Alla Nazimova, a Russian and Ukrainian-born actress, screenwriter, and film producer, was born on June 3, 1879, and passed away on July 13, 1945. She is best known by her stage name Nazimova, although she also went by Alia Nasimoff.
Nazimova emigrated to the United States from the Russian Empire and became a naturalized citizen in 1927. She began her career in the American theatre, making her Broadway debut in 1906 under the guidance of producer Henry Miller. Her performance was met with critical and popular acclaim, earning her the title of a major Broadway star.
Throughout her career, Nazimova appeared in numerous productions, including plays by Henrik Ibsen and Anton Chekhov. She was particularly renowned for her portrayal of Hedda Gabler, which was praised by Dorothy Parker as the finest she had ever seen.
Nazimova made her silent film debut in 1916 with the filmed version of the 35-minute play War Brides, produced by Lewis J. Selznick. Her early success in films led to a contract with Metro Pictures, a precursor to MGM, which included a weekly salary of $13,000.
Between 1917 and 1922, Nazimova wielded significant influence and power in Hollywood, using her position to mentor and support young actresses. She was known for her generosity and became romantically involved with at least some of the actresses she mentored.
However, by 1925, Nazimova's financial situation had deteriorated, and she was no longer able to invest in films. As a result, she returned to the stage, starring in notable productions such as Rouben Mamoulian's 1930 New York production of Turgenev's A Month in the Country and Ibsen's Ghosts.
In the early 1940s, Nazimova made a late return to film, appearing in a few movies, including Escape (1940) and Blood and Sand (1941). Her contributions to the film industry were recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Nazimova passed away on July 13, 1945, at the age of 66, due to a coronary thrombosis in the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. Her ashes were interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
