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Laraine Day: Stella Dallas
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American actress Laraine Day, born Laraine Johnson, a descendant of a prominent Mormon pioneer leader, moved with her family from Utah to California, where she began her acting career with the Long Beach Players. In 1937 she debuted onscreen in a bit part in Stella Dallas; shortly afterwards she won lead roles in several George O'Brien westerns at RKO, in which she was billed as Laraine Hays and then Laraine Johnson.
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Laraine Day made her film debut in a bit part in Stella Dallas in 1937. She changed her birth name in homage to Elias Day, manager of the Players' Guild, and first won fame as Nurse Mary Lamont in the film series Dr Kildare, starring Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore.
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After the family moved to California in 1931 she began her acting career with the Long Beach Players in her teens and later adopted the stage name Day after her mentor Elias Day. She was spotted by a talent scout and given her debut role at 17 with a bit-part in Stella Dallas (1937).
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Stella Dallas