as
Scarlett O'Hara in
Gone With the Wind (1939) Guilaroff was born in London, England to Eugene Abraham Guilaroff and Annie Guilaroff née Snitkin, Russian Jewish immigrants who later settled in Canada. They lived in both the cities of Winnipeg and Montreal. His sisters, Olga and Vera, became prominent in the theater. At age 14, Guilaroff left Canada for New York City and found work in the stockroom of
Gimbels department store. An on-the-job accident required him to leave, and at times his financial situation forced him to sleep on benches in
Central Park. His fortunes changed when he was hired as a beautician's assistant. His menial responsibilities included sweeping the floor of a hair salon. The owner recognized his energy and enterprise, and mentored him in the hairdressing trade. By age 16, Guilaroff was so proficient a hair stylist that he had established a considerable clientele. However, his blossoming career was interrupted by a diagnosis of
tuberculosis, which required his return to Canada. He recovered and returned to New York to continue his profession. During this period, he was reputed to have created silent screen star
Louise Brooks' signature bob. He also devised the hair looks for actresses
Corinne Griffith and
Miriam Hopkins. He subsequently found a position at
Antoine de Paris’s, one of the city's most exclusive salons, where he was known as Mr. Sydney. == Career with Metro Goldwyn Mayer ==