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Marion Martin

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
75

Gender
Female

Birthday
June 7, 1908 (118 years old)

Place of Birth
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Marion Martin

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marion Martin (born Marion Suplee, June 7, 1909 – August 13, 1985) was an American movie and stage actress.

Martin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of a Bethlehem Steel executive. She became an actress after her family fortune was lost in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, and appeared in the Broadway productions Lombardