Astrid Allwyn

Lovely Connecticut-born blonde 'Astrid Allwyn' (qv), with her foreign-sounding name and icy countenance, spruced up a number of 1930s and early 1940s films. Of Swedish descent, she studied dancing and dramatics in New York and later gathered experience joining a stock company. Allwyn made her Broadway debut in 1929 in 'Elmer Rice' (qv)'s "Street Scene" and, on the strength of her second play "Once in a Lifetime," was brought to Hollywood in 1932.With the help of the 'Greta Garbo' (qv) craze, the chic, heart-shaped faced beauty managed to parlayed her placid Scandanavian allure into a film career. She made her debut supporting 'Constance Bennett' (qv) in the romantic comedy _Lady with a Past (1932)_ (qv) and continued to charm then harm as the "other woman" opposite many of the big male stars of the day -- 'Humphrey Bogart' (qv) in _Love Affair (1932)_ (qv), 'Lee Tracy' (qv) in _The Night Mayor (1932)_ (qv), 'James R. Murray' (qv) in _Bachelor Mother (1932)_ (qv), 'Lionel Atwill' (qv) in _Beggars in Ermine (1934)_ (qv), 'Lew Ayres' (qv) in _Servants' Entrance (1934)_ (qv), 'John Boles' (qv) in _The White Parade (1934)_ (qv), 'Spencer Tracy' (qv) in _It's a Small World (1935)_ (qv), 'Herbert Marshall' (qv) in _Accent on Youth (1935)_ (qv), 'Henry Fonda' (qv) in _Way Down East (1935)_ (qv), 'Fred MacMurray' (qv) in _Hands Across the Table (1935)_ (qv), 'Fred Astaire' (qv) in _Follow the Fleet (1936)_ (qv), 'William Gargan' (qv) in _Flying Hostess (1936)_ (qv), 'James Dunn' (qv) in _Venus Makes Trouble (1937)_ (qv), 'Alan Baxter' (qv) in _It Could Happen to You (1937)_ (qv), 'Preston Foster' (qv) in _The Westland Case (1937)_ (qv), 'Bruce Cabot' (qv) in _Love Takes Flight (1937)_ (qv), 'Robert Young' (qv) in _Miracles for Sale (1939)_ (qv) and 'Richard Dix' (qv) in _Reno (1939)_ (qv).Rarely placed in the leading lady position, Astrid was given few front-tier assignments aside from _Mystery Liner (1934)_ (qv), _International Crime (1938)_ (qv) and as the lady reporter opposite 'John Archer' (qv)'s cop in the crimer _City of Missing Girls (1941)_ (qv). She is probably better remembered for her support roles in the 'Charles Boyer' (qv)/'Irene Dunne' (qv) tearjerker _Love Affair (1939)_ (qv), as the scheming, predatory daughter of Senator 'Claude Rains' (qv) who focuses her sites on 'James Stewart' (qv) in the 'Frank Capra' (qv) classic _Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)_ (qv) and as a barfly in _No Hands on the Clock (1941)_ (qv).After filming _Hit Parade of 1943 (1943)_ (qv), Astrid made a decision to retire so she could on family and raising children. Briefly married to first husband/actor 'Robert Kent' (qv), the couple appeared together in the 'Shirley Temple' (qv) vehicle _Dimples (1936)_ (qv) and Astrid went on to provide her customary chilly demeanor to little Miss Temple later again in _Stowaway (1936)_ (qv). Married a second time in 1941 to businessman Charles O. Fee, a union that lasted until her death, they had two children -- 'Melinda O. Fee' (qv) and 'Vicki Fee' (qv), both of whom became actresses. Astrid died of cancer in 1978 at age 72, and was interred at Forest Lawn Glendale, Court of Freedom, #955.::Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net