Marla English
Marla English | |
---|---|
Born | Marleine Gaile English January 4, 1935 San Diego, California, U.S. |
Died | December 10, 2012[1] Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | (aged 77)
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1953–1957 |
Spouse | A. Paul Sutherland (1956–2012) |
Marleine Gaile English (January 4, 1935 – December 10, 2012) was an American film actress during the 1950s.
Early years
She was born Marleine Gaile English in San Diego, California. As a teenager, she worked as a model and performed locally.[2]
Film
Paramount
English was originally signed to a contract by Paramount Pictures in 1952[2] after winning a San Diego beauty pageant to be "Fairest of the Fair".[3] She was paid $150 per week to appear in such films as Red Garters (1954) and Rear Window (1954).[4] She was often cut out of these films.[5][6] Her contract went up to $200 a week.[7]
Her breakthrough role came when she was borrowed by Aubrey Schenck to appear in Shield for Murder (1954).[8]
The Mountain
She received a major break when she was cast opposite Spencer Tracy in The Mountain,[4] a film which was to be made in France.[9] English was given a smallpox vaccine before leaving to go on location. She quickly developed a raging fever and decided to pull out of the movie. Paramount suspended English and replaced her with Barbara Darrow. Parade Magazine questioned English about her decision in September 1955. She said it was a very dumb move and was unsure why she decided against making The Mountain. A close relative told the publication that English had fallen in love with Paramount actor Larry Pennell. She became enraged when the studio would not give Pennell a role in the film so they could travel to France together.[4]
B-movies
English made mostly B films throughout her career in Hollywood. Some of these include Three Bad Sisters, Runaway Daughters, The She Creature, Flesh and the Spur, and Voodoo Woman. In 1955, she appeared with John Ireland and Pennell in Hell's Horizon.
Personal life
English gave up her acting career in 1956, aged 21, when she became engaged to San Diego businessman A. Paul Sutherland.[2][10]
Death
English died of cancer, aged 77, in Tucson, Arizona.[2]
Filmography
- Casanova's Big Night (1954) – Girl on Bridge (uncredited)
- Yankee Pasha (1954) – Harem Girl (uncredited)
- About Mrs. Leslie (1954) – Minor Role (uncredited)
- Living It Up (1954) – Manicurist (uncredited)
- Rear Window (1954) – Girl at Songwriter's Party (uncredited)
- Shield for Murder (1954) – Patty Winters
- Desert Sands (1955) – Princess Zara
- Hell's Horizon (1955) – Sami
- Three Bad Sisters (1956) – Vicki Craig
- The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1956, TV Series) – Myia
- The Bob Cummings Show (1956, TV Series) – Marie / Marie de Carlo
- Crossroads (1956, TV Series) – Barbara Sherman
- The She-Creature (1956, for AIP) – Andrea Talbott / Elizabeth Wetherby
- A Strange Adventure (1956) – Lynn Novak
- Flesh and the Spur (1956, for AIP) – Wild Willow
- Runaway Daughters (1956, for AIP) – Audrey Barton aka Lola Marshall
- Voodoo Woman (1957, for AIP) – Marilyn Blanchard (final film role)
References
- ^ "Marla English, 'Fairest of the Fair', actress, dead at 77". U-T San Diego. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ a b c d Lentz, Harris M. III (2013). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2012. McFarland. pp. 89–90. ISBN 9781476603858. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ "COMMANDANT 34 YEARS IN ARMY RETIRES". Los Angeles Times. Aug 2, 1951. ProQuest 166268013.
- ^ a b c "Marla English: She chose love". St. Petersburg Times. September 18, 1955.
- ^ Scott, J. L. (May 30, 1954). "GAMBLE PAYS OFF ON MARLA ENGLISH". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 166625678.
- ^ "Actress marla english wins contract approval". Los Angeles Times. Nov 9, 1953. ProQuest 166517635.
- ^ "Court OKs contracts of two young actresses". Los Angeles Times. Nov 5, 1954. ProQuest 166709764.
- ^ "Marla english joins the legion". The Washington Post and Times Herald. Dec 24, 1954. ProQuest 148420684.
- ^ "The life story of MARLA ENGLISH". Picture show. No. 65. Dec 24, 1955. p. 12. ProQuest 1879635068.
- ^ "Marla english to quit film career to marry". The Washington Post and Times Herald. Jul 22, 1956. ProQuest 148761381.
Sources
- Kannapolis, North Carolina Daily Independent, "Louella Parsons Reports From Hollywood", March 4, 1956, p. 22.
- Lincoln, Nebraska Sunday Journal and Star, "People In The News", July 22, 1956, p. 6
External links
- {{TCMDb name}} template missing ID and not present in Wikidata.
- Marla English at Brian's Drive In Theatre