Georgiana Young

Summary

Georgiana Young (née Belzer; September 10, 1924[2] – November 13, 2007)[a] was an American actress and the maternal younger half-sister of actresses Loretta Young, Polly Ann Young and Sally Blane. She had a brief career in film, appearing alongside her sisters in the biographical drama The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939), followed by bit parts in two other films. She was the wife of Mexican actor Ricardo Montalbán from 1944 until her death.

Georgiana Young
Georgiana Young in 1938
Born
Georgiana Belzer

September 10, 1924[1]
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedNovember 13, 2007 (aged 83)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1939–1949
Spouse
(m. 1944)
Children4
Family

Biography edit

 
Young with husband Ricardo Montalbán (c. 1950)

Georgiana Young was born in 1924, the daughter of George Uncus Belzer and Gladys Royal (formerly Young).[3][4] She was raised Roman Catholic,[5] along with her half-sisters, actresses Loretta Young, Polly Ann Young and Sally Blane.[6] At age thirteen, she was signed to a seven-year film contract.[7] Her first acting role was a minor part in Mad About Music with Deanna Durbin, though her scenes were ultimately cut from the film.[7]

Her acting career was short-lived, though she appeared in a further three films. Her debut role was as Berta Hubbard, sister of Mabel Gardiner Hubbard, in Irving Cummings's 1939 biographical film The Story of Alexander Graham Bell, opposite her half-sisters Loretta (as Mabel), Sally and Polly Ann.[8] She would later have bit parts in two other films: No, No, Nanette (1940) and Border Incident (1949), the latter of which starred her husband, actor Ricardo Montalbán, whom she married in 1944.[9]

Personal life edit

After seeing her performance in The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939), 18-year-old Ricardo Montalbán – who split his time between his schooling in Los Angeles (living with his brother) and working in his father's store in Torreón, Mexico – became enamored of the 15-year-old Young.[10]

Montalbán had started his own stage and film career when the two later met on a blind date, with Montalbán proposing that evening, later stating "It took a week to persuade her."[10] They married in 1944, and had four children together.[11][12]

Georgiana Young (also known as Georgiana Young Montalbán and Georgiana Young de Montalbán) died in 2007, aged 83, of undisclosed causes.[13]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1939 The Story of Alexander Graham Bell Berta Hubbard
1940 No, No, Nanette Show Girl Uncredited
1949 Border Incident Woman Uncredited
1972 This Is Your Life Herself Episode "Don Rickles"

Notes edit

  1. ^ Sources vary regarding Young's birthdate; most state her birth year as 1924 with different dates, some noting September 10, and others September 30.

References edit

  1. ^ Date of birth, California Birth Index. Accessed March 20, 2023.
  2. ^ Date of birth, California Birth Index. Accessed March 20, 2023.
  3. ^ Capace 2001, p. 210.
  4. ^ Porter 2001, p. 244.
  5. ^ Davis 2001, p. 47.
  6. ^ Vazzana 2011, p. 50.
  7. ^ a b "13-Year-Old Follows Kin to Film Fame". Hartford Courant. May 15, 1938. p. 59 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Shilling 2013, p. 222.
  9. ^ "Ricardo Montalban and Georgiana Young". About.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017.
  10. ^ a b Smilgis, Martha (April 18, 1978). "Cast Off in Hollywood, Ricardo Montalban Lands Safely on 'Fantasy Island'". People. Vol. 9, no. 15. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  11. ^ Munoz, Lorenza (January 15, 2009). "Suave actor Ricardo Montalban dies". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ Evanier, Mark. "Wednesday January 14, 2009 – Ricardo Montalban, R.I.P." News From Me Archives. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009.
  13. ^ Muñoz, Lorenza (January 15, 2009). "Ricardo Montalbán dies at 88; 'Fantasy Island' actor". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 17, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2023.

Bibliography edit

  • Capace, Nancy (2001). Encyclopedia of Utah. North American Book Distributors. ISBN 978-0-403-09609-1.
  • Davis, Ronald L. (2001). Duke: The Life and Image of John Wayne. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 0-8061-3329-5.
  • Porter, Darwin (2001). Hollywood's Silent Closet. Georgia Liter Association. ISBN 978-0-966-80302-0.
  • Shilling, Donovan A. (2013). Rochester's Movie Mania. Pancoast Publishing. ISBN 978-0-982-10904-5.
  • Vazzana, Eugene Michael (2011). Silent Film Necrology (2nd ed.). McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-44515-8.

External links edit