One of the brightest film stars to grace the silver screen was born Lily Claudette Chauchoin on September 13, 1903 in Paris, Seine, France.

At age 3, Paris, 1906

Her banker father moved the family to the United States when she was three. As she grew up, Claudette wanted nothing more than to play to Broadway audiences. Any actress or actor worth their salt went for

Broadway, not Hollywood. After Claudette's formal education ended, she enrolled in the Art Students' League where she paid for her dramatic training by working in a dress shop. She made her Broadway debut in 1923 in the stage

production of The Wild Wescotts. It was during this event that she adopted the name Claudette Colbert.

In 1907 at age 4, with her mother and brother, George.

When the Great Depression shut down most of the theaters, Claudette decided to make a go of it in films. Her first film was in 1927 in a movie called For the Love of Mike (1927). It was a box-office disaster. She wasn't real keen on the film industry but with no theaters worth anything she had no choice but to remain. In 1929, she starred as Joyce Roamer in The Lady Lies (1929). The production was a success and later that year had another hit entitled _Hole in the Wall (1929)_ . In 1930, she played the starring role, opposite Fredric March, in Manslaughter (1930), which was a remake from the silent version eight years earlier. One year later, Claudette was again paired in a film with March called Honor Among Lovers (1931). It fared well at the box-office probably only because it was the kind of film that catered to women who enjoyed magazine fiction romantic stories. In 1932, Claudette played the evil Poppeia in Jesse Laskey's last great work, _Sign of the Cross (1932)_ , and once again was with Fredric March. Later the same year, she was paired with Jimmy Durante in The Phantom President (1932). By now Claudette's name symbolized good movies and she along with March pulled them in at the theaters with the acclaimed Tonight Is Ours (1933).

On Broadway in The Ghost Train, 1926	During her Broadway heyday, 1928	With her first husband, Norman Foster in 1934	Colbert leaving New York for Hollywood with her mother, 1932

1934 started a little on the slow side with the release of Four Frightened People (1934), where Claudette and her co-stars were at odds with the dreaded bubonic plague on board a ship. However, the next two films were real gems for this young actress. First up Claudette was charming and radiant in Cecil B. DeMille's spectacular Cleopatra (1934). It wasn't one of DeMille's finest by any means but it was a financial success and showcased Claudette as never before. But it was as Ellie Andrews, in the now famous It Happened One Night (1934), that ensured she would be forever immortalized. Paired with Clark Gable, the madcap comedy was a super hit all across the country. The film alsohelped Claudette be nominated for and win in the category of Best Actress. The next year she was nominated again for Private Worlds where she played Dr. Jane Everest who was staffed in a mental institution. The performance was exquisite. Films such as The Gilded Lily (1935), Drums Along the Mohawk (1939), and No Time for Love (1943) kept fans coming to the theaters and the movie moguls happy. Claudette was a sure drawing card for virtually any film. In 1944, Claudette starred as Anne Hilton in the production of Since You Went Away (1944). Again, although she didn't win, Claudette won her third nomination for Best Actress.

Presented the Oscar by SHirley Temple in 1935 for It Happened One Night.	In front of her Bel Air home, circa 1935	at her beach house with guest Joan Crawford, circa 1935.	at a Carle Laemmle costume party, 1935
with Frank Capra, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard at an Acrots' Fund chaity event, 1935	with her second husband, Dr. Joel Pressman, taken during WW II. They married in 1935.	in Palm Springs on a brief vacation between pictures, 1935	with Mary Pickford and Louella Parsons (seated and Warren William and Dick Powell (at read at a charity event, circa 1938

snaps her friends Marlene Dietrich and George Cukor, circa 1938.	leaving her home with dog to go shopping, 1938	returns on the Normandie from a trip abroad, 1938	doing a Lux Radio Theatre broadcast, with Joel McCrea of Hands Across the Table (1937)
with Cecil B. Demille and Fred MacMurray on the set of the Lux Radio Theatre version of Alice Adams (1938)	in a fashion shot taken at her home in 1938	dancing with Gary Cooper, Ciro's 1941	with Robert taylor among a party of friends at a night spot, circa 1940.
With Tyrone Power, Annabella, and Charles Boyer at the Theater, 1941	Red Cross volunteer work with Constance Bennett and Delores Del Rio, circa 1942	with her two poodles, 1952	With Gloria Swanson, Michael Wilding and Montgomery Clift at rehearsal of a Royal Variety Show, London, 1952.

In 1955, she filmed Texas Lady and wasn't seen again until Parrish in 1961. It was her final silver screen performance. Although she appeared in a TV movie, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (1987) (TV), Claudette never, again, appeared before the cameras. She did, however, remain on the stage where she had returned in 1956, her first love.

with Humphrey Bogart, 1952	Janus (stage, 1956) with Robert Preston and Claude Dauphin	The Marriage go-Round (1958), 400th performance, with Edmon Ryan	The Marriage go-Round (1958) with Charles Boyer
The Kingfisher (stage, 1978) with George Rose and Rex Harrison	A Talent for Murder (stage, 1978), with Jean-Pierre Aumont	with Bob Hope and Bette Davis at the 1982 American Film Intsitute Lifetime Achievement Award to Frank Capra	with Myrna Loy and Joan Bennett at a charity affair (1972)
With German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and President Ronald Reagan at a White House dinner party, 1982	Arriving at the American Film Institute salute to Frank Capra (1982)	rehearsing a scene from the CBS-TV star jubilee presentation of Blithe Spirit (1956), with playwright- Costar, Noel Coward.	Rex Harrison presents Colbert with the Sarah Siddons Award for Best Actress to play Chicago for the season 1979-80 for her performance in the play, The Kingfisher
Aren't We All? (stage, 1984) with Rex Harrison (London)	The 1980's Vintage Colbert	Claudette Colbert, 1980's	Aren't We All? on Broadway (1985)

After a series of strokes, Claudette divided her time between New York and Barbados. On July 30, 1996, Claudette died in Speightstown, Barbados. She was 92.

This bio is here courtesy of Denny Jackson, please visit his site.