Sheila Terry

Sheila Terry

1910-03-05 – 1957-01-19 (age 46) Warroad, Minnesota, USA
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Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sheila Terry (March 5, 1910 โ€“ January 19, 1957) was an American film actress. She was born Kay Clark in Warroad, Minnesota. Terry first studied dramatics at Dickson-Kenwin academy, a school affiliated with London's Royal Academy. Later she moved to New York, where she continued her studies and appeared in a number of plays. While appearing on Broadway in The Little Racketeer, she was spotted by an alert film scout and given a test which led to a contract with Warner Bros.

She played in 1930s for Warner Bros. She appeared with John Wayne in the Western films Haunted Gold (1932); Neath the Arizona Skies and The Lawless Frontier (1934). She appeared with Bette Davis, Louis Calhern and Spencer Tracy in 20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932). She appeared with Cary Grant and Sylvia Sidney in Marion Gering's film Madame Butterfly (1932). In 1933 she left Hollywood briefly for the New York stage. She married Major Laurence E. Clark, a wealthy Toronto socialite on August 16, 1928. She divorced him February 16, 1934. In 1937, she married William Magee of San Francisco, and retired from show business. After his death, Terry wanted to return to show business, but couldn't find a job.

In 1947, she said in a newspaper-interview: "I'm going back into show business and I need an act, I can't sing, I can't dance and I can't play the piano. I should be terrific in night clubs". She worked as a press agent for 15 years.

In January 1957, her body was discovered in the third floor apartment, which was both her home and office. A friend and neighbour, Jerry Keating, went to the apartment when he failed to reach her on the telephone. The door was locked, and Terry did not answer the bell. Keating called the police; they broke in and found Terry's body on the bedroom floor, her back leaning against the bed. Five capsules, their contents gone, were on the floor beside her.

Friends told the police that she returned from a trip to Mexico a few days before her death and that she was ill when she came home. It was later discovered that she died broke; she left only a scanty wardrobe. She was buried in Potter's Field in New York City.

Photos

Known For

Madame Butterfly
Madame Butterfly

1932

as Adelaide Pinkerton

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

1932

as Allen's Secretary (uncredited)

Parachute Jumper
Parachute Jumper

1933

as Weber's Secretary (uncredited)

Lawyer Man
Lawyer Man

1932

as Flo - Gilmurry's Moll (uncredited)

The Sphinx
The Sphinx

1933

as Jerry Crane

Social Error
Social Error

1935

as Sonia

Rocky Rhodes
Rocky Rhodes

1934

as Nan Street

Haunted Gold
Haunted Gold

1932

as Janet Carter

Three on a Match
Three on a Match

1932

as Naomi (uncredited)

20,000 Years in Sing Sing
20,000 Years in Sing Sing

1932

as Bud Saunders' Wife 'Babe' (uncredited)

Rescue Squad
Rescue Squad

1935

as Rose

They Call It Sin
They Call It Sin

1932

as Telephone Operator (uncredited)

The Lawless Frontier
Jewel Robbery
Jewel Robbery

1932

as Blonde Decoy (uncredited)

Murder on a Bridle Path
Murder on a Bridle Path

1936

as Violet Feverel

'Neath the Arizona Skies
'Neath the Arizona Skies

1934

as Clara Moore

Big City Blues
Big City Blues

1932

as Lorna St. Clair (uncredited)

Private Detective 62
Private Detective 62

1933

as Mrs. Wright (Uncredited)

Fury Below
Fury Below

1936

as Claire Johnson

The Mayor of Hell
The Mayor of Hell

1933

as Blonde with Mike