Muriel Angelus, a London-born leading lady, had a career marked by both forgettable and memorable moments. Born Muriel Findlay on March 10, 1909, to Scottish parents, she was the daughter of a chemist. Her early life was filled with music, as she developed a sweet-voiced soprano and made her singing debut at the age of 12.
Muriel's career began in music halls, where she became a popular performer. She made her West End debut in the musical production of "The Vagabond King" in 1927. Her transition to film came towards the end of the silent era, with her first film being "The Ringer" in 1928. This was the first of three movie versions of the Edgar Wallace play.
Muriel's early film career was marked by a series of silent films, including "Sailors Don't Care" (1928),"The Infamous Lady" (1928),and "Mascottchen" (1929). She met her first husband, John Stuart, on the set of "Sailors Don't Care". Her part was eventually excised from the film.
With the advent of sound in films, Muriel moved into leading femme parts. Her first sound film was "Night Birds" (1930),in which she got to sing a number. She went on to co-star with her husband in the romantic comedy "No Exit" (1930) and appeared opposite others in the Edgar Wallace crimer "Red Aces" (1930),the comedies "Let's Love and Laugh" (1931) and "My Wife's Family" (1931),and the crime stories "Detective Lloyd" (1932) and "Blind Spot" (1932).
Muriel's career received a boost with her success in the musical "Balalaika" on the London stage. This led to her securing the pivotal role of Adriana in "The Boys From Syracuse" and a contract with Paramount Pictures. After her divorce from Stuart, Muriel settled in Hollywood and made her best-known films there.
Some of her most notable films include "The Light That Failed" (1939),"The Way of All Flesh" (1940),"Safari" (1940),and "The Great McGinty" (1940). She retired from acting in the mid-1940s and married Radio City Music Hall orchestra conductor Paul Lavalle in 1946. They had a daughter, Suzanne, who later worked for NBC.
Muriel stayed out of the limelight for the remainder of her life, passing away at the age of 95 in a Virginia nursing home on August 22, 2004, seven years after her husband's death.
