Lovely brown-eyed, brunette Claire Du Brey enjoyed a rich, four-decade film career in all. Born Clara Violet Dubrey on August 31, 1892, in Bonner's Ferry Idaho, her family traveled the rugged Sierra Madre terrain by covered wagon in their move to California when she was 13. Educated in a convent setting and once trained to be a nurse, Claire responded to an newspaper ad and found employment working part time in motion pictures. From there, she found herself in front of the camera, making her movie debut as star 'Billie Burke' , both unbilled. An early marriage to a doctor, Mark Gorman, ended in divorce. She lived another four decades after leaving the limelight. In her final years she grew deaf and her health quite fragile, dying at the age of 100 on August 1, 1993.
One time mentor to actor Richard Cromwell.
Was hired as Ethel Barrymore s stand-in for the film Rasputin and the Empress (1932) which showcased all three Barrymores.
Excelled in athletics, notably tennis and golf, and did many of her own stunts in films.
The late actor John Phillip Law became a trusted friend in her elderly years. He also served as conservator of her estate.
Close friend to Marie Dressler. When Dressler discovered she had cancer, Claire, who had nursing training, served as her caregiver. Unfounded and highly damaging rumors, however, began to circulate as to an intimate relationship between the two and that Claire also had a financial interest in maintaining it. A devastated Claire broke off the friendship despite Dresslers pleas. When Dressler died of her cancer shortly after, there was no mention of Du Brey in Dresslers will. Claire submitted a bill to the estate for $25,000 for "personal nursing and secretarial services" but received only $3,000 by the court.
As extras we were paid $10 a week and we earned every penny of it. We,worked from 8 until 6 p. m.
six days a week. We hardly had time to wash,off our Indian make-up before we were called back before the cameras to,appear as pioneer settlers! CD -- recalling her early years as an,actress.
