Loretta Young
Loretta Young, born Gretchen Michaela Young, was an influential American actress who began her career in film at a very young age, making her debut at just four years old in 1917. Over the course of her career, she appeared in over ninety films, earning recognition for notable performances in works such as *The Stranger* (1946), *The Farmer's Daughter* (1947), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress, and *The Bishop's Wife* (1947). In addition to her film success, Young transitioned to television in 1953 with *Letter to Loretta*, later renamed *The Loretta Young Show*, which became one of the longest-running dramatic anthologies on television, airing until 1961. Known for her elegant presence and stunning gowns, she hosted and often starred in the series, winning six Emmy Awards for her performances. Young is notable for being the first individual to win both Academy and Emmy Awards and for her significant control over her television series as both host and producer. Her career exemplified hard work, persistence, and the evolution of female roles in Hollywood, leaving a lasting impact on both film and television.
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Loretta Young
- Born: January 6, 1913
- Birthplace: Salt Lake City, Utah
- Died: August 12, 2000
- Place of death: Los Angeles, California
Identification American film and television actor
Loretta Young excelled not only on the silver screen, winning an Academy Award in 1947, but also in a long-running television series, which earned her three Emmy Awards.
Born Gretchen Michaela Young, Young adopted the name “Loretta” early in her movie career. She made her film debut in 1917 at the age of four and appeared in more than ninety films. Some of her best-known performances were in The Stranger (1946); The Farmer’s Daughter (1947), for which she won an Academy Award as best actress; The Bishop’s Wife (1947); and Come to the Stable (1949), which earned her a nomination for an Academy Award.
In 1953, Young began a successful career in television with Letter to Loretta, which was renamed The Loretta Young Show in 1954. It was one of the longest-running, most popular dramatic anthologies in the history of television, lasting through 1961. Young was featured as the hostess, and frequently, as the female lead in the half-hour dramas. Her trademark was her magnificent gowns, which swirled about her as she entered the stage. The program won numerous Emmy Awards, with Young herself winning six Emmys for her acting between 1955 and 1961.
Impact
Loretta Young personified the attributes of hard work and persistence over a long, illustrious career in show business, helping to popularize the silver screen and the medium of television in the public eye. She was the first person to win both Academy and Emmy Awards, and as a woman in Hollywood, she was notable for the control she exercised over her television series as host and producer.
Bibliography
Anderson, Joan Wester. Forever Young: The Life, Loves, and Enduring Faith of a Hollywood Legend. New York: Thomas More, 2000. An authorized biography of Loretta Young.
Morella, Joe, and Edward Z. Epstein. Loretta Young: An Extraordinary Life. New York: Delacorte Press, 1986. An insightful biography of Loretta Young.