Marjorie Deanne: Movies & Filmography

Marjorie Deanne, born Clara Pauline Baughton on January 28, 1917, in Brownsville, Texas, was an American film actress whose career flourished during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Before entering the world of Hollywood, she achieved notable recognition by winning the Miss Texas of 1935 beauty contest, a prestigious state-level title that helped launch her public career and put her on the radar of talent scouts in the entertainment industry. Following her pageant success, Deanne worked as a representative for a shirt and hosiery manufacturing company, gaining valuable experience in the public eye and learning the business side of consumer marketing before transitioning to her true passion for acting. Deanne began her film career in 1938 and went on to appear in over 25 films during her relatively brief but prolific five-year career, which officially ended in 1943. She became particularly memorable to modern audiences for her roles in several iconic Three Stooges short films, including Violent Is the Word for Curly, Dutiful But Dumb, and Matri-Phony, showcasing her excellent comedic timing, expressive screen presence, and natural ability to play off the slapstick humor of the era. On March 19, 1944, shortly after stepping away from acting, she married Albert Manuck in New Orleans, Louisiana, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her personal life away from the silver screen. Deanne passed away on May 21, 1994, in Redwood City, California, at the age of 77, leaving behind a legacy as a recognizable face of early Hollywood comedy. Though her time in the film industry was relatively short compared to many of her contemporaries, her memorable contributions to the Three Stooges filmography have ensured that she remains a fondly remembered figure among classic comedy enthusiasts and historians of early American cinema alike.