The Couch Critic Logo
The Couch CriticCouch Critic
TrendingMoviesTV ShowsListsReviewsWhat to Watch
LogoThe Couch Critic

Menu

TrendingMoviesTV ShowsListsReviewsWhat to Watch

© 2026 The Couch Critic

The Couch Critic Logo

The Couch Critic

Your go-to destination for honest movie and TV show reviews from a passionate community of critics. Join the conversation today.

X

Explore

  • Trending
  • Movies
  • TV Shows
  • Reviews
  • Lists
  • Games
  • About Us

Categories

  • Popular Movies
  • Trending Now
  • Upcoming
  • Airing Today
  • Movie Genres
  • TV Genres

Community

  • Guides
  • What to Watch

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Cookie Policy
  • RSS Feed
© 2026 The Couch Critic.•Built by Hayden Thorn
Cookie Settings
The Movie Database

This application uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.

Home/People/Mary Duncan
Mary Duncan profile photo
Born
Aug 12, 1895Died: May 9, 1993
Lived 97 years
Place of Birth
Luttrellville, Virginia, USA
Known For
Acting
Gender
Female

Career Highlights

16
Movies
0
TV Shows
IMDb Profile

Mary Duncan

Acting

Biography
From Wikipedia Mary Duncan (August 13, 1895 – May 9, 1993) was an American actress. Mary Duncan was born in Northumberland county, Virginia, the sixth of eight children born to Capt. William "Bill" Dungan and his wife, the former Ada Thaddeus Douglass. She attended Cornell University before settling on acting as a career. She began her career as a child actress playing on the Broadway stage from 1910. In 1926 she played the daughter "Poppy" in the smash hit and controversial play The Shanghai Gesture. Florence Reed played her mother called Mother Goddam in which Reed kills Duncan in a startling end to the play. This play was turned into a very sanitized film in 1941 with Gene Tierney. She met and married Stephen "Laddie" Sanford, who was an international polo player as well as director of the Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Company, in 1933, after which she retired from films. They remained married until his death in 1977. She spent much of her remaining years working with several major charities. Her last film appearance was with Katharine Hepburn in the 1933 film Morning Glory. She kept herself active by playing golf twice a week and swimming every morning before breakfast, which helped her maintain her size 8 figure. As an actress, she had followed the ministrations of Sylvia of Hollywood to keep her shape. Mary Duncan died in her sleep aged 97. She was survived by a niece and great-niece, and she was the last known person to have in her possession a copy of the lost Murnau film 4 Devils; Martin Koerber, curator of Deutsche Kinemathek, has speculated that her heirs may still have the valuable print somewhere.
Morning Glory poster

Morning Glory

as Rita Vernon
1933
The Phantom of Crestwood poster

The Phantom of Crestwood

as Dorothy Mears
1932
Thirteen Women poster

Thirteen Women

as June Raskob
1932
State's Attorney poster

State's Attorney

as Nora Dean
1932
The Age for Love poster

The Age for Love

as Nina Donnet
1931
Five and Ten poster

Five and Ten

as Muriel Preston
1931
Men Call It Love poster

Men Call It Love

as Helen
1931
The Boudoir Diplomat poster

The Boudoir Diplomat

as Mona
1930
Kismet poster

Kismet

as Zeleekha
1930
City Girl poster

City Girl

as Kate
1930
Romance of the Rio Grande poster

Romance of the Rio Grande

as Carlotta
1929
The River poster

The River

as Rosalee
1929
Thru Different Eyes poster

Thru Different Eyes

as Viola
1929
4 Devils poster

4 Devils

as The Lady
1928
Soft Living poster

Soft Living

as Lorna Estabrook
1928
Very Confidential poster

Very Confidential

as Priscilla Travers
1927