Became an extra at Essanay studios in Chicago

First acting role, "Elvira Farina"

Went to Hollywood with Wallace Beery; both hired by Mack Sennett's Keystone company

Followed Sennett when he left Triangle to join Paramount

Returned to Triangle; starred in dramas

Moved to Cecil B DeMille's unit at Paramount; began starring in series of sophisticated bedroom farces including "Don't Change Your Husband" and "Male and Female"

Teamed on screen with Valentino in "Beyond the Rocks"

First did her Chaplin impression on screen in "Manhandled"

Starred in "Madame Sans Gene", filmed on location in France

Left Paramount

Bankrolled by Joseph P Kennedy; formed own production company, with films released through United Artists

Experienced box office flop with "The Love of Sunya"

Received first Best Actress Academy Award nomination for title role in "Sadie Thompson"

Starred in the silent film "Queen Kelly", produced by Kennedy and directed by Erich von Stroheim; Swanson put together a version for release in Europe but it was a box office disappointment; footage later interpolated in "Sunset Boulevard"

Garnered second Best Actress Oscar nomination for "The Trespasser", her first talking picture

Went to Great Britain to star in "Perfect Understanding"

Played last starring role for seven years in the musical comedy "Music in the Air"; temporarily retired

Made a screen comeback in "Father Takes a Wife"

Resumed screen career with her signature role of Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard", directed by Billy Wilder; earned third Best Actress Academy Award nomination

Returned to Broadway in "Twentieth Century"

Made TV appearance in an episode of "Hollywood Opening Night"

Hosted and acted in the syndicated TV show "Crown Theater With Gloria Swanson" (aka "The Gloria Swanson Show")

Guest starred on "Dr. Kildare"

Appeared in an episode of the CBS sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies"

Made rare musical appearance as a guest on "The Carol Burnett Show" (CBS)

Succeeded Eileen Heckart in the role of the overprotective mother of a blind man in the comedy-drama "Butterflies Are Free" on Broadway; later toured with the play

Acted in final film, "Airport 1975"

TV-movie debut, "Killer Bees" (ABC)