Deanna Durbin Dies at 91

The 'Ave Maria' singer's fan club, announces in
a Deanna Durbin Society newsletter that the
actress died 'a few days ago.'
The former
child star
of the
1930s,
Deanna
Durbin,
has passed
away at the
age of 91,
her fan
club
announced.
In a
newsletter,
the Deanna
Durbin
Society said the actress died "a few days ago."
No other details were given, but Durbin's son,
Peter H. David, thanked his mother's fans for
respecting her privacy.
Durbin was born to English parents on
December 4, 1921 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She
moved to Los Angeles when she was two years
old because of her father's health. When
attending Bret Harte Junior High, she was
discovered and later nurtured by producer Joe
Pasternak.
Durbin was one of the biggest box-office stars
by the end of 1930. Her first hit film was
"Three Smart Girls". The film was Oscar-
nominated for Best Picture. Her films even
saved Universal Pictures from bankruptcy.
Durbin's other films such as "One Hundred
Men and a Girl", "That Certain Age" and "Mad
About Music" were also big hits.
Durbin was so popular and she was favorited
by many people. Winston Churchill reportedly
named her his favorite movie star , and the
British Prime Minister was granted the
opportunity to see her films before they were
released to the general public in Great Britain.
In 1946, Durbin was the second-highest-paid
woman in America, with salary of $323,477,
just $5,000 behind Bette Davis. In 1949,
Durbin quit the movie business and moved to
France. She lived outside of Paris with her
third husband, Charles David, who directed her
1945 film, "Lady on a Train ."