Deanna Durbin Dies at 91 (Read the Last Interview)

Deanna Durbin David 1921 -2013

Deanna Durbin David, screen star of the 1930s and 1940s, has died.  In a newsletter for The Deanna Durbin Society, who mentioned the death on Tuesday(April 30, 2013), her son, Peter H. David, announced that the megastar died "a few days ago."

After worldwide success as a film and music star, Durbin retired from show business in 1949  to live in seclusion with her family in France. She was last to known to live in an apartment in Paris.

Durbin's movie characters often have a "can do" spirit. Her best known films include the comedy, It Started with Eve and the melodrama Christmas Holiday with Gene Kelly.

Read Deanna Durbin's Last Interview. It's here on Java's Journey.

Fan Sites for Deanna Durbin

• The Amazing Deanna Durbin
• Deanna Durbin Devotees - self-described as the oldest fan group for this star
• Deanna Durbin Society - Subscriptions only

Tributes to Deanna Durbin

• Classic Forever - I saw her tribute first and wondered why she was writing in the past tense. Now I know. The blogger posts a personalized autographed photo from Deanna Durbin.

• Laura's Misc. Musings - Elegant as always in her tribute, which befits a Durbin fan.

• Java's Journey's Birthday Tribute to Deanna Durbin from 2010.

• Greenbriar Picture Shows muses about Deanna's departure, and, sadly, how little it will effect TCM's lineup. I especially love the story from Scott MacGillivray about Deanna in her later years which is shared in the comments section.

• Emmy-Winning screenwriter, Robert Avrech, notes that Deanna Durbin was a symbol of a time of hope and liberty in Hollywood. He recalls seeing a picture of Ms. Durbin on the wall in Anne Frank's hideout.

• Self-Styled Siren gives a detailed tribute, including discussing specific Deanna Durbin films. The Siren states that in It Started with Eve, Durbin had greater rapport with Charles Laughton than with her love interest, Robert Cummings. I would say she has equal chemistry with both men, but her scenes with Laughton are more endearing.

• A fan on Facebook posts a letter from Deanna Durbin to him, dated 1994. Ms. Durbin mentions that she does not have a secretary, which makes responding to everyone difficult. She hopes everyone understands. How gracious! The more I read of Ms. Durbin the more I like her.

• Jim Lane's Cinedrome discusses America's Canadian Sweetheart. He mentions something I've never noticed in all these years- an anagram of the star's birth name, Edna, hidden in her stage name, Deanna. 

• The Deanna Durbin Devotees have now published a separate section of their forum to discuss Deanna Durbin's passing. They also have a guest book in which the public may express condolences.

Updated as the tributes roll out.