The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress was awarded to Alice Brady in 1938 for her portrayal of Mrs. Molly O'Leary in the historical film In Old Chicago. Born Mary Rose Brady in New York City in 1892, she established a prolific career that spanned two decades of silent cinema and the transition into talkies.
Early Stage Career
The daughter of theatrical producer William A. Brady and French actress Rose Marie René, Brady expressed interest in acting early in life. She made her stage debut in 1911 in the operetta The Balkan Princess, performing under the name Mary Rose. By 1912, she secured her first major professional achievement by originating the role of Meg March in the stage adaptation of Little Women. She maintained a consistent Broadway presence for over twenty years, appearing in diverse productions including Eugene O'Neill's 1931 premiere of Mourning Becomes Electra.
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Brady followed her father into the film industry in 1914, making her silent feature debut in As Ye Sow. Based in New York, she appeared in 53 films during her first decade on screen. In 1923, she stepped away from motion pictures to focus exclusively on theater work. She returned to the screen in 1933 after moving to Hollywood, where she successfully navigated the technical shift to sound films. Her MGM debut in When Ladies Meet marked the beginning of a late-career surge that yielded 25 film appearances over seven years.
Awards and Legacy
Her work in Hollywood earned her two consecutive Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress. Following a nomination for My Man Godfrey in 1936, she secured the award in 1938. Despite conflicting historical accounts regarding the physical handling of the trophy during the ceremony, official records confirm her win for In Old Chicago. Brady continued working until 1939, when she completed her final film, Young Mr. Lincoln. She died of cancer in New York City on October 28, 1939.
Fast facts
- Born: 1892, New York City
- Died: 1939, New York City
- Burial: Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
- Academy Award win: 1938
- Hollywood Walk of Fame star: 1960
- First Broadway role: Little Women (1912)
- Final film: Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)
Questions readers ask
Did Alice Brady really lose her Oscar at the ceremony?
No. While a myth suggests her plaque was stolen by an impostor, records indicate that director Henry King accepted the award on her behalf and delivered it to her home that night.
How many films did Alice Brady appear in?
Brady appeared in more than 80 films throughout her career, including over 50 silent films and 25 sound features.
Achievements
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress — 1938
- Worked as film actor, stage actor and actor
