Althea Henley was an American film actress and dancer. She appeared in approximately 15 films between 1930

1930 in film

-Events:* November 1: The Big Trail featuring a young John Wayne in his first starring role is released in both 35mm, and a very early form of 70mm film and was the first large scale big-budget film of the sound era costing over $2 million. The film was praised for its aesthetic quality and realism...

 and 1936

1936 in film

The year 1936 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 29 - Fritz Lang's first Hollywood film Fury, starring Spencer Tracy and Bruce Cabot, is released.*November 6 - first Porky Pig animated cartoon...

.

Career

Born in Egypt, Pennsylvania

Egypt, Pennsylvania

Egypt is an unincorporated community in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States, about north of Allentown and west of Cementon. Egypt is located on Pennsylvania Route 329, just west of its intersection with Pennsylvania Route 145 at Eagle Point.The population of Egypt is...

, Henley was the second of four children. She was trained as a dancer while growing up near Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...

, and eventually moved to New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 to appear in vaudeville

Vaudeville

Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...

. While in New York, Henley performed in Florenz Ziegfeld

Florenz Ziegfeld

Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. , , was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the Ziegfeld Follies , inspired by the Folies Bergère of Paris. He also produced the musical Show Boat...

's "Show Girl".

Henley moved to Hollywood and appeared in several films for Fox Film Corporation and Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...

. Her roles were restricted to those of a showgirl

Showgirl

A showgirl is a dancer or performer in a stage entertainment show. Showgirl is also often used as a term for a promotional model in trade fairs and car shows, etc...

 or other romantic interests. Modern viewers will remember her as a sound stage

Sound stage

In common usage, a sound stage is a soundproof, hangar-like structure, building, or room, used for the production of theatrical filmmaking and television production, usually located on a secure movie studio property.-Overview:...

 girl from the Three Stooges film Movie Maniacs

Movie Maniacs

Movie Maniacs is the thirteenth short subject film starring American slapstick comedy trio the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...

. She also appeared with the comedy team in the films Three Little Beers

Three Little Beers

Three Little Beers is the 11th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...

and Ants in the Pantry

Ants in the Pantry

Ants in the Pantry is the 12th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...

. Henley also had bit part

Bit part

A bit part is a supporting acting role with at least one line of dialogue . In British television, bit parts are referred to as under sixes...

s in such films as Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town is a 1936 American screwball comedy film directed by Frank Capra, and starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur in her first featured role...

and George White's Scandals

George White's Scandals

George White's Scandals were a long-running string of Broadway revues produced by George White that ran from 1919–1939, modelled after the Ziegfeld Follies. The "Scandals" launched the careers of many entertainers, including W.C. Fields, the Three Stooges, Ray Bolger, Helen Morgan, Ethel Merman, ...

. But she is most known for her role in the movie "Up the River" She was married shortly thereafter and retired from Hollywood.
Henley died in Bermuda with both her sons by her side in her home in Smiths Perish Bermuda in 1996.

Personal life

Henley was married several times. Her first marriage was in April 1934, in which she eloped with radio personality Hugh Ernst. They divorced shortly thereafter. Her second marriage was to British automobile businessman Arthur Markham, Son of Sir AB Markham in April 1938, and later relocated to London, England. Her final marriage was to William J Begg, Vice president of Michael J Hamilburg agency (Hollywood). The family retired to Bermuda in the 1960's where she died. Her first son Michael A Markham Esq. Still resides in Bermuda.

External links