Sonia Darrin

Sonia Darrin (born Sonia Paskowitz; June 16, 1924 – July 19, 2020) was an American film actress, best known for her role as Agnes Lowzier in The Big Sleep.

Early years Darrin was born to Louis and Rose Paskowitz, the New York-born off-spring of Jewish emigrants from Russia, who lived in Galveston, Texas.

Career The family lived in San Diego for a period, during which her dancing teacher was Adolph Bolm. When Bolm was asked to choreograph The Corsican Brothers (1941), he used the entire class. This led Darrin to be interviewed by LeRoy Prinz, the dancing director at Warner Brothers, leading to a small role in The Hard Way (1943). and had been the guest of honor at a promotional event held on August 14 at the Pelham Heath Inn in the Bronx, (presumably organized by her agent Arthur Pine, who also represented the venue). Darrin learned years later that this snub had resulted from a heated dispute between Pine and studio chief Jack Warner. Pine's best efforts notwithstanding, neither this broadcast nor the August 14 dinner appears to have had any appreciable effect on Darrin's lack of recognition.

Several years later, Darrin did finally receive an onscreen credit for her signature performance, when she recreated the role of Agnes in a television adaptation which aired on September 25, 1950, on Robert Montgomery Presents. She also worked with Ed Wynn and Alan Young on their early television programs. and in a documentary film about her brother, Dorian, in 2007.

She resided on the Upper West Side of Manhattan for over 50 years. Darrin died of natural causes in New York City on July 19, 2020, at the age of 96. She was the last surviving cast member of The Big Sleep. (The last credited member of the cast to pass away was Dorothy Malone who died in January 2018.)

Filmography