Sonia Darrin


Sonia Darrin was an American film actress, best known as "Agnes Lowzier" in The Big Sleep.

Early years

Darrin was born to Louis and Rose Paskowitz, Jewish emigrants from Russia, who immigrated to Galveston, Texas. She had two brothers, Adrian and Dorian. Her father operated a clothing store in Galveston. Around 1940, the family moved to Los Angeles, California.

Career

Darrin danced in the film Lady in the Dark and worked with Ed Wynn and Alan Young on their early television programs. Possibly her most famous role was that of femme fatale Agnes Lowzier in Howard Hawks's 1946 film The Big Sleep where she plays a bookstore clerk and paramour of minor Los Angeles gangster Joe Brody. Despite her substantial supporting role, Darrin went uncredited in the credits of The Big Sleep.

Personal life

Darrin married William "Bill" Reese, a theater set designer and marketing services company president. The couple had four children, three sons and a daughter, and lived in Manhattan. Their youngest son is the former child actor Mason Reese. Her last two public appearances were on The Mike Douglas Show in the 1970s, and in a documentary film about her brother, Dorian, in 2007.
She resided on the Upper West Side of Manhattan for over 50 years. Darrin died of natural causes in New York City on July 19, 2020 at the age of 96.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1941It Started with EveNightclub PatronUncredited
1941The Corsican BrothersOpera SpectatorUncredited
1942My Gal SalChorus GirlUncredited
1943The Hard WayChorus GirlUncredited
1943Frankenstein Meets the Wolf ManVillager at FestivalUncredited
1943The North StarDancing PeasantUncredited
1944Lady in the DarkOffice GirlUncredited
1946The Big SleepAgnes LowzierUncredited
1947Bury Me DeadHelen Lawrence
1948I, Jane DoeNurseUncredited
1949CaughtMiss ChambersUncredited
1950Federal Agent at LargeMildred