Here is the biography of Marian Marsh:
Marian Marsh, born Violet Ethelred Krauth on October 17, 1913, was a young actress who enjoyed a short yet significant film career in the 1930s. She was known for her doll-faced beauty, wide-eyed innocence, and delicate screen presence. Marsh was the youngest of four children born to a German chocolate manufacturer and his French-English wife. The family moved to Massachusetts during World War I, where Marsh developed an appreciation for the arts and theater.
Marsh's older sister Jean Fenwick was a student at Paramount's Astoria studio and later a Paramount contract player. When Jean signed a contract with FBO Pictures in Hollywood, the Krauth family moved to the West Coast. Marsh attended La Conte Junior High School and later Hollywood High. In 1928, Jean helped Marsh secure a screen test with Pathe Studios, which promptly signed her but dropped her after a short film appearance.
Marsh studied acting and voice with Nance O'Neil and was signed by Warners in 1929. She changed her name to Marilyn Morgan and then to Marian Marsh. Despite appearances in 30 short films and a small part in Hell's Angels (1930),Marsh's career seemed headed to oblivion until she won the role of her life in Svengali (1931),a film remake of George L. Du Maurier's novel "Trilby".
The immense critical and financial success of Svengali combined with Marsh's rave reviews to raise her Hollywood stock. She became one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars of 1931 and was cast as virginal heroines in a series of films. However, just when it appeared as if Marsh was on the verge of superstardom, she seemed to fall out of favor at Warners. After the critical failure of Under Eighteen (1931),Marsh rebelled against the studio, which retaliated by not picking up her option.
Marsh's career never fully recovered, and she continued to make films overseas and at minor studios. In 1935, she signed a two-year pact with Columbia Pictures and tried to resurrect her career. Of the eight Columbia pictures she made during the period 1935-36, four were memorable. Marsh's performance in Crime and Punishment (1935) is considered one of the best of her career.
Marsh married stockbroker Albert Scott in 1938 and drifted away from acting. She made only five more feature films, including House of Errors (1942),which is her last film to date. In the late 1950s, Marsh was briefly lured back to acting, appearing in an episode of the popular sitcom "Bachelor Father" and an episode of Schlitz Playhouse (1951) before retiring in 1959.
Marsh married aviation pioneer and wealthy entrepreneur Clifford Henderson in 1960 and moved to Palm Desert, California. She founded Desert Beautiful, a non-profit, all-volunteer conservation organization to promote environmental and beautification programs. After Cliff Henderson died in 1984, Marsh continued to live in the Henderson ranch house, continuing her charitable work. Marsh remained in Palm Desert through 2005 and died in 2006.
