May West

May West

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

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

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

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

• Hollywood
• Vaudeville
• Cary Grant

References

• 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

• May West on IMDb
• May West on Britannica