Val Lewton.org

Alla Nazimova

Stage and screen actress Alla Nazimova (Adelaide Leventon) was Lewton's aunt and instrumental in bringing the young Val Lewton and his family to America from Yalta.

From the July 16, 1945 obituary that appeared in the UK The Times

Death of Miss Alla Nazimova

Miss Alla Nazimova, the actress, has died at Hollywood, states the Exchange Telegraph Company. She was born at Yalta, in the Crimea, in 1879, and came to notice in Boston, United States, as Alla Nazimoff of Orieneff's Russian players. She made her English-speaking debut in 1906, and appeared in many leading parts in New York until 1918, specializing in Ibsen's plays. In the days of silent films she was a star who played many "siren" roles. Her films include A Doll's House, Salome, and The Madonna of the Streets. At the Coliseum in 1927 she had a considerable success in a dramatic sketch, A Woman of the Earth. She returned to the screen a few months ago, after an absence of 15 years. The last picture she made was the Bridge of San Luis Rey.

Original Page July 22, 2024