Olympe Bradna

• Name — Olympe Bradna • Birth Name — Antoinette Olympe Bradna • Born — 12 August 1920 • Birthplace — Paris, France • Died — 5 November 2012 • Place of death — Lodi, California, U.S. • Resting Place — Stockton Rural Cemetery • Occupation — Dancer, actress • Years Active — 1921–1941 • Spouse — Douglass Woods Wilhoit, Sr. (1941-2012) (his death) (3 children) • Relatives — Ella Bradna (aunt)

Bradna was born in a dressing room in the Olympic Theatre in Paris, and her full name was Antoinette Olympe Bradna. Her father, Joseph Bradna, was a Bohemian Czech and her mother, Jana Bradna, was Austrian German. (Another source says that her mother was French.) They were circus performers before Olympe began her career. (Jana Bradna had been an opera singer before she joined her husband in the circus.) Her aunt Ella Bradna also was in the circus, as an equestrienne. An item in a newspaper in 1936 reported that Bradna "followed a line of trained dogs on the stage in France, when she was only 18 months old."

Bradna appeared at 18 months of age with her parents, who were world-famous bare back riders. By the time she was 8, Bradna "had attracted so much attention that agents were anxious to book her as a 'single.'" Her parents accompanied her to Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and France as she danced. She performed "an acrobatic dance" in the Paris, France, production of Hit the Deck. Later she joined the Folies Bergère. She was with that group for eight months and danced at the French Casino in New York City for eight more months. She danced in Stockholm, New York City, and other world capitals.

In May, 1941 Olympe married Douglas Woods Wilhoit, at which point she retired from acting. For many years she and her family lived in Stockton, California, before ultimately settling in Lodi, California. Together, she and Douglas would have four children, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. They were married for over seventy years, with Douglas passing away in February, 2012, just nine months prior to Olympe's death.

Bradna died 5 November 2012, in Stockton, California, at age 92. (Another source says, "... Bradna died at her home in San Joaquin, California...) She was survived by a son, two daughters, five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1933 — Roger la Honte — Suzanne Laroque • 1934 — Flofloche — Reine • 1936 — Three Cheers for Love — Frenchy • College Holiday — Felice L'Hommedieu • 1937 — The Last Train from Madrid — Maria Ronda • High, Wide, and Handsome • Souls at Sea — Babsie • 1938 — Stolen Heaven — Steffi • Say It in French — Julie • 1939 — The Night of Nights — Marie Alyce O'Farrell • 1940 — South of Pago Pago — Malia • 1941 — Knockout — Angela Grinnelli • Highway West — Myra Abbott • International Squadron — Jeanette — (final film role)