Margaret Arline Judge (February 21, 1912 – February 7, 1974) was an American actress and singer who worked mostly in low-budget B movies, but gained some fame for habitually marrying, including two brothers. Judge specialized in playing fairly earthy women of often questionable virtue and was at the peak of her career in her first years in Hollywood, starring in such pre-Code films as The Age of Consent and Sensation Hunters, films often made at poverty row studios. She also played supporting roles in some major releases by the major studios.

Early years Arline Judge was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the daughter of newspaperman John Judge and his wife, Margaret Ormond Judge. She was educated at St. Augustine's in Bridgeport and at New Rochelle College, leaving the latter to seek a career in acting.

Stage Judge made her theatrical debut in Broadway musicals and revues such as The Second Little Show and Silver Slipper. A part in George White's Scandals provided an opportunity to demonstrate her skills at comedy and dancing. Her screen career faded out in 1936, but she returned to the screen five years later, surprisingly able to continue to receive star and leading-lady parts for the most part, a feat many starlets were not able to obtain after a break in their career. All of her films after 1945, however, featured her in supporting roles.

Film

After meeting director Wesley Ruggles on a train, she got her start in films with his help, then married him. Nicknamed "One-Take Sally", her film career spanned the 1930s and 1940s.

Judge co-starred in When Strangers Meet (1934), among other films.

Television Judge had a few television appearances, the last one in 1964 as Emmalou Schneider in the Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Nautical Knot".Humphrey, Hal. “Arline Back in Court for Perry Mason Show.” Los Angeles Times, 6 Sept. 1964, p. 333.

Personal life Judge was married seven times and had two sons: Wesley Ruggles Jr. by her first husband, Wesley Ruggles, and Dan Topping Jr. with second husband, Dan Topping, who from 1945 to 1964 was president and part owner of the New York Yankees. She married Ruggles in 1931 and divorced him on April 9, 1937, a few hours before she married Topping, whom she divorced in 1940.

Her other husbands were: James Ramage Addams (October 7, 1942 - July 24, 1945) Vincent Morgan Ryan (August 3, 1945 - April 23, 1947) Henry J. (Bob) Topping (April 29, 1947 - April 23, 1948, brother of second husband Dan Topping)"Henry J. (Bob) Topping Dies; Was Heir to Tin Plate Fortune", The New York Times, April 23, 1968 George Ross III (January 18, 1949 - August 10, 1950) Edward Cooper Heard (April 9, 1955 - November 2, 1960)

Judge was found dead February 7, 1974, in her West Hollywood, California, apartment, age 61. She died of natural causes. She was interred in Saint Michael's Cemetery in Stratford, Connecticut.Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14000 Famous Persons by Scott Wilson

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1931 Laugh and Get Rich Young Lady at Dance (scenes deleted) Bachelor Apartment Second Girl in Ladies Room Uncredited White Shoulders Minor Role Uncredited Three Who Loved Helga's Friend - Party Girl Uncredited An American Tragedy Bella Griffiths Uncredited Are These Our Children? Florence "Flo" Carnes 1932 Girl Crazy Molly Gray Young Bride Maise Is My Face Red? Bee - Poster's Secretary Roar of the Dragon Hortense O'Dare The Age of Consent Dora Swale 1933 Sensation Hunters Jerry Royal Flying Devils Mrs. Ann Hardy 1934 Looking for Trouble Maizie Bryan Shoot the Works Jackie Donovan Name the Woman Betty Adams The Party's Over Phyllis When Strangers Meet Ruth Crane One Hour Late Hazel The Mysterious Mr. Wong Peg Bachelor of Arts Gladys Cottle Million Dollar Baby Grace Sweeney 1935 George White's 1935 Scandals Midgie Malone College Scandal Sally Dunlap Welcome Home Gorgeous Music Is Magic Theatre Customer Uncredited Ship Cafe Ruby 1936 King of Burlesque Connie It Had to Happen Miss Sullivan Here Comes Trouble Margie Simpson Star for a Night Mamie de la Mont Valiant Is the Word for Carrie Lady Pigskin Parade Sally Saxon Alternative title: Harmony Parade One in a Million Billie Spencer 1941 Harvard, Here I Come! Francie Callahan Alternative title: Here I Come 1942 Law of the Jungle Nona Brooks The Lady Is Willing Frances Wildcat Nan Deering Smith of Minnesota Gwyn Allen The McGuerins from Brooklyn Marcia Marsden 1943 Girls in Chains Helen Martin Song of Texas Hildegarde Gray The Contender Linda Martin 1944 Take It Big Pert Martin 1945 G. I. Honeymoon Flo LaVerne 1946 From This Day Forward Margie Beesley 1947 The Sin of Harold Diddlebock Manicurist Alternative title: Mad Wednesday 1963 A Swingin' Affair Marge - Johnny's Mother The Crawling Hand Mrs. Hotchkiss Alternative titles: Don't Cry WolfThe Creeping Hand Television Year Title Role Notes 1953 Mr. and Mrs. North Dot Jansen 1 episode 1964 Perry Mason Emmalou Schneider 1 episode, (final appearance)

Footnotes

External links

Arline Judge at Virtual History