after she performed a number in a comedy produced by Sennett. This opportunity resulted in solo dance roles in other films, followed by a period of extra and supporting roles at Sennett's studio. Her most notable work from this time is The Shriek of Araby, a parody of The Sheik, where McGuire played Diana opposite Ben Turpin's cross-eyed Ahmed. She later became a featured performer in Sennett's comedies.

McGuire's first significant role was as the "only girl" in The Silent Call (1921). She also starred alongside Gladys Walton as a secondary lead in Playing with Fire (1921) for Universal Pictures, and appeared in The Flame of Life (1923) with Priscilla Dean.

McGuire did not rise to leading lady status in dramas due to her height (about 5 feet tall). However, this fact made her an ideal foil for the era's comedy stars, who were also slight in stature. She is probably best remembered today for her ingenue roles opposite Buster Keaton in Sherlock Jr. (1924) and The Navigator (1924). By the late 1920s, she was working regularly for Educational Pictures in two-reel comedies, alongside Charley Bowers or Lupino Lane. She left Educational Pictures in 1930, as did Lane.

Personal life

On September 18, 1927, McGuire married George W. Landy, a studio publicity director, in Hollywood. Their marriage ended in 1955 upon his death. They had a daughter, born July 14, 1936. After her husband's death, McGuire briefly returned to acting, playing character roles on television.