Myrna J. Darby (Myrna J. Darby)

Myrna J. Darby

Actress. Born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, she was said to be one of the most beautiful girls ever to appear in the Ziegfeld Follies. A blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty, she was discovered while performing in Pittsburgh at age 17 by Florenz Ziegfeld himself. She appeared in productions of “No Foolin'”, “Whoopee”, “Rio Rita”, “Rosalie”, “The Three Musketeers”, and “Follies”. In 1927 she posed for a Lucky Strike cigarette advertisement with fellow Ziegfeld Girls Murrell Finley, Blanche Satchell and Jean Ackerman.  While working, Myrna would bring homemade cookies to others on set, and showed kindness to all she encountered. She had many admirers, though in a melancholic twist not one of them attended her funeral. Her Broadway acquaintances slept too late that day,  and were all predisposed to attend to her in illness. Her hospital bills were paid by an anonymous donor, later found to be Mr. Larry Fay, a New York nightclub owner who barely knew her. He’d only met her once, but described her as the sweetest and prettiest girl he’d ever met.  Rumors surrounding her death guessed that she may have died of heartbreak, her engagement to a fur baron having been recently canceled. Another theory implied a sunstroke-induced heart infection, having received a severe sunburn while touring Europe. She died in New York City, at age 21. (bio by: StephanieSN)  Family links:  Parents:  Sarah Darby (1883 – 1975)Cause of death: Inflammation of the heart

Born

  • April, 10, 1908
  • USA

Died

  • September, 09, 1929
  • USA

Cause of Death

  • Inflammation of the heart

Cemetery

  • Woodlawn Cemetery
  • USA

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