Brenda Marshall
A Hollywood leading lady of the 1940s who shared the screen with Errol Flynn before stepping away from the spotlight.
1915–1992 (age 77)·American actress·Birthday: September 29·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Born Ardis Ankerson in the Philippines to American parents, Brenda Marshall's striking looks propelled her to a Warner Bros. contract and a swift rise in Hollywood. Her most notable role came opposite Errol Flynn in the 1940 swashbuckler 'The Sea Hawk,' where her poised beauty provided a classic counterpoint to Flynn's bravado. She married actor William Holden in 1941, a union that would last three decades but ultimately contributed to the curtailment of her own career as she focused on family life. After a handful of films in the early 1950s, she retired from acting entirely, leaving behind a brief but vivid celluloid impression of wartime-era glamour and grace.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Brenda was born in 1915, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brenda Was Born
The biggest hits of 1915
#1 Movie
The Birth of a Nation
Brenda's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1915Born
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Started school
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1928Became a teenager
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Could drive
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1933Could vote
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Turned 21
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1945Turned 30
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 40
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 50
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 60
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 70
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1992Died at 77
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
Key Achievements
- Starred opposite Errol Flynn in the major 1940 adventure film 'The Sea Hawk'.
- Had a leading role in the 1941 drama 'Footsteps in the Dark' with Rex Harrison.
- Maintained a successful Warner Bros. contract throughout the early 1940s.
Did You Know?
Her birth name was Ardis Ankerson.
She was married to actor William Holden for 31 years, from 1941 until their divorce in 1972.
She was born in Negros Island in the Philippines.
“I was raised in the islands, so the sea has always been part of me.”
