Celebrate the Fabulous Mae West Birthday with 20 stunning images of this Hollywood Sex Symbol and Icon
The glamorous and iconic actress was born on this day in 1893
Celebrate the Fabulous Mae West Birthday with 20 stunning images of this Hollywood Sex Symbol and Icon
Mary Jane West was born on August 17, 1893, in New York, one of the first cinematic sex symbols, blonde bombshells and vamps, with an image she cultivated during over 7 decades and endures to this day, still glamorous and iconic as ever. Mae West remains one of the most popular actresses from Hollywood’s golden age, with her lighthearted bawdy double entendres and breezy sexual independence. She paved the way to classic movie star sex symbol as we know it, influencing icons such as Marilyn Monroe or Jane Mansfield, and was one of the more controversial movie stars of her day and coming across many problems, especially censorship. When her cinematic career ended, she wrote books and plays and continued to perform in Las Vegas, in the United Kingdom, on radio and television and to record rock and roll albums. She was once asked about the various efforts to impede her career, to which she replied: “I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it.” We’ve gathered 20 stunning pictures of this Hollywood icon, that passed away on November 22, 1980, aged 87.
Life and Career
Mae West was born Mary Jane West on August 17, 1893, in Brooklyn, New York. She was the daughter of Matilda “Tillie” Doelger, a German immigrant and former model, and John Patrick West, a boxer turned “special investigator” (sometimes described as a “private detective”). From a young age, West was drawn to the stage, making her first public performance at the age of five in a church social. By the time she was in her early teens, she was performing in vaudeville, where she developed her stage presence and comedic timing.
West’s early career in vaudeville and the theater was marked by her bold and unconventional style. She quickly gained a reputation for her suggestive and risqué humor, which was considered controversial at the time. In 1926, she wrote, produced, and starred in her first Broadway play, Sex. The play was a hit with audiences but scandalized critics and law enforcement. West was arrested and convicted on charges of “corrupting the morals of youth,” serving ten days in jail. This incident only increased her fame and solidified her image as a provocative and daring performer.
Her subsequent Broadway plays, including The Drag (1927), which dealt with homosexuality, and Diamond Lil (1928), a melodrama about a bawdy entertainer, further established West as a boundary-pushing figure in American theater. Diamond Lil became one of her signature roles, and its success led to her transition to Hollywood.
Mae West made her film debut in 1932 at the age of 39, a relatively late start for a Hollywood star. She was given a small role in Night After Night, but her presence overshadowed the lead actors, and her wit and charisma made an instant impact. Her line, “Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie,” became one of her most famous quotes.
West’s first starring role came in 1933 with She Done Him Wrong, a film adaptation of her stage play Diamond Lil. The movie was a massive success and is often credited with saving Paramount Pictures from bankruptcy. Her next film, I’m No Angel (1933), was equally successful and solidified her status as a top box-office draw. West became known for her double entendres, sexual innuendos, and sharp wit, making her one of the most famous and talked-about stars of the 1930s.
Throughout the 1930s, West continued to write and star in a series of popular films, including Belle of the Nineties (1934), Goin’ to Town (1935), and Klondike Annie (1936). However, as Hollywood became more regulated by the Hays Code, which enforced stricter moral guidelines in films, West’s brand of humor and sexuality faced increasing censorship. Despite this, she remained a significant figure in Hollywood and continued to be a major box-office draw.
In the 1940s, as the Hays Code tightened and World War II changed the landscape of entertainment, West’s film career began to slow down. She made a few more movies, including My Little Chickadee (1940), where she co-starred with W.C. Fields, but by the mid-1940s, she had largely retired from film.
West returned to the stage in the 1950s and 1960s, performing in Las Vegas and touring with revivals of her plays. She also made occasional television appearances, bringing her unique brand of humor to a new generation of fans.
In 1970, she made a comeback with the film Myra Breckinridge, although it was not well-received. Her final film was Sextette (1978), a campy comedy that reflected her persona as an ageless, witty, and sexually confident woman.
Mae West was known for her independence and business savvy. She carefully controlled her image and career, often writing her own material and making strategic decisions about her public persona. Despite her many portrayals of the flirtatious, sexually liberated woman, West was private about her personal life. She never had children and was married twice, although she kept her first marriage to Frank Wallace, which occurred in 1911, secret for many years.
West lived a luxurious life in Hollywood, where she became known for her glamorous lifestyle and sharp wit. Even in her later years, she maintained her distinctive style and persona.
Mae West passed away on November 22, 1980, at the age of 87 in Los Angeles, California. She left behind a legacy as one of the first women in Hollywood to assert control over her career, writing her own material and creating a persona that challenged the conventional norms of femininity and sexuality.
Today, Mae West’s influence can still be seen in the worlds of comedy, film, and theater. She remains an iconic figure in American popular culture, remembered for her sharp wit, bawdy humor, and indomitable spirit. She paved the way for future generations of performers who sought to break free from societal constraints and express their individuality.
By Ken Warren, 2017/18
Also watch a compilation of some of the best and classic Mae West lines in movies
Watch more related videos
Images and photographs can be from different ranges of sources such as Pinterest, Tumblr etc. except when/where noted. If you are the copyright holder and would like them removed or credited, please get in touch.
