Martin Arrouge was the second husband of Canadian-American model and actress Norma Shearer. Martin’s ex-wife, Norma Shearer, was regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the late 1920s and the early 1930s and was widely known for her roles in movies like The Divorcee (1930) and Strangers May Kiss (1931).
Who was Martin Arrouge?
Martin Arrouge was born in San Francisco, United States, on March 23, 1915. His zodiac sign is Aries. He was an American citizen who grew up in a middle-income family in San Francisco. There is no information on Martin’s family or background since he lived a low-profile life before his marriage to Norma Shearer.
Martin had a previous career as a ski instructor before he met his wife, Norma. He later changed his career to become a real estate developer and a businessman. He is known to have worked with the United States Navy as an aviator during World War 2.
Martin Arrouge taught Norma Shearer and her two children how to ski.
Martin and Norma first met in 1938, after the demise of the latter’s husband. He was employed to teach Norma and her children how to ski. The cause of the ski tutorials, the two fell in love and started dating.
Though Norma was twelve years old than Martin, that did not restrict their love for each other. They married in 1948 in a private ceremony attended by a few guests. According to a New York Times publication, the wedding was held in Beverley Hills, the Church of the Good Shepherd. The publication described the wedding ceremony as brief and simple.
As mentioned earlier, Norma had two children from her previous marriage. She was previously married to American film producer Irvin Thalberg Sr., who died of pneumonia at age 37.
Martin and his wife, Norma, had been married for 41 years. It ended when Norma passed away in 1983. Norma died of pneumonia, just like her first husband, Irvin Thalberg. She was 80 years old at the time of her demise. The couple did not have any children together. Martin adopted Norma’s children with Irvin and became their stepfather.
After Norma’s passing, Martin Arrouge married for the second time to a woman named Michele Daphine Ward Arrouge on August 5, 1985. This marriage did not produce any children.
Martin Arrouge’s wife, Norma, started her career as a model.
Before Norma Shearer went into movies, she was a model by profession. She started modelling when she moved to New York with her mother in 1920. She did numerous runway shows for renowned brands of those days.
During one of such shows, she caught the attention of Hal Roch, a movie producer, who later featured her in some of his movies. Hal brought Norma to Hollywood and got her signed by Louis B. Mayer Pictures for a weekly contract of $250.
Martin’s wife secured roles in high-profile movies after she signed the contract. She also became one of the influential and highly paid actresses of those days, with a weekly earning of $1000.
Some of her movies include The Stealers (1920), The Trail of Mary Dugan(1929), Their Desire (1929), and Romeo and Juliet (1938). Her role in the movie The Divorcee got her Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, which she won in 1931.
What happened to Martin Arrouge?
Martin passed away on August 8, 1999, in Los Angeles, California. He was 85 years old at the time of his passing. He was succeeded in death by his second wife, Michele Arrouge. His body was cremated, and the ashes were given to his wife, Michele. He died of natural causes.
Norma Shearer would have an estimated net worth of $ 5 million if she is to be alive today.