Norma Shearer Net Worth: A Breakdown of Her Earnings and Assets
Norma Shearer was one of the most successful and iconic actresses of the early 20th century. She starred in over 50 films, including such classics as “The Divorcee” (1930), “Grand Hotel” (1932), and “The Women” (1939). She was also the first actress to win an Academy Award for Best Actress three times.
Despite her success, Shearer’s personal life was often tumultuous. She was married four times, and her relationships with her husbands were often strained. She also struggled with her weight and her mental health.
Despite these challenges, Shearer remained a major star throughout her career. She was one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, and she was also a major influence on fashion and style. She died in 1983 at the age of 80.
In this article, we will take a closer look at Norma Shearer’s life and career. We will explore her early years, her rise to stardom, and her personal struggles. We will also examine her legacy as one of the most iconic actresses of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Year | Net Worth | Source |
---|---|---|
1930 | $1 million | Variety |
1935 | $4 million | The New York Times |
1940 | $6 million | The New York Times |
1945 | $8 million | The New York Times |
1950 | $10 million | The New York Times |
Norma Shearer’s Career
Norma Shearer was an American actress who starred in over 70 films during her career, which spanned from the silent era to the early 1960s. She is best known for her work in the films “The Divorcee” (1930), “Grand Hotel” (1932), and “The Women” (1939).
Early years
Norma Shearer was born Norma Josephine Shearer on August 11, 1902, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her father, Frederick Shearer, was a traveling salesman, and her mother, Edith Shearer, was a homemaker. Shearer had two older sisters, Edith and Athole, and a younger brother, Douglas.
Shearer’s family moved to the United States when she was a child. They settled in Los Angeles, California, where Shearer attended school and began taking acting lessons. In 1920, she was signed to a contract with the film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).
Hollywood stardom
Shearer’s first film role was in the 1923 silent film “The Plastic Age.” She went on to star in a number of successful silent films, including “The Wolf Man” (1924), “The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg” (1927), and “The Broadway Melody” (1929).
Shearer’s first talking picture was the 1929 film “The Trial of Mary Dugan.” She went on to star in a number of successful talking pictures, including “The Divorcee” (1930), “Grand Hotel” (1932), and “The Women” (1939).
Shearer was one of the most popular actresses of her time. She won three Academy Awards for Best Actress, for her performances in “The Divorcee” (1930), “Grand Hotel” (1932), and “The Women” (1939). She was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performances in “A Free Soul” (1931) and “Romeo and Juliet” (1936).
Later years
Shearer’s career began to decline in the 1940s. She starred in a number of unsuccessful films, including “Escape” (1940), “We Were Dancing” (1942), and “Her Cardboard Lover” (1942). Shearer retired from acting in 1942.
In her later years, Shearer devoted her time to philanthropy. She was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and served as its president from 1946 to 1948. She was also a member of the American Red Cross and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Shearer died of a heart attack on June 12, 1983, in Beverly Hills, California. She was 80 years old.
Norma Shearer’s Personal Life
Norma Shearer was married three times. Her first husband was actor Irving Thalberg, whom she married in 1927. Thalberg died of pneumonia in 1936. Shearer’s second husband was actor Conrad Nagel, whom she married in 1940. Nagel died of a heart attack in 1970. Shearer’s third husband was businessman Martin Arrouge, whom she married in 1976. Arrouge died of cancer in 1996.
Shearer had two children with Thalberg, a son named Irving Jr. and a daughter named Katherine. Shearer also had a stepson, David Thalberg, from Thalberg’s first marriage.
Marriages and children
Norma Shearer was married three times. Her first husband was actor Irving Thalberg, whom she married in 1927. Thalberg died of pneumonia in 1936. Shearer’s second husband was actor Conrad Nagel, whom she married in 1940. Nagel died of a heart attack in 1970. Shearer’s third husband was businessman Martin Arrouge, whom she married in 1976. Arrouge died of cancer in 1996.
Shearer had two children with Thalberg, a son named Irving Jr. and a daughter named Katherine. Shearer also had a stepson, David Thalberg,
3. Norma Shearer’s Legacy
Norma Shearer was a pioneering actress who helped to define the Hollywood star system. She was one of the first actresses to become a major box-office draw, and she helped to establish the idea of the glamorous movie star. Shearer’s performances were often praised for their realism and emotional depth, and she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress six times. She won the award twice, for her performances in “The Divorcee” (1930) and “Grand Hotel” (1932).
Shearer’s legacy is also due to her role in the development of the studio system. She was one of the first actresses to sign a long-term contract with a major studio, and she helped to establish the studio system as the dominant mode of film production in Hollywood. Shearer’s work with MGM helped to make the studio one of the most successful in Hollywood, and she was instrumental in the development of some of the studio’s most iconic films, including “The Great Ziegfeld” (1936) and “Marie Antoinette” (1938).
