Acting
Marilyn Knowlden
Marilyn Knowlden, born in 1927, embarked on her remarkable journey into the world of cinema at the tender age of four. With the help of her father, an attorney, she was quickly cast in a significant role in the early sound film "Women Love Once" (1931). Over the next decade, she captivated audiences as the daughter of renowned actresses such as Claudette Colbert, Katharine Hepburn, Norma Shearer, and others.
Knowlden's filmography includes several cinematic classics, notably "Angels with Dirty Faces" (1938), "David Copperfield" (1935), and "Les Misérables" (1935), where she portrayed the young Cosette. Throughout her career, she appeared in six films nominated for the Academy Award for Best Production, sharing the screen with legendary talents like Fredric March, Charles Laughton, and Bette Davis.
After her acting career, Marilyn settled into family life, raising four children while also pursuing her creative passions as a composer and playwright. She wrote music and lyrics for ten musicals, including "I'm Gonna Get You in the Movies!", drawing inspiration from her early experiences in the industry.
In a stunning return to the stage after a 50-year break, she graced San Diego's theater scene in 1994, performing in over 20 productions, including roles in "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "My Fair Lady." In 2011, she published her autobiography, "Little Girl in Big Pictures." Marilyn Knowlden passed away on September 15, 2025, in Eagle, Idaho, leaving behind a legacy of talent and creativity.
