5 Things You Never Knew About TCM Star of the Month Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck, the stunning actress known for her versatile performances, captivated audiences with roles that ranged from icy and feisty to maternal and warm. Born Ruby Catherine Stevens in 1907, she overcame a troubled childhood marked by her mother’s death and her father’s abandonment. She entered the entertainment industry as a chorus girl and soon became a Ziegfeld Girl, making her stage debut in 1926. Stanwyck’s breakout film role came in 1930 in Ladies of Leisure, and she went on to star in films such as Baby Face, Night Nurse, Double Indemnity and Meet John Doe, earning four Oscar nominations and becoming the highest-paid woman in the U.S. in 1944.
Everett Collection
Although her career slowed in the 1950s, she transitioned to television, earning Emmys for her roles in The Big Valley and The Thorn Birds. This month TCM has named her the Star of the Month and honors her by playing her films each Wednesday in March 2025 at 8pm ET (get the full printable schedule below). To celebrate even further, let’s learn some interesting facts about the star:
1 Oscars confusion
Stanwyck is often called “The Best Actress Who Never Won an Oscar.” Despite an impressive career, she never took home the golden statue, though she was recognized with an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement in 1982, just a few years before her death in 1990. The honor was presented to her by none other than John Travolta, who later confessed that the experience was his personal “supreme Oscar moment.”
2 A role model to Marilyn Monroe
Everett Collection
Stanwyck wasn’t just a powerhouse onscreen; she was also known for her kindness and support of younger performers. Marilyn Monroe, who worked with Stanwyck on the 1952 film Clash by Night, recalled that Stanwyck was the only member of Hollywood’s older generation to show kindness to her. Monroe, who struggled with the harsh realities of Hollywood, found a mentor in one of her idols.
3 Marriage troubles
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While Stanwyck’s career soared, her personal life was far from easy. Her seven-year marriage to actor Frank Fay was very turbulent, as he was an alcoholic. Stanwyck often sought refuge at the home of fellow actress Joan Crawford, who lived just across the street. She was known to jump the fence to escape to Crawford’s home. The two had been friends since their early days in Hollywood and remained close until Crawford’s death. It has been speculated that the 1937 version of A Star Is Born was modeled after Stanwyck’s career and her marriage to Fay. The two finally divorced after Fay threw their adopted son Dion in a pool during in a drunken haze. She went on to marry Robert Taylor, but the two ultimately divorced as well.
4 Helping find young talent
Everett Collection
Stanwyck had a keen eye for talent and wasn’t afraid to speak up when she believed in someone. William Holden, who was initially considered too inexperienced for the lead role in Golden Boy (1939), benefited from her insistence that he be cast. Holden would go on to become a star, and in a moment of heartfelt gratitude at the 1978 Academy Awards, he publicly thanked Stanwyck for her belief in him.
5 No funeral
Oscar Abolafia/Everett Collection
Stanwyck’s death on Jan. 20, 1990, at the age of 82 marked the end of an era. She passed away from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a result of her lifelong smoking. True to her unconventional nature, Stanwyck did not have a traditional funeral. Instead, her ashes were scattered from a helicopter over Lone Pine, California, a place where she had filmed several of her iconic Westerns.
Tell us, what is your favorite role of hers? Will you be watching the TCM movies this month?
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Hollywood Glamour
May 2020
Celebrate the most glamorous leading ladies from the Golden Age of Hollywood
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