Sylvia Sidney might have ended up as the iconic caseworker in Beetlejuice, but her real-life path to getting there was even wilder than anything that happened in the movie!
1. Things Were Rocky
Born in the Bronx in New York City in 1910, Sidney didn’t have the easiest start in life. Her family fell apart before she even knew it—her mom and dad divorced when she was still very young. Her mother remarried not too long after, and things ultimately went well there. But that didn’t make it easier to cope.
Underwood Archives, Getty Images
2. She Didn’t Like People
Sylvia Sidney ended up being a pretty shy kid. Perhaps this came from growing up an only child, or from not being close to her biological father. Either way, her reluctance to socialize became alarming enough to her parents for them to take action. You might just find their approach to helping her a little bit unusual, though.
3. They Put Her Out There
To quell Sidney’s timidity, her parents encouraged her to study the arts, specifically acting. In what likely served as a total surprise to her parents, she took to acting like a fish to water. In fact, she decided in her early teens she wanted to take things seriously. And her parents, once again, reacted in a most unusual way.
Cine Mundial Magazine, Wikimedia Commons
4. They Pushed Her Forward
Lots of parents might not take their 15-year-old’s lofty aspirations seriously, but Sidney’s parents did. They enrolled her in the Theater Guild’s School for Acting. By 1926, Sidney landed her first onscreen role with The Sorrows of Satan in 1926. She only worked as an extra, but it did lead to more work—more frightening work, that is.
5. She Scared Herself
A few years later, Sylvia Sidney signed with Fox and got another small role in the film Thru Different Eyes. For some reason, seeing herself in the role of a witness shrieking her head off made Sidney uncomfortable—and her reaction was surprising.
She up and quit her Fox contract. Luckily for her, she soon landed a Broadway role that changed her life forever.
Paramount Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
6. She Got Discovered
Around 1930, Sylvia Sidney starred in the play Bad Girl. Unbeknownst to her, Paramount executive BP Schulberg sat in on one of her performances. He felt so dazzled that he immediately made arrangements to sign her, and quickly thrust her into the life of show business. Allegedly, though, he had some much less appropriate plans for her as well.
7. He Fell Hard
Despite being more than 10 years Sidney’s senior, Schulberg began an affair with her almost immediately. He also did so in spite of the wife that waited for him at home. And while things quickly escalated in her new relationship, things in her career started heating up too—though probably not in the way she wanted it to.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
8. They Teased Her
Reportedly, shortly after she started working at Paramount, studio staff stuck her with a cruel nickname: “The ugly kid.” Productions often placed her in roles where she had to cry profusely over people she loved, pretty much typecasting her into “sad girl” roles again and again. She didn’t love it, but she figured out how to make it work for her…
9. She Climbed
Sylvia Sidney appeared in a series of films in the early 1930s, often acting with big named performers like Henry Fonda and Cary Grant. Her big break finally came with her starring role in the 1931 drama, Street Scene. She plays the role of another crying girl who loses her entire family, which is oddly related to the way she even got the role.
Samuel Goldwyn Productions, Street Scene (1931)
10. She Stole Her Spot
Originally, Sidney’s role belonged to one Clara Bow, an actress with far more star power than she boasted at that time. But when doctors diagnosed Bow with depression so severe she couldn’t manage the role, Sidney slid right in to snatch it up. The rest, as they say, is history. A notably sad history, by some perspectives.
Harold Dean Carsey, Wikimedia Commons
11. She Cried All The Time
Sidney’s role in Street Scene only solidified her skills as a dramatic actor, and encouraged productions to cast her for even more sad roles. She continued her stride with films like the 1936 film Sabotage and the 1937 drama You Only Live Once. She didn’t love playing victims all the time, but she discovered there are worse things…
12. She Played Her Part
Sidney probably didn’t even find it strange when she landed the role of an Asian woman in the early 1930s film Madame Butterfly. Things were a lot different back then. But, in all honesty, what actually happened after she did this role might be worse—or at least, much more embarrassing!
Paramount Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
13. They Stole Her Name
I’m not sure if this next move was made in jest or not. But we wish we’d seen Sidney’s face when she discovered that manufacturers in Japan literally branded a series of condoms by her full name—Sylvia Sidney. But perhaps, all things considered, the woman faced much more serious issues than a pack of rubbers across the world…
CINEGRAF magazine, Wikimedia Commons
14. She Made It Hard
For most of the 1930s, it seemed Sylvia Sidney could do no wrong. She became one of the highest earning actresses in Hollywood, with many of her films doing notably well. But things were a lot different behind the scenes. Cast and crew began to whisper that she was a pain to work with.
