Mae West, born Mary Jane West on August 17, 1893, in Brooklyn, New York, was a renowned American actress, singer, comedian, screenwriter, and playwright. Her career, which spanned over seven decades, was marked by her portrayal of sexually confident characters and her distinctive use of double entendres. She began her career in vaudeville and on the New York stage before transitioning to film in Los Angeles.

West's early life was rooted in a diverse cultural background, with a German immigrant mother and a father of Irish, English, and Scottish descent. She was introduced to performance at a young age, making her first stage appearance at five and entering vaudeville by 14. Her stage career was notable for its boldness, as seen in her play "Sex" (1926), which led to her arrest for "corrupting the morals of youth."

In Hollywood, West became a major star with films like "She Done Him Wrong" (1933) and "I'm No Angel" (1933), often challenging social norms and censorship. Her film career peaked in the 1930s, but she continued to engage audiences through stage performances, radio, and television. In her later years, she also ventured into rock and roll music.

West's personal life included marriages to Frank Wallace and Guido Deiro, and a long-term partnership with Paul Novak. She passed away on November 22, 1980, in Los Angeles, California. Her legacy as a pioneering figure in entertainment was cemented by the American Film Institute ranking her 15th among the greatest female screen legends of classic American cinema.