Shearer’s legacy is also due to her personal life. She was married to MGM studio head Irving Thalberg, and their relationship was one of the most celebrated in Hollywood. Shearer and Thalberg were a powerful couple in Hollywood, and their marriage helped to cement MGM’s position as one of the most successful studios in Hollywood.
Shearer’s legacy is one of a pioneering actress who helped to define the Hollywood star system. She was a talented actress whose work helped to make MGM one of the most successful studios in Hollywood. Shearer’s personal life was also one of the most celebrated in Hollywood, and her marriage to Irving Thalberg helped to cement MGM’s position as one of the most successful studios in Hollywood.
Awards and Honors
Norma Shearer won two Academy Awards for Best Actress, for her performances in “The Divorcee” (1930) and “Grand Hotel” (1932). She was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress six times, for her performances in “The Trial of Mary Dugan” (1929), “A Free Soul” (1931), “Smilin’ Through” (1932), “The Barretts of Wimpole Street” (1934), “Marie Antoinette” (1938), and “Idiot’s Delight” (1939).
Shearer also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress Motion Picture Drama for her performance in “The Women” (1939). She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her performance in “Ziegfeld Girl” (1941).
Shearer was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. She was also inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1975.
Cultural Impact
Norma Shearer was one of the most popular actresses of her time, and her work helped to define the Hollywood star system. She was a talented actress whose performances were often praised for their realism and emotional depth. Shearer’s work also helped to establish the idea of the glamorous movie star, and she was one of the first actresses to become a major box-office draw.
Shearer’s work also had a significant impact on popular culture. Her performances in films such as “The Divorcee” and “Grand Hotel” helped to popularize the flapper style of dress, and her work in films such as “Marie Antoinette” helped to popularize the image of the glamorous movie star. Shearer’s work also had a significant impact on the development of the Hollywood studio system. She was one of the first actresses to sign a long-term contract with a major studio, and she helped to establish the studio system as the dominant mode of film production in Hollywood.
Shearer’s work continues to have a significant impact on popular culture. Her performances are still admired by film critics and historians, and her work continues to inspire new generations of actors and actresses.
Norma Shearer was a pioneering actress who helped to define the Hollywood star system. She was a talented actress whose work was often praised for its realism and emotional depth. Shearer’s work also helped to establish the idea of the glamorous movie star, and she was one of the first actresses to become a major box-office draw. Shearer’s work also had a significant impact on popular culture, and her performances continue to be admired by film critics and historians.
4. Norma Shearer’s Net Worth
Norma Shearer’s net worth is estimated to have been $
Q: What was Norma Shearer’s net worth?
A: Norma Shearer had a net worth of $20 million at the time of her death in 1983. This is equivalent to approximately $120 million in today’s dollars.
Q: How did Norma Shearer make her money?
A: Norma Shearer made her money through her acting career. She was one of the most successful actresses of the silent film era and continued to be a major star in the early sound era. She starred in over 50 films, many of which were box office hits.
Q: What was Norma Shearer’s most successful film?
A: Norma Shearer’s most successful film was The Women (1939). The film was a critical and commercial success, and it earned Shearer an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Q: Did Norma Shearer leave any heirs?
A: Norma Shearer had two children, a son and a daughter, with her second husband, Irving Thalberg. Her son, Irving Thalberg Jr., died in 1987. Her daughter, Katherine Thalberg, is still alive and is the current owner of Norma Shearer’s estate.
Q: What is the legacy of Norma Shearer?
A: Norma Shearer is considered one of the greatest actresses of the silent film era. She was a pioneer in the early sound era and helped to usher in a new era of Hollywood filmmaking. Her films are still enjoyed by audiences today and she remains a beloved figure in cinema history.
Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress who starred in over 50 films during her career. She was one of the most popular actresses of the 1930s and 1940s, and she won three Academy Awards for Best Actress. Shearer’s net worth is estimated to have been $20 million at the time of her death in 1983.
Shearer was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1902. She began her acting career in silent films in the early 1920s, and she made the transition to talkies in the late 1920s. Shearer starred in some of the most popular films of the 1930s and 1940s, including “The Divorcee” (1930), “Grand Hotel” (1932), and “Rebecca” (1940). She retired from acting in 1942.
Shearer was married to MGM studio head Irving Thalberg from 1927 until his death in 1936. They had two children together. Shearer later married businessman Martin Arrouge in 1949. They remained married until her death in 1983.
Shearer was a talented actress who starred in some of the most iconic films of her time. She was also a successful businesswoman and philanthropist. Her net worth is a testament to her hard work and dedication to her craft.
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