Merle Oberon Net Worth

Merle Oberon Net Worth and Salary

The net worth of Merle Oberon was estimated at $500,000 at the time of her death in 1979. At the peak of her career, she was earning a salary of $100,000 a year, which was a significant amount during the 1940s and 1950s.

Early Life and Education

Merle Oberon was born in Bombay, British India, in 1911. Her birth name was Estelle Merle O’Brien Thompson, but she later changed it to Merle Oberon. Her mother, Charlotte Selby, was Anglo-Indian, and her father, Arthur Thompson, was a British engineer.

Merle Oberon’s early years were challenging. Her father abandoned the family when she was a child, and her mother raised her and her siblings in Bombay. Oberon’s mother passed her off as a European to help her avoid discrimination in India’s caste system. In 1928, Oberon moved to London to pursue an acting career.

Career

Merle Oberon’s acting career started in 1928 when she auditioned for the film The Three Passions. She became a major star in the 1930s and 1940s, appearing in films like The Scarlet Pimpernel, Wuthering Heights, and The Dark Angel.

Oberon was the first Asian actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for her role in The Dark Angel in 1935. She was also a talented stage actress and appeared in several successful stage productions.

Personal Life

Merle Oberon was married twice. Her first marriage was to film producer Alexander Korda in 1939, but they divorced in 1945. She then married Italian industrialist Bruno Pagliai in 1957 and had a son with him. They divorced in 1973, and Oberon never remarried.

Oberon was known for her beauty and elegance, and she was often compared to other glamorous Hollywood actresses like Vivien Leigh and Hedy Lamarr.

Illness and Death

Merle Oberon suffered a severe car accident in 1937, which left her with facial scars that she often covered with makeup and hair. She also suffered from a high blood pressure condition that caused her to have a stroke in 1979, leading to her death at the age of 68.

Real Estate

Merle Oberon was known for her exquisite taste in real estate. She owned several homes throughout her life, including a villa in the Italian Riviera, a mansion in California’s Bel Air, and a house in Switzerland.

Her Bel Air mansion was sold after her death for $4.6 million, which was a record-breaking price at the time.

Legacy

Merle Oberon’s legacy continues to live on in the film industry. Her groundbreaking performances as an Asian actress in Hollywood helped pave the way for other minority actors and actresses.

She was also a pioneering woman in the industry, fighting for equal pay and better roles for actresses. Her contributions to the film industry have been recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Merle Oberon’s most famous role?

Merle Oberon is best known for her role as Cathy Earnshaw in the 1939 film adaptation of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. Her performance in the film earned her critical acclaim and helped cement her status as a Hollywood star.

Did Merle Oberon ever win an Academy Award?

No, Merle Oberon was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in The Dark Angel in 1935, but she did not win.

What was Merle Oberon’s ethnicity?

Merle Oberon was Anglo-Indian, born to an Indian mother and a British father. Her mother raised her and her siblings as English to protect them from discrimination in India’s caste system.

Did Merle Oberon have any children?

Yes, Merle Oberon had one son with her second husband, Bruno Pagliai. His name is Filippo Pagliai.

What was Merle Oberon’s favorite film?

Merle Oberon’s favorite film was reportedly The Scarlet Pimpernel, in which she starred as Lady Marguerite Blakeney in 1934.

What was Merle Oberon’s net worth?

At the time of her death in 1979, Merle Oberon’s net worth was estimated at $500,000.

Did Merle Oberon retire from acting?

Yes, Merle Oberon retired from acting in 1973 after over 40 years in the industry.

Did Merle Oberon have any siblings?

Yes, Merle Oberon had three siblings, two sisters, and a brother.

Did Merle Oberon have any nicknames?

Yes, Merle Oberon was often called “Queenie” by those close to her.

Was Merle Oberon ever married?

Yes, Merle Oberon was married twice. Her first marriage was to film producer Alexander Korda in 1939, and her second marriage was to Italian industrialist Bruno Pagliai in 1957.

What was Merle Oberon’s favorite stage play?

Merle Oberon’s favorite stage play was reportedly The Circle, written by W. Somerset Maugham. She appeared in several productions of the play during her career.

What was the cause of Merle Oberon’s death?

Merle Oberon died from a stroke caused by her high blood pressure condition in 1979.

Did Merle Oberon speak any languages besides English?

Yes, Merle Oberon was fluent in Hindi and Bengali, in addition to English.

Was Merle Oberon a talented singer?

Yes, Merle Oberon had a beautiful singing voice and often sang in her films and stage productions.

Was Merle Oberon ever in a television show?

Yes, Merle Oberon appeared in several television shows during the 1950s and 1960s, including The Best of Broadway, Playhouse 90, and The Richard Boone Show.