A Bebe Daniels Biography

Bebe Virginia Daniels was born on January 14, 1901 in Dallas, Texas. Her father, originally born Melville Daniel McNeal then changed it to Danny Daniels, was a theatrical manager and her mother, Phyllis, was a stage actress. After moving to Los Angeles, Bebe began acting at the age of four when she appeared in the stage production of The Squaw Man as well as Shakespeare's Richard III later that year. Bebe's film debut shortly followed with her starring role in 1908's A Common Enemy at the age of seven. In 1910, Bebe Daniels was Dorothy Gale in the short film production of The Wizard of Oz.

In 1915 Bebe Daniels was signed by Hal Roach studio where she filmed a variety of slapstick-comedies and "bathing beauty" pictures with frequent co-star Harold Lloyd who she quickly developed a highly publicized relationship with. Tabloids tagged them "The Boy and The Girl."

After being "discovered" by Cecil DeMill while dancing at a restaurant in 1919, Bebe signed a contract with Paramount Studios, earning her ten times her previous salary. She played a series of secondary roles in films such as Why Change Your Wife, The Affairs of Anatol, and Male and Female. Throughout the 20s Bebe Daniels continued to rise in the silent film world however with the advent of sound and talkies, Paramount decided to let their high profile and popular star go. Their loss would be Radio Picture's (now RKO) gain as Bebe's first talkie would be one of the most successful films in 1929. Rio Rita was Bebe Daniels' first talkie and received great reviews and on a personal level, had to have been the greatest revenge for Bebe after being dropped.

Musicals, Marriage, and Motherhood

While working for Radio Pictures, Bebe starred in several musicals including Dixiana and Love Comes Along in 1930 however Radio Pictures decided to repeat Paramount's mistake and not renew her contract. Warner Brothers, realizing Bebe's big box-office power jumped at the chance and offered her a contract, of which she accepted. It just so happens that in 1930, love came along for Bebe Daniels who married Ben Lyon on July 14, 1930 in a Hollywood hotel. Their marriage lasted until her death and produced two children. Barbara Bebe Daniels Lyon was born on September 9, 1931 and in 1937, the Lyon's adopted their son Richard, born in 1934.

While at Warner Brothers, Bebe Daniels made a string of successful films including The Maltese Falcon, Busby Berkely, and 42nd Street in which she would sing again. Bebe made her last film for Warner Brother's in 1934 with Registered Nurse. In 1935 Bebe retired from Hollywood and with her husband and daughter Barbara, moved to London. While in London, the Lyon family performed in several radio shows for the BBC with popular hits such as the Hi Gang series and the family would continue to do so for several decades to follow. It was Bebe Daniels in fact who was responsible for creating the dialogue for Hi Gang that became a hit for audience who were living amongst the one of the worst periods of World War II- the London Blitz. Bebe also starred in the production of Panama Hattie during her days in London.

Fame, Freedom, and the Family

Though she may not have won an Oscar from the Academy Awards, Bebe Daniels did receive the Medal of Freedom from the President. Following the war, President Harry Truman presented Bebe with the Medal of Freedom for her contribution to the war service.

Bebe briefly returned to Hollywood to work as a film producer with Hal Roach and Eagle Lion in 1945. Three years later she was back in London where she would stay for the remainder of her life. From 1951-1961, Bebe Daniels and her family starred in the radio sitcom (later tv series) Living With The Lyons.

After suffering from a series of strokes, Bebe Daniels died of a cerebral hemorrhage on March 16, 1971 in London, England. Her body was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium in London and is now interred next to her husband, who died a few years later in 1979, in the Chapel columbarium at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary in Hollywood, California.


Bebe Daniels, Betty Grable, Carole Lombard, Lana Turner, Mae Murray, Myrna Loy, Olivia De Havilland,
 Vivien Leigh, William Powell

From The Famous