Marie-Louise Damien (born Louise Marie Damien; 5 December 1889 â€" 30
January 1978), better known by the stage name Damia, was a French
singer and actress.Louise Marie Damien was born on 5 December 1889 to
Marie Joséphine Louise (née Claude) and Nicolas Damien on rue Jeanne
d’Arc in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. Her father was a police
sergeant in Lorraine and she was raised in a family of eight siblings.
Running away from home after being sent to a reform school, Damien
arrived in Paris when she was fifteen.Damien initially worked as a
model and actress playing bit parts with the Théâtre du Châtelet,
but by 1909 was performing as a dancer, using the stage name Marise
Damia, with Max Dearly in London. After returning from London, she was
encouraged to sing by the impresario Robert Hollard, who used the
stage name "Roberty". Hollard was the husband of the singer, Fréhel,
at the time and his affair with Damia ended his stormy marriage. Her
singing debut occurred in 1911 at the Pépinière and was followed by
a performance at the Alhambra, which was arranged by Harry Fragson. He
also arranged for her to perform at the Alcazar d'Été, where she
worked with Maurice Chevalier. When Fragson was murdered by his
father, Damia left France in 1913 and went to the United States.
Performing on Broadway until 1916, she returned to France and during
the remainder of the war sang on the war front. Marie-Louise Damien Biography, NetWorth, Height, Age, Weight, Family, Married, Son, Daughter