Dana Andrews Marriage History: More Complex Than You Think
Dana Andrews married twice: first to Janet Murray in 1932, who died in 1935, and then to actress Mary Todd on November 17, 1939; that second marriage lasted until his death in 1992 and produced three children.
Marriage history overview
Dana Andrews is best remembered as a 1940s Hollywood leading man, but his personal life was marked by two marriages, the loss of a spouse, and a long second marriage that weathered career highs, alcoholism, and family life.
His first marriage was to Janet Murray, whom he married on December 31, 1932, when he was still building his acting career; she died in 1935, leaving him widowed with a young son, David.
He married Mary Todd, an actress, on November 17, 1939, and the couple remained together for decades, having three children: Katharine, Stephen, and Susan.
Marriages in order
| Spouse | Marriage date | End of marriage | Children |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janet Murray | December 31, 1932 | 1935, due to her death | One son, David |
| Mary Todd | November 17, 1939 | 1992, ended by his death | Katharine, Stephen, and Susan |
First marriage
Janet Murray was Andrews's first wife, and the marriage began on the last day of 1932, before he became widely known in films.
The relationship was short because Murray died in 1935, a loss that left Andrews raising their son David as a widower while his career was accelerating.
That early tragedy is part of why biographies often describe his family history as more complex than the simple two-marriage summary suggests.
Second marriage
Andrews's second wife, Mary Todd, was also an actress, and their marriage began on November 17, 1939, just before his most famous screen years.
They had three children together, and several sources note that the family lived for many years in Toluca Lake, California, giving the marriage a long domestic chapter outside Hollywood publicity.
Unlike many studio-era Hollywood marriages, this one endured for the rest of Andrews's life, even though alcoholism in the 1950s strained the relationship and affected his career.
Family timeline
- 1932: Dana Andrews married Janet Murray.
- 1935: Janet Murray died, and Andrews became a widower.
- 1939: He married Mary Todd.
- 1942 to 1948: The couple welcomed Katharine, Stephen, and Susan.
- 1968: One source reports that the marriage later ended in divorce, though other biographical summaries emphasize that he remained with Mary Todd through his later years.
Why it matters
The Hollywood era in which Andrews lived often produced simplified celebrity biographies, but his marital history reflects wider realities of loss, recovery, and long-term partnership across a turbulent industry life.
His first marriage ended through bereavement rather than separation, while his second marriage became tied to his family identity and to the later years when he spoke publicly about recovery from alcoholism.
That combination of early loss and later stability is what makes his personal story more nuanced than a one-line spouse list.
Notable details
- He had four children in total across both marriages, including David from his first marriage and three children with Mary Todd.
- He was married first before the height of his fame and second during the start of his star period in the 1940s.
- Some reference works differ on whether the second marriage ended in divorce or simply continued until his death, so the safest framing is to note the strong consensus on the marriage itself and the family it produced.
Frequently asked questions
"Andrews spent his life with her, although alcoholism in the 1950s strained the relationship and affected his career."
Source context
Biographical reference sources consistently agree on the core facts: two wives, one early widowhood, one long second marriage, and four children across both unions.
Where they differ is mainly in how they describe the later status of the second marriage, so any accurate article should present that point carefully rather than oversimplifying it.
Helpful tips and tricks for Dana Andrews Marriage History
How many times was Dana Andrews married?
He was married twice: first to Janet Murray and then to Mary Todd.
Who was Dana Andrews's first wife?
His first wife was Janet Murray, whom he married on December 31, 1932.
Who was Dana Andrews's second wife?
His second wife was actress Mary Todd, whom he married on November 17, 1939.
Did Dana Andrews have children?
Yes, he had four children in total: David from his first marriage and Katharine, Stephen, and Susan from his second marriage.
Was Dana Andrews married for a long time?
Yes, his marriage to Mary Todd lasted for many years and was the central long-term relationship of his adult life.