Gloria Warren

Gloria Warren ( Weiman; April 7, 1926 – September 11, 2021) was an American actress, soprano singer, and philanthropist.

Early years Warren was born Gloria Weiman on April 7, 1926 in Wilmington, Delaware. Her mother, Julia Weiss Weiman, was from Budapest, Hungary, and her father, Herman Weiman, a jeweler and watchmaker, was from Poland. Warner Brothers insisted that she change her last name to Warren when she signed with them in 1941 at age 15, so her parents and sister, June, agreed to change their last names too. She started playing the piano at age eight, and was considered a prodigy by the time she was nine years old. She attended Warner Junior High School in Wilmington, Delaware.

Career Gloria Warren was "discovered" in 1940, after her mother, Julia, convinced radio producer Charles Martin to let Gloria perform for him. It was the Golden Age of Radio, and Martin, who was always looking for new talent, was extremely impressed with Gloria's beautiful soprano voice, and how well she played the piano and danced.

In 1943, Gloria Warren appeared on Broadway as one of the stars of the musical “What’s Up,” which was the first Broadway stage collaboration of composer Frederick Loewe and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner.

Also in 1943, Gloria Warren starred in Cinderella Swings It opposite Guy Kibbee. In 1946 she starred in the film Don't Gamble with Strangers, and that year was cast in a smaller role in the Charlie Chan film Dangerous Money. Her last film was Bells of San Fernando (1947), in which she shared top billing with Donald Woods. She retired from film acting afterwards. Her singing voice was often compared to that of Deanna Durbin.

Personal life She married businessman Peter Gold in 1946. They had two children together, Melinda Gold Wiltsie and Daniel Gold. They regularly donated to Pitzer College. Peter died on April 17, 2010, at the age of 85.

Gloria Warren died in Los Angeles, California, on September 11, 2021, at the age of 95.

Filmography Always in My Heart (1942) Cinderella Swings It (1943) Dangerous Money (1946) Don't Gamble with Strangers (1946) Bells of San Fernando (1947)