Norma Talmadge

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Norma Talmadge

Norma Marie Talmadge (✦May 2, 1894 – †December 24, 1957) was an American actress and film producer of the silent era. A major box-office draw for over a decade, her career peaked in the early 1920s, when she ranked among the most popular idols of the American screen.

Talmadge specialized in melodrama. Her most famous film was Smilin’ Through (1922), but she also scored artistic triumphs teamed with director Frank Borzage in Secrets (1924) and The Lady (1925). Her sister, Natalie Talmadge, was a silent film star. Her younger sister, Constance Talmadge, was also a movie star. Talmadge married millionaire film producer Joseph M. Schenck, and they successfully created their own production company. After reaching fame in the film studios on the East Coast, she moved to Hollywood in 1922.

Talmadge was one of the most elegant and glamorous film stars of the Roaring '20s. However, her popularity with audiences had waned by the end of the silent era. After her two talkies proved disappointing at the box office, she retired still a very wealthy woman.

Later years and death

In her later years, Talmadge, who had never been comfortable with the burdens of public celebrity, became reclusive. Increasingly crippled by painful arthritis and reported to be dependent on painkilling drugs, she moved to the warm climate of Las Vegas for her final years. According to Anita Loos' memories of Talmadge, the drug addiction came first, which caused arthritis and was the basis of Norma's interest in her physician husband.

After suffering a series of strokes in 1957, Talmadge died of pneumonia on Christmas Eve of that year. At the time of her death, her estate was valued at more than US$1,000,000 (equivalent to $11.2 million in 2024).

Talmadge Street in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles is named in honor of the silent screen star. Also, the Talmadge, San Diego community is named for her and her sisters, and one of the community's streets is named Norma in her honor.