Polly Moran

Pauline Theresa "Polly" Moran (June 28, 1883 – January 25, 1952) was an American actress and comedian.

Career

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Moran started out in vaudeville, and widely toured North America, as well as various other locations that included Europe and South Africa. An attractive Irish beauty, she left vaudeville in 1914 after signing for Mack Sennett at Keystone Studios as one of his Sennett Bathing Beauties. There she honed the style of the brash loud-mouth knock-about comedian for which she later became known. She proved effective at slapstick and remained with Sennett for several years until she was signed by MGM.

She partnered with the famous Broadway star Marie Dressler in The Callahans and the Murphys (1927), and the two went on to appear in several films together such as Chasing Rainbows (1930) and Caught Short (1930). After Dressler's death in 1934 Moran's career declined, and she only starred in low-budget comedies or B-movies. In 1940, Moran retired to her home in Laguna Beach, California but maintained an active Hollywood social life and was known for practical jokes. She once ran a failed campaign for a Laguna Beach City Council seat on a "Pro Dogs" platform.