Gwen Lee

Gwen Lee was born Gwendolyn Lepinski in 1904 in Hastings, Nebraska. She was a department store model and later while appearing in a stage production, she was discovered by director Monta Bell. In 1925, she was given a contract by MGM and appeared in such films as "A Lady of the Night" with Norma Shearer and loaned out to appear with Cl;ara Bow i "The Pastic Age" that same year. She was named a WAMPAS Baby Star in 1928 and continued to be a favorite supporting extra for MGM with such films as "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" (1928) with Lon Chaney and on into sound pictures with "Untamed" (1929) and "Paid" (1930), both with Joan Crawford. After leaving (or being released) from MGM in 1931, she continued in minor roles in the 1930's for such studios as Mascot, Monogram, Columbia, Mayfair, and other low budget studios with her last appearance in "Paroled from the Big House" in 1938. From 1925-1938, she appeared in 67 films. The only bad publicity she encountered was in 1932 when her mother sued her ina petition for guardianship claiming Lee was incompetent to handle her own affairs. The suit was dropped, but later that same year, she was sued by two clothiers for nonpayment. She died in 1961 in Reno, Nevada.

Selected films of this star available for viewing:

Lady of the Night (1925)

Orchids and Ermine (1927)

Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928)

A Lady of Chance (1928)

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