Barbara Stanwyck was born on July 16, 1907 in New York City, New York. Her mother, Canadian immigrant, died when she was two years old and her father abandoned the family when she was four. Barbara Stanwyck grew up in foster homes and for sometime by her elder sister. She started to work at age 13, and soon became a fashion model and Ziegfield Girl when she was 15.

In 1926, Barbara Stanwyck started to perform at the Hudson Theatre in the drama The Noose, which was one of the most successful plays during that season. She worked with actors Wilfred Lucas and Rex Cherryman. She and Cherryman soon began a romantic relationship, but it was immediately cut short with the actor’s sudden demise due to septic poisoning in 1928 at the age of 30. Barbara Stanwyck’s rave reviews caught the attention of film producer Bob Kane and she was summoned for a screen test on his upcoming silent film Broadway Nights, which marked her first appearance on film.

From then on, Barbara Stanwyck appeared and starred on almost a hundred films during her career garnering a total of four Academy Award nominations for Best Actress in her roles in Stella Dallas, Ball of Fire and Sorry Wrong Number. She as well shared the big screen with Ronald Reagan in the 1954 Cattle Queen of Montana.

Barbara Stanwyck was also known for being one of the kindest people to ever live in Hollywood. According to director Frank Capra, she was ‘destined to be beloved by all directors, actors, crews and extras. In a Hollywood popularity contest she would win first prize hands down’.

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