Patricia Ellis

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Born in Patricia Leftwich Birmingham, Alabama, Ellis began her stage career on leaving school. Given a film test while appearing on stage in New York, she was put under contract by Warner Bros. In 1932 she had two small parts, both uncredited, in the films Three on a Match and Central Park. That same year she was one of fourteen girls chosen as WAMPAS Baby Stars. Ellis, at 16, was the youngest. Among the others selected that year were future Hollywood legends Ginger Rogers and Gloria Stuart.

Ellis's first credited role was the following year, in the 1933 film, The King's Vacation, starring George Arliss and Marjorie Gateson. With that film, her career took off, with her working steadily, starring mostly in lower budget B-movies, but still having her working steadily. She would have roles in eight films in 1933, costarring with James Cagney in Picture Snatcher, and another seven in 1934. She started 1935 off with A Night at the Ritz, in which she had the lead female role, opposite William Gargan. She would star in seven films that year, and another seven in 1936.

Starring alongside some of Hollywood's biggest names, including James Cagney, Ricardo Cortez, and Bela Lugosi, Ellis' career was at its peak by 1937. Most of her roles were in comedy films, with some also being mysteries or crime drama, and by 1936 almost all her roles had her playing the lead. She would star in five films that year, then only three in 1938, and two in 1939.

Personal life/death

She chose to retire by 1939, choosing to marry a successful businessman from Kansas City, Missouri named George T. O'Malley. Ellis left Hollywood behind her, and settled into life raising a family in Kansas City. She was an aunt of actor D. David Morin, who has appeared on television, including roles on Northern Exposure and CSI: Miami. His mother was Ellis' sister. Patricia Ellis remained married to O'Malley for the remainder of her life. She died from cancer, aged 53, on March 26, 1970, in Kansas City.

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