Adorable Story #117: Hedda Hopper

Hollywood’s Queen of Gossip and Power

“Smart women love smart men more than smart men love smart women.”

— Hedda Hopper

American actress and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (1885 - 1966) attends a New Year’s Eve party at the Romanoff Restaurant in Hollywood, Los Angeles — Photo © by Slim Aarons / Getty Images

Hedda Hopper was one of Hollywood’s most powerful and polarizing figures during its Golden Age, rising to fame as a gossip columnist who wielded extraordinary influence over the entertainment industry.

Originally an actress in silent and early sound films, Hopper reinvented herself as a writer in the 1930s, eventually becoming a household name with her widely read column.

Known for her sharp wit, flamboyant persona, and signature hats, she chronicled the lives of Hollywood’s biggest stars, often blending admiration with scathing critiques. Her column became a must-read for millions of Americans, shaping public perceptions of celebrities and turning Hopper into a gatekeeper of fame and scandal.

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Table of Contents: Early Years / Education / Early Career and Transition to Acting / Becoming a Gossip Columnist / Controversies / Making and Breaking Careers / Personal Life / The House That Fear Built / Wealth / Did you know?

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Early Years

Hedda Hopper was born Elda Furry on May 2nd, 1885, in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, and grew up in a modest household. When she was young, the family relocated to nearby Altoona where she spent most of her childhood.

Hedda’s father, David Furry, was of German descent and worked as a butcher, while her mother, Margaret Miller, managed the household and cared for their large family (Elda was one of nine children).

Education

Elda Furry’s formal education was limited, as was common for many young women of her time. She attended public school in Altoona but left during her teenage years to help support her family. It wasn’t until she moved to New York City in her early twenties that she began to truly educate herself in the ways of the world. Her move to the city marked the beginning of her attempt to get into theater and acting.

Early Career and Transition to Acting

Elda Furry changed her name to Hedda Hopper after marrying actor DeWolf Hopper Sr. in 1913.

DeWolf, then 55 years old, was a well-known comic actor and vaudevillian, with a penchant for marrying young actresses (Hedda, 27 years old at the time, was his fifth wife).

DeWolf’s previous wives were named Ella, Ida, Edna and Nella. The similarity in names caused some problems with Elda, as he would sometimes call her by the name of one of his former wives. As a consequence, Elda Hopper asked a numerologist to tell her what name she should use, and the answer was “Hedda.”