Tamara Shayne (born Tamara Veniaminovna Olkenitskaya; 25 November 1902 – 23 October 1983), also known as Tamara Nikoulina, was a Russian-born actress and long-time resident in the United States.John Walker (ed) Halliwell Who's Who in the Movies, London: HarperCollins, 1999 (13th edition), p. 375 suggests her year of birth was 1897
Early life Tamara Shayne was born on 25 November 1902 in Perm, Russia, to the family of a Jewish actor Veniamin Olkenitsky-Nikulin (aka Benjamin Nikulin). Her older brother Konstantin was also an actor.Doug McClelland Blackface to blacklist: Al Jolson, Larry Parks, and The Jolson story, Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1998, pg. 154
Career Shayne appeared in European films before migrating to the United States in 1927 with her future husband, the actor Akim Tamiroff;"Tamara Shayne, 80, Actress; Was Jolson's Mother in Films", The New York Times, 27 October 1983. the couple married in February 1933.
Her first role (uncredited) in an American film was in The Captain Hates the Sea (1934). She also appeared uncredited in Ninotchka (1939) as Anna, the cellist roommate of the titular character portrayed by Greta Garbo. Shayne appeared in nearly two dozen films from 1934-61, and is possibly best remembered as Moma Yoelson in The Jolson Story (1946) and Jolson Sings Again (1949).
Personal life Shayne remained married to Akim Tamiroff until his death in 1972, and she retired at that time. She died from complications following a heart attack on 23 October 1983."Biography for Tamara Shayne", TCM.com; accessed 20 June 2017.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1934 The Captain Hates the Sea General's Wife Uncredited 1935 George White's 1935 Scandals Russian Girl - Old Southern Custom Uncredited 1939 Ninotchka Anna - Moscow Roommate Uncredited 1942 Somewhere I'll Find You Mama Lugovska Uncredited 1943 Mission to Moscow Russian Nurse Uncredited 1944 Song of Russia Mme. Orlova 1946 The Jolson Story Mrs. Yoelson 1947 It Happened in Brooklyn Mrs. Kardos 1947 Northwest Outpost Olga Natalia's Maid 1947 Pirates of Monterey Filomena 1948 Walk a Crooked Mile Mrs. Ecko, Landlady Uncredited 1948 The Snake Pit Ward 33 Inmate Uncredited 1949 Jolson Sings Again Moma Yoelson 1949 Black Magic Maria Balsamo 1949 Thieves' Highway Parthena Garcos 1949 The Red Danube Helena Nagard 1951 I Can Get It for You Wholesale Mrs. Cooper Uncredited 1953 Tonight We Sing Customer Uncredited 1955 Mr. Arkadin Woman in Apartment 1956 Anastasia Zenia Uncredited 1961 Romanoff and Juliet Evdokia Romanoff
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