Hedda Hopper
Hedda Hopper was an American actress and gossip columnist known for her powerful influence in Old Hollywood.
Elda Furry
Columnist
May 2, 1885
Taurus
February 01, 1966
80
Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Hedda Hopper was a notable American actress, gossip columnist, and political activist who first gained prominence for her acting career before becoming a powerful gossip columnist in Old Hollywood. Known for her sharp wit and biting commentary on Hollywood stars and their personal lives, her syndicated column “Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood” ran for over two decades in various newspapers, such as the Los Angeles Times and the New York Daily News, reaching millions of readers. Hopper was infamous for her rivalry with fellow gossip columnist Louella Parsons.
Aside from her writing career, Hopper had a successful acting career on stage and screen, with supporting roles in films like “The Women” and “Reap the Wild Wind.” As a staunch conservative Republican, she was an active member of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, which led to her being named in the anti-communist publication “Red Channels” in 1950. Although this temporarily blacklisted her from radio and television, her film work remained unaffected, and she continued to be an influential figure in Hollywood.
Hopper’s legacy includes her induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a posthumous Emmy Award for her work on “The Jack Benny Program.”