Born in San Francisco, de Lorez was one of three children born to Eliza G. McMahon and Isaac "Ike" Deutch.[2][8][9] Her sister, Thelma, was a dancer who also used the stage name DeLorez.[10]
As early as age 4, de Lorez—as Claire Deutch—was performing in public as a singer and dancer.[3] Appearing both alone and with her brother Edward,[11] Deutch was dubbed "one of the coming vaudeville stars" by The San Francisco Examiner.[3]
Career
Specializing in vamp roles, de Lorez was active in Hollywood films from 1920 to 1925, after which she went to Paris and performed on stage there[12] in addition to starring in at least five films.[13]
During World War I de Lorez served with an American ambulance unit; in World War II she was interned by Germans at Vittel. She married a man from a wealthy Greek family and became known as Claire Typaldon-Bassian. In 1949 she was secretary of an American Legion post's women's auxiliary in Paris.[1]
In September 1932 de Lorez swallowed pills in a cafe in Paris in an attempt to kill herself. A waiter who saw the act prevented her from drinking water, hoping that would slow the spread of the poison. The Los Angeles Times reported that de Lorez was "suddenly desperate because of her socially and politcally distinguished fiance's declaration that he would not marry her".[12]
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