Marjorie Deanne (born Clara Pauline Baughto, January 28, 1917 – May 21, 1994) was an American film actress whose brief but prolific Hollywood career spanned the late 1930s and early 1940s. Between 1938 and 1943, she appeared in more than 25 feature films, most memorably in a series of comedies alongside The Three Stooges, where her work has endured with modern audiences.
Early Life
Deanne was born in Brownsville, Texas. Before entering the film industry, she gained public attention after winning the Miss Texas beauty contest in 1935. Prior to acting, she worked in a business role as a representative for a shirt and hosiery manufacturing company, an unusual pre-Hollywood path that reflected her practical background before stardom.
Film Career
Deanne entered Hollywood in the late 1930s and quickly found steady work, often cast in supporting and featured roles in comedies and light dramas. While she appeared in a variety of studio productions, she is best remembered today for her appearances in Three Stooges short films, including:
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Violent Is the Word for Curly
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Dutiful But Dumb
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Matri-Phony
In these films, Deanne frequently played romantic interests or straight-woman roles, grounding the anarchic slapstick with poise and clarity. Her performances fit squarely within the studio-era tradition of attractive, capable actresses who elevated comedy shorts through timing and presence rather than exaggerated performance.
Although her career was relatively short, ending in the early 1940s, Deanne’s work has remained visible through television syndication and home video releases of classic comedy shorts.
Personal Life
On March 19, 1944, Deanne married Albert Manuck in New Orleans, Louisiana. Following her marriage, she withdrew from the film industry and lived largely outside the public eye.
Death
Marjorie Deanne died on May 21, 1994, in Redwood City, California.
