Introduction
Monroe Owsley (August 11, 1900 – June 7, 1937) was an American stage and film actor.
Early years
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Owsley, he was born in Atlanta, Georgia to an aspiring actress, Gertrude Owsley. Monroe Owsley started taking acting classes when he was a teenager.
Before Owsley became an actor, he worked as a reporter and a drama critic for the Public Ledger newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Career
Owsley gained acting experience with stock theater troupes. He made his Broadway debut in Young Blood (1925). His film debut was 1928's The First Kiss, starring Fay Wray. This was followed by the Philip Barry film Holiday in 1930, in the role played by Lew Ayres in the 1938 version. Soon after, he was cast opposite actresses such as Clara Bow, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford, Gloria Swanson, Mae West, and Kay Francis.
Death
On June 7, 1937, Owsley died from a heart attack following a car accident in Belmont, California. He was 36 years old. He was survived by a brother and a sister.