Still, it takes two to tango, and several stories from that period make her seem like a victim in real life.
Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons
15. He Shut Her Up
In 1936, Sylvia Sidney worked on Sabotage, an Alfred Hitchcock film. By that time, the critically acclaimed director already bore a reputation for his questionable tactics with his actors. Namely, he expected them to leave all the creative work to himself and the writers. That didn’t exactly mesh with Sidney’s fiery personality…
16. She Gave In
Reports of their time vary, but she seemed to clash with Hitchcock at first, as she likely wanted to bring her own impact to the role. Ultimately, though, she gave into his preferences. After the wrap, she noted he taught her “to be a puppet and try not to be creative”. Unfortunately, that didn’t turn out to be the only director she struggled with.
17. She Tried
Sylvia Sidney found herself in another challenging situation while working on the late 1930s drama film, Dead End. The film’s director, William Wyler, already held the reputation of making or breaking acting careers with his amazing work. The pressure was on.
But when Sidney landed her job on set with him, she found herself completely out of place.
Film studio, Wikimedia Commons
18. She Wanted To Quit
The true details of Sidney’s time behind the scenes with Wyler may be lost to history—but when she finished the film with him, she didn’t have anything positive to say. As a matter of fact, she said he made her feel “inadequate”, so much so that she questioned her future in film. But one special man in the wings actually made her feel better—much better.
CINEGRAF magazine, Wikimedia Commons
19. She Got Caught Up
Sometime in the early 1930’s, Sylvia Sidney broke off her relationship with Schulberg and engaged in a torrid affair with famous American publisher, Bennett Cerf. The details on exactly how they met are murky, but by Cerf’s own words, he “fell helplessly in love”. Considering what happened shortly after, though, their love definitely burned too hot too fast.
20. They Fell Apart
Sylvia Sidney and Bennett Cerf tied the knot in 1935—but their happily ever after soon turned into a horror story. Just three months in, the pair separated. And within about a year, their divorce became final. Sidney didn’t seem to say too much on the matter, though her chatty ex did insist “one should never legalize a hot romance”. Go figure.
Sidney didn’t stay alone for long, though!
John Springer Collection, Getty Images
21. She Kept It Moving
Just a couple years after she broke things off with her first husband, Sylvia Sidney married again. This time, she hooked up with another actor, Luther Adler. Things seemed to go well this time, and the two even welcomed a child together the following year. But things in her screen career didn’t look quite as positive.
Pictorial Parade, Getty Images
22. Her Fury Fueled Her
In the late 1930s, Sidney worked on a series of films with the classic Hollywood actor, Humphrey Bogart. The films didn’t seem to see any notable success—but the more serious issues arose behind the scenes. On one occasion in particular, after a night out with Bogart, things between the co-stars escalated to dangerous heights.
Warner Bros., Casablanca (1942)
23. He Targeted Her
Reportedly, Bogart drank way too much and got extremely rowdy with Sidney. But then he took it too far. When he made a demeaning comment about her Jewish background, she couldn’t take it anymore. She threw her drink at him, and the glass shattered, leaving a cut on Bogart's face. What’s even more striking, though, is his response!
Warner Bros.,Casablanca (1942)
24. She Impressed Him
Bogart didn’t take it to heart, and took responsibility for his hurtful comment. Furthermore, he actually felt somewhat amused by her response, telling her he “didn’t know you had that kind of fire”. The two remained friends over the years, and it’s a good thing they did. She needed a friend, the way her career was going.
25. They Didn’t Want Her
The 1940s spelled a major dip in Sidney’s film career. She tried her hand at a few films, including Blood on the Sun in 1945 and The Searching Wind in 1946. But nothing impressed the audiences. Whether due to her repeated role as a victim or her difficulty working with others, by the end of the decade, the critics turned ruthless.
film screenshot (United Artists), Wikimedia Commons
26. They Tore Her Down
After a string of flops, critics turned on Sylvia Sidney—and what they said about her was unforgettably brutal. In 1949, they called her “box-office poison”. She turned her attention to stage acting, touring with several productions, including Jane Eyre and Pygmalion. She did well enough, managing to sustain herself throughout the decade.
