Dubbed "The Sweetest Girl in Pictures", Mary Brian started life as Louise Byrdie Datzler. She was born in Corsicana, Texas, and went to high school in Dallas. Her widowed mother had big plans for young Louise and took her to California in 1923, with the intention of getting her into the film business. After several unsuccessful attempts, a bathing beauty competition in Long Beach resulted in a second-prize letter of introduction to 'Herbert Brenon' , Mary spent her retirement fulfilling a lifelong passion for portrait painting.
Once engaged to Cary Grant and once to Dick Powell.
When she was cast as Wendy in 1924s Peter Pan , Paramount cut two years off her age because 18 sounded too old for the part.
Painting portraits was a hobby she picked up later in life.
Was considered for the role of Scarlett OHara in Gone with the Wind .
[on the marriage of Edmund Lowe and Lilyan Tashman] They played both,sides of the tracks.
[on working with William Haines in Brown of Harvard] When his friend,Jimmy Shields, used to come on the quite often to see him, I think I,just took it for granted.
You admired them for their talent. It was no big deal. If there was a,big set party, there was never any division there. Franklin Pangborn.
