Whatever happened to Nance O'Neill?

[snokkums]

I have always wondered about this. What ever happened to Nance O'Neill? For awhile there, it seemed that she and Lizzie seemed to be good friends. It seems she just fell off the face of the earth.

[Roy]

I believe Nance continued as an actor successfully making the transition from silent to talking movies. She also married and outlived her actor husband dying in NJ in the early 60's. I do not believe she had any children.

[DJ]

Welcome, Roy!

Yes, someone-- Harry, I think-- posted a clip of Nance in an early talking picture in which Nance made a brief appearance.
"Cimarron," I think, which won an Oscar for Best Picture.

[snokkums]

I have also always wondered if she ever talked about her assoication with Lizzie after Lizzie's death.

[DJ]

Nance lived into the mid-1960s and appears to have stopped working in Hollywood, although she apparently remained there, during the 1930s.

IOW: There's a gap of thirty years between her departure from the screen and her death. "Cimarron" was definitely an "A" picture, and surely she could have gone on doing character parts in movies, had she so desired.

Yes, it's a wonder she apparently kept all of Lizzie's confidences. I wonder who, over the years, looked her up and tried to pry information from her.

[snokkums]

Yes, it would have been very interesting to hear what she had to say. I can understand not talking to anyone about Lizzie while she was alive, just out of respect, but after death would have been interesting. Maybe she just had the upmost respect for LIzzie and just didn't say anything about her even after her death. Or maybe she just moved on with her life.

[Nadzieja]

I wonder if she ever spoke to anyone at anytime about Lizzie. I'm sure some reporter somewhere must have asked her in an interview.

[Harry]

If you have the Sourcebook there is an interview with Nance on pages 349-350. Very interesting.

[Nadzieja]

I do have that book, so I'll definitely be looking that up today. Thank you for tip.

[Nadzieja]

Hi Harry,
I looked in The Lizzie Borden Sourcebook, by David Kent. I looked on pages 349 & 350 and on these pages are pictures of The Ballet-The Fall River Legend. Is there another book called the Sourcebook? Or could I have a different edition? Thanks

[Harry]

Ooops, my goof. These old eyes are wearing out.

Try pages 345-346

[Nadzieja]

Thanks so much Harry for looking it back up for me. Have to work this weekend so will read it as soon as I get the chance.
The picture of Lizzie's grave on page 335 where the workmen are tamping down the soil seems so sad. I know her instructions were to brick over her grave. I wonder how long it took to do that, and put the sod back in place? As a matter of fact it was quite awhile ago I learnt what that meant in this forum and I think it was you that told me!

[Nadzieja]

I read the article and it was very interesting. She must have really liked Lizzie, and I like the way she only spoke good about her. I was curious about the couple Nance mentioned as warm companions of Lizzie. Especially who could be the brilliant woman novelist?
Thanks again for finding this article & passing it on.

[snokkums]

Thanks for the tip Harry! It was interesting to read.I think it's sad too that people are trampling over her grave.