May West
May West[edit | edit source]
May West was a renowned American actress, singer, playwright, screenwriter, comedian, and sex symbol. She was known for her lighthearted, bawdy double entendres and breezy sexual independence. West was active in vaudeville and on the stage in New York City before moving to Hollywood to become a comedian, actress, and writer in the motion picture industry.
Early Life[edit | edit source]
Born as Mary Jane West in Brooklyn, New York, on August 17, 1893, May West was the eldest surviving child of John Patrick West and Matilda "Tillie" Delker. Her father was a prizefighter known as "Battling Jack West" who later worked as a "special policeman" and then as a private investigator.
Career[edit | edit source]
West started her career in vaudeville in the Hal Clarendon Stock Company at the age of 14. She soon began writing her own plays under the pseudonym Jane Mast. Her first starring role on Broadway was in a play she titled Sex, which she also wrote, produced, and directed. Despite the controversy surrounding the play, it was a commercial success.
In 1932, she made her Hollywood debut in Night After Night. Her first starring role was in She Done Him Wrong (1933), which was a huge success and saved Paramount from bankruptcy. The film is also notable as one of Cary Grant's first major roles. West would later star with Grant again in I'm No Angel (1933), which was also a financial success and cemented West as a Hollywood star.
Later Life and Legacy[edit | edit source]
West continued to write, act in, and produce her own films throughout the 1930s. She was one of the highest-paid women in the United States and one of the few women of her time who had complete control over her career. She continued to perform in films and on stage until her death in 1980.
May West's legacy as a pioneering female figure in the entertainment industry continues to be celebrated today. Her influence can be seen in the work of many comedians and entertainers who followed in her footsteps.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- May West: Empress of Sex by Maurice Leonard
- Becoming Mae West by Emily Wortis Leider
- She Always Knew How: Mae West, a Personal Biography by Charlotte Chandler
External Links[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