But unfortunately for her, she couldn’t manage to keep things afloat in her personal life.
27. They Didn’t Make It
Even after having a child together, Sylvia Sidney and her second husband couldn’t make their marriage work. She filed for divorce in 1946. She didn’t go into detail as to their reasons for parting, but she did imply that his eyes continued to wander—and probably some other parts of him, too.
Either way, much like before, she didn’t stay alone for very long.
Samuel Goldwyn Productions, Street Scene (1931)
28. She Went With The Charm
Sylvia Sidney took the saying “third time’s a charm” way too seriously. Just a year after courts finalized her divorce, Sidney married her third husband, a radio performer named Carlton Alsop. And with that speedy comeback, she soon made a huge comeback in her film career as well.
United Artists, Wikimedia Commons
29. She Returned
Sidney finally found her way back to the screen in 1952, playing Fantine in Les Miserables. The movie itself didn’t do well at the box offices, but audiences considered Sidney’s performance a success. She continued her career throughout the 1950s and 1960s fairly steadily. But sadly, she couldn’t stay on top for long.
Paramount Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
30. She Did It Again
This time, things came with an extra dose of drama. Just about two years after her third marriage, Sylvia Sidney filed for divorce once again. At this point, one might begin to question Sidney’s role in the dissolution of her hot romances-turned-cold splits.
But judging by the reasons for the divorce, Sidney actually found herself in an extremely destructive situation.
Samuel Goldwyn Productions, Street Scene (1931)
31. She Got Hurt
In her reports explaining the reason for her third divorce, Sylvia Sidney made a shocking claim. She cited “extreme cruelty” and said Alsop spoke to her so harshly that she ended up in the hospital, likely to treat her tattered mental health. While she managed to get through these issues and move on with her life, she took one life-threatening habit with her.
Samuel Goldwyn Productions, Street Scene (1931)
32. She Smoked Like A Chimney
Somewhere along the line, Sylvia Sidney picked up smoking. She continued into her older age, even when the habit started to affect her voice, giving it a more hoarse quality. Luckily for her, though, it didn’t seem to affect her ability to find onscreen work. And in the 1960s, especially, Sidney found a whole new way to work onscreen.
L'ECO DEL CINEMA, Wikimedia Commons
33. She Became A Regular
Sylvia Sidney continued to move her career along by making a foray into television. She appeared in multiple TV shows, including Route 66 and My Three Sons. She even spent a short stint as a co-star on The Polly Bergen Show. Still, she didn’t get the kind of success she probably dreamed of—but the turn of the decade brought her biggest role yet.
Screen Gems, Route 66 (1960-64)
34. She Hit It Big
Now in her early 60s, it’s very possible Sylvia Sidney didn’t even expect anything particularly spectacular of her career in film. But in 1972, she got a starring role in the film Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams—and she was in for a big surprise. The role landed her an Academy Award nomination, although things at the actual award show didn’t go as planned.
Rastar, Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams (1973)
35. She Lost It
At the 1973 Academy Award, Sylvia Sidney took a hard loss to a much younger actress. Huge emphasis on the “much”. Ten-year-old Paper Moon star Tatum O’Neal won the award, taking Sidney’s only opportunity to win the award in her entire lifetime.
But as she did time and time again, she took the lickin’ and kept on kickin.
UCLA Library Special Collections, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
36. She Kept Going
Even as she approached her 70s, Sylvia Sidney showed no signs of slowing down in her screen career. She continued to act, though mostly in supporting roles in both television and film. And while I’m sure she continued to find joy (and money) in acting, she finally made some time for some more typically “elderly” activities, so to speak.
Samuel Goldwyn Productions, Street Scene (1931)
37. She Fell In Love
This time around, Sylvia Sidney found love that lasted. In her later years, she began breeding pugs. Sidney absolutely adored the little squishy-faced pups, and raised them at the home she bought out in Connecticut. Of all the granny-like activities she could get up to, though, I’ll bet you won’t guess which one she found more lucrative than she expected.
