27 Facts About Madge Bellamy

Madge Bellamy was a popular leading lady in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Madge Bellamy made her stage debut dancing in a local production of Aida, at the age of nine.

Shortly before she was to graduate from high school, Madge Bellamy left home for New York City.

Madge Bellamy soon began working as a dancer on Broadway.

Madge Bellamy thereafter became known as "the exquisite Madge", and was cast in several melodramas by Ince.

Madge Bellamy later attributed her career decline to her own choice of wanting to appear in light comedy and flapper roles that showcased her looks instead of more demanding roles.

In 1927, Fox executive Winfield Sheehan, with whom Madge Bellamy was having an affair, attempted to cast her in the lead role of "Diane" in the romantic drama 7th Heaven.

Madge Bellamy later told author Anthony Slide that she was in fact cast as "Diane", but was replaced by Janet Gaynor when she was in France shooting exterior shots.

Madge Bellamy instead appeared in the romantic comedy Very Confidential, in which she appeared as a model who impersonates a famous female sports figure.

In 1928, Madge Bellamy was cast in Fox's first part-talking film, Mother Knows Best The film was an adaptation of Edna Ferber's novel of the same name and features Madge Bellamy as Sally Quail, a stage performer whose life is dominated by her overbearing stage mother "Ma Quail".

Reviews for the film were generally positive with critics noting that Madge Bellamy's voice was weak.

Madge Bellamy attempted to find work as a freelance actress but did not work again until 1932 when she began appearing in Poverty Row films.

Madge Bellamy was slated to appear in the Halperin brothers' next film, Supernatural, but Carole Lombard was cast instead.

Madge Bellamy had been having an affair with Murphy for five years before he ended the relationship in October 1942.

Madge Bellamy later admitted that she waited around Murphy's apartment in the Nob Hill area for four days.

On February 11,1943, Madge Bellamy pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of violating a gun law and was given a suspended six-month sentence.

In July 1943, Madge Bellamy sued Murphy for divorce in Las Vegas claiming that she and Murphy were married by "mutual consent" in April 1941 and had lived as husband and wife up until Murphy ended the relationship.

Madge Bellamy charged Murphy with "extreme mental cruelty" and asked for both temporary and permanent alimony.

In December 1943, Albert Stanwood Murphy asked that the court dismiss the suit, stating that he and Madge Bellamy "are not now and have never been husband and wife".

Madge Bellamy made her last screen appearance in Northwestern film Northwest Trail in 1945.

Madge Bellamy returned to the stage in 1946 in the Los Angeles production of Holiday Lady, after which she retired.

Metcalf filed for divorce claiming that while the two were on honeymoon, Madge Bellamy had refused to speak to him because of his fondness for eating ham and eggs, which she considered "plebeian".

Madge Bellamy did have some holdings in real estate and owned a retail shop in which she worked to support herself.

Madge Bellamy remained out of public view until the 1980s, when film historians and silent film fans who had rediscovered her work began requesting interviews.

Madge Bellamy began attending screenings of the low budget horror film White Zombie, which was a moderate success upon its initial release and has since become a cult classic.

Madge Bellamy suffered from chronic heart problems toward the end of her life.

Madge Bellamy is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.