Gloria Stuart is best known today for her Oscar-nominated performance as the older ‘Rose’ from box-office hit ‘Titanic’ but Stuart has an acting career going back to the 1930’s. The actress, who was diagnosed with lung cancer several years ago, died of the disease at the ripe age of 100 in her home in West Los Angeles.
Stuart revived her career after many years to play the Titanic survivor’s character and her performance made her the oldest candidate for Oscar nomination in history. In the 1930’s, the blonde actress starred in horror films and acted in musicals with notable performances in James Whale’s ‘The Old Dark House’ and ‘The Invisible Man’ which she starred alongside James Rain, who she called “vain.”
James Cameron, ‘Titanic’ director, said he was looking for an actress who’s glory days were the glamorous Hollywood ‘golden era’ of the 30s and 40s and Stuart fit that description. Stuart joked that he picked her because she was one of the only actresses in her age group “still viable, not alcoholic, rheumatic or falling down.”
Stuart appeared in over 40 films in the 1930’s but failed to breakthrough to superstardom. In 1999 she published her memoirs “I Just Keep Hoping” in which she commented on her late-to-flourish career: "When I graduated from Santa Monica High in 1927, I was voted the girl most likely to succeed. I didn't realize it would take so long."
Stuart leaves behind a daughter, four grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
