Little-remembered Gloria Dickson as featured in the 1940 drama I WANT A DIVORCE. For her first film she was given the leading role in the 1937 drama “They Won't Forget”, a film which also introduced a young Lana Turner to audiences. Her performance got rave reviews and she was called the "luckiest girl in Hollywood". Gloria continued to get good roles in “Gold Diggers In Paris” (1938), “They Made Me A Criminal” (1939), and “I Want A Divorce” (1940). After leaving MGM, her career stalled somewhat and she could only get small roles in films such as “The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine (1942) and “Lady Of Burlesque” (1943). By 1944, Gloria was unemployed and gaining a lot of weight and was also struggling with a serious alcohol problem. On April 10, 1945, Gloria was taking a nap when the house caught on fire, caused by an unextinguished cigarette that ignited an overstuffed chair on the main floor. She tried to escape but ended up trapped in a bathroom. Tragically she suffered second-degree burns and died from asphyxiation. She was only 27 years old. Color enhanced image by Hollywood Pinups from the b&w original.