38. She Made Her Point
Sidney enjoyed doing needlepoint, and turned her hobby into income by writing books on the topic. She eventually said she made more money from her books than acting, though the jury’s still out on that. It's a good thing she found some private joys when she did, considering the huge tragedy that was soon to come…
Screen Gems, Route 66 (1960-64)
39. She Struggled
When doctors diagnosed Sidney’s only son, Jacob, with Lou Gehrig’s disease, her reaction was heartbreaking. She got proactive right away. Sidney involved herself with the ALS Foundation, using her popularity to aid the efforts to find a cure. She spent copious amounts of time caring for her son and learning about his ailment. Even so, no parent truly ever expects the very worst to happen.
Screen Gems, Route 66 (1960-64)
40. She Lost Him
After years in his mother’s care, Jacob passed in 1987. It’s hard to imagine Sidney’s grief. At the age of about 77 at the time, perhaps she truly expected to go before she had to watch her son’s life end. But as she always did, Sidney picked up the pieces and moved forward.
Even more than that, she used her time with him to inspire one very memorable role.
Rastar, Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams (1973)
41. She Used Everything
In 1985, Sylvia Sidney starred in the drama An Early Frost. The movie centers on a man’s struggle when doctors diagnose him with AIDS. As you can imagine, just the topic alone broke barriers, considering how taboo people considered the disease at the time. Sidney recalled using her time with her sick son as inspiration for her role. It paid off in a huge way.
42. She Got Her Flowers
In the film, Sidney spoke a line that went down in the history of socially conscious films—“AIDS is a disease, not a disgrace”! Ultimately, she performed with so much conviction that she won a Golden Globe Award for the part. By that point, she probably thought she made it. But she still had another unforgettable role (or two) in her.
43. He Bothered Her
It all started with a hot pursuit. When Director Tim Burton, not yet a household name at the time, wrote his film Beetlejuice, he didn’t have nearly the cred in the industry he has today. Still, he wrote the crude, crotchety character of Juno with Sidney in mind. But once she finally read the script, things didn’t look good.
Romain DUBOIS, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
44. She Didn’t Get It
Sylvia Sidney turned Burton down, saying she didn’t really get the story. And honestly? I don’t think we can really blame her. The spooky, mystical comedy serves as a true pioneer of its genre. In other words, no one had done anything like it before. But Burton refused to give up, and when he finally met with her, she totally changed her tune.
Rastar, Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams (1973)
45. She Fell Hard
Sylvia Sidney finally agreed to meet with Burton over a meal. With the opportunity to talk to Sidney face to face, Burton reportedly explained the whole thing. Interestingly enough, she didn’t end up getting on board because of the story, but because of Burton himself. She found him impressively perceptive. And it's lucky she did, all outcomes considered!
Screen Gems, Route 66 (1960-64)
46. She Became An Icon
Beetlejuice became an all-out success. It did huge numbers in the box office, and ultimately turned into both a fan favorite and cult classic. The film cemented Sidney with her iconic and unforgettable performance of Juno, and won her a Saturn Award. It comes as no surprise that she ended up going for round two shortly after!
The Geffen Company, Beetlejuice (1988)
47. She Went Out Of This World
In 1996, when Sidney was in her late 80s, she made another movie with Burton. This time, she played a grandma who ended up helping to conquer the alien invaders from Mars in Mars Attacks! The film didn’t do as well as Beetlejuice, but it boasts its own cult-like following.
What Sidney didn’t know, though, was that her mission against Mars would be her last work onscreen.
Warner Bros., Mars Attacks! (1996)
48. Her Past Caught Up With Her
As Sidney continued to age, she finally found herself slowing down when she became ill. That’s when she got a devastating diagnosis. Doctors discovered that she had esophageal cancer. They put her on a rigorous chemotherapy treatment, but she maintained her special brand of stubbornness right up into her old age.
You guessed it—she clung to her vices to the very end.
The Geffen Company, Beetlejuice (1988)
49. She Gave It Her All
In 1999, just a year or so shy of her 90th birthday, Sidney passed at a hospital in New York. Her family cremated her remains. All things considered, she probably would have acted to the very end if she could. And even though she didn’t necessarily get all the fame she probably felt she deserved in life, she still left a huge impact.
The Geffen Company, Beetlejuice (1988)
50. They Remembered Her
Aside from the awards she received for specific acting roles, Sidney received several honors throughout and after her life. This includes a lifetime achievement award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She genuinely made the most of every opportunity she got, and her life lives on in her work—or at least in her penchant for playing cranky old ladies.
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