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Judith Wood(1906-2002)

  • Actress
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Judith Wood
This cool and classy green-eyed blonde had several more strings to her bow than your average 30's starlet. She was born Helen Johnson in New York City on August 1 1906. Schooled in New York, she completed a fine arts course at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs and afterwards continued her studies for another two years in Paris. Returning home, she became a fashion stylist for R. H. Macy's department store and subsequently worked as a commercial artist in an advertising agency. Thus endowed with both looks and intellect, she made her way to California, set up home base in the Hollywood Hills and began acting in films by 1929. Within a year -- still billed as Helen Johnson -- she had received leads in the musical comedy Children of Pleasure (1930), the crime drama Soldiers and Women (1930) and Working Girls (1931), a 'women's picture' directed by Dorothy Arzner. In 1931, she was voted a WAMPAS Baby Star and adopted the stage name Judith Wood. Unfortunately, her year was marred by a traffic accident which resulted in a lengthy recuperation and absence from the screen.

In late 1932, Judith appeared on stage in the original Broadway production of "Dinner at Eight", playing the part of Kitty Packard, a much coveted role which went to Jean Harlow in the film version a year later. She had another motion picture lead as a blackmailing ex-con in The Crime Doctor (1934) and then, suddenly, her career was unaccountably at an end. Judith herself later suggested in an interview that her many affairs (among others, with stars William Powell and Robert Montgomery) may have had a bearing on her declining fortunes, quoted as saying "my entire life has been a near miss". Sometime in the late 30's, she married the son of "Beau Geste" author Percival Christopher Wren. After divorcing him, she had several more failed attempts to break back into films, eventually secured work as a radio actress and, finally, as a costume designer, working on "everything from operas to porno films". At least, she had the fortune to be blessed with a long life, passing away at the ripe old age of 95 in Los Angeles.
BornAugust 1, 1906
DiedApril 6, 2002(95)
BornAugust 1, 1906
DiedApril 6, 2002(95)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank

Photos20

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Known for

Dorothy Hall and Judith Wood in Working Girls (1931)
Working Girls
6.3
  • June Thorpe
  • 1931
Sin Takes a Holiday (1930)
Sin Takes a Holiday
6.1
  • Mrs. Graham(as Helen Johnson)
  • 1930
Norma Shearer in La divorcée (1930)
La divorcée
6.7
  • Dorothy(as Helen Johnson)
  • 1930
Wynne Gibson and Lawrence Gray in Children of Pleasure (1930)
Children of Pleasure
5.5
  • Pat Thayer(as Helen Johnson)
  • 1930

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actress



  • Quand la ville dort (1950)
    Quand la ville dort
    7.8
    • Woman (uncredited)
    • 1950
  • Bette Davis in La garce (1949)
    La garce
    6.8
    • Waitress (uncredited)
    • 1949
  • L'aventure commence à Bombay (1941)
    L'aventure commence à Bombay
    6.5
    • Mrs. Ames, Nurse (uncredited)
    • 1941
  • Rhythm Racketeer (1937)
    Rhythm Racketeer
    4.5
    • Lola
    • 1937
  • Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow in La loi du plus fort (1935)
    La loi du plus fort
    6.2
    • Mabel
    • 1935
  • Claude Rains in The Man Who Reclaimed His Head (1934)
    The Man Who Reclaimed His Head
    6.8
    • Margot (scenes deleted)
    • 1934
  • Spencer Tracy, Constance Cummings, and Jack Oakie in Tempête sur la ligne (1934)
    Tempête sur la ligne
    6.2
    • Pearl La Tour
    • 1934
  • Otto Kruger and Karen Morley in The Crime Doctor (1934)
    The Crime Doctor
    7.3
    • Blanche Flynn
    • 1934
  • Conseils aux coeurs brisés (1933)
    Conseils aux coeurs brisés
    6.5
    • Cora (uncredited)
    • 1933
  • The Divorce Racket (1932)
    The Divorce Racket
    • Helen Travers
    • Paula Murdock
    • 1932
  • Dorothy Hall and Judith Wood in Working Girls (1931)
    Working Girls
    6.3
    • June Thorpe
    • 1931
  • Kay Francis, Joel McCrea, Eugene Pallette, and Lilyan Tashman in Girls About Town (1931)
    Girls About Town
    6.9
    • Winnie
    • 1931
  • Charles 'Buddy' Rogers and Lilyan Tashman in Le chemin du divorce (1931)
    Le chemin du divorce
    6.2
    • Elsie Kenton
    • 1931
  • Marilyn Knowlden and Paul Lukas in Women Love Once (1931)
    Women Love Once
    7.4
    • Olga
    • 1931
  • Kay Francis in The Vice Squad (1931)
    The Vice Squad
    6.5
    • Madeleine Hunt
    • 1931

Soundtrack



  • Norma Shearer in La divorcée (1930)
    La divorcée
    6.7
    • performer: "You Were Meant For Me" (1929) (uncredited)
    • 1930

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative name
    • Helen Johnson
  • Height
    • 1.61 m
  • Born
    • August 1, 1906
    • New York City, New York, USA
  • Died
    • April 6, 2002
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(natural causes)
  • Spouse
    • Percival Rupert Christopher WrenMarch 17, 1939 - ? (divorced)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Pictorial

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Minor leading lady (as Helen Johnson) of several Paramount features in the early 30's.

FAQ

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  • When did Judith Wood die?
    April 6, 2002
  • How did Judith Wood die?
    Natural causes
  • How old was Judith Wood when she died?
    95 years old
  • Where did Judith Wood die?
    Los Angeles, California, USA
  • When was Judith Wood born?
    August 1, 1906

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