Ona Munson, an American actress born on June 16, 1903, rose to fame on Broadway as the singing and dancing ingenue in the original production of No, No, Nanette, introducing the song "You're the Cream in My Coffee" in the 1927 Broadway musical Hold Everything.
She transitioned to a successful stage and radio career in the 1930s, starring in various productions, including Going Wild, Hot Heiress, Broadminded, and Five Star Final. After a brief retirement, Munson returned to the screen in 1938.
When David O. Selznick cast his production Gone with the Wind, Munson impressed with her screen test, showcasing her deep and throaty voice, conveying sexiness and worldliness. Her portrayal of prostitute Belle Watling earned her widespread recognition, but her subsequent roles were typecast, often portraying madams or characters with similar characteristics.
Munson's notable works include Josef von Sternberg's film noir The Shanghai Gesture, where she played a significant role as a Chinese madam. In recognition of her contribution to the motion picture industry, Ona Munson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6211 Hollywood Boulevard.
Throughout her life, Munson was married three times, to Edward Buzzell, Stewart McDonald, and Eugene Berman. However, her life was marked by struggles, and in 1955, at the age of 51, she committed suicide by overdosing on barbiturates in her New York apartment, leaving behind a note that read, "This is the only way I know to be free again...Please don't follow me."
