Mildred
Litton (Karen Morley) was born in Iowa on 12th December, 1909. Her
family moved to California when she was a child. After attending Hollywood
High School she attended the University of California (UCLA).
Morley
became an actress and worked at the Pasadena Community Playhouse.
She eventually broke into movies and appeared in Inspiration
(1931). This was followed by films such as Daybreak
(1931), Mata Hari (1931), Flesh
(1932), Scarface (1932) and Dinner
at Eight (1933).
Morley
became involved in politics and was active in various anti-fascist
groups in Hollywood. In 1935 she appeared in Our
Daily Bread, a film about an attempt to start a farming
cooperative. The film was attacked in newspapers owned by William
Randolph Hearst as being "communistic".
Other
films Morley appeared in included Black Fury
(1935), Thunder in the Night (1935),
Devil's Squadron (1936), Outcast
(1937), The Last Train from Madrid
(1937), Kentucky (1938) and Pride
and Prejudice (1940).
In
1943 Morley married Lloyd Gough . The
couple were very active in the Screen Actors Guild. She also made
Jealousy
(1945), Framed (1947) and
M (1951), a film made by Joseph
Losey.
After the Second World War the House
of Un-American Activities Committee began an investigation into
the Hollywood Motion Picture Industry. The HUAC interviewed 41 people
who were working in Hollywood. These people attended voluntarily and
became known as "friendly witnesses". Robert
Taylor appeared and provided evidence against several people including
Karen Morley.
In November
1952 Morley was called before the House
of Un-American Activities Committee.
She invoked the Fifth Amendment when asked if she
was a member of the American Communist
League. Blacklisted by the Hollywood studios, Morley was unable
to find work and eventually retired from acting.
A
member of the American
Labor Party she ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant-governor
of New York State in 1954. Later she was a left-wing activist in the
San Francisco area.
Karen
Morley died of pneumonia at Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, on 8th 8th
March, 2003.
Karen
Morley appearing before the
House
of Un-American Activities Committee in 1952.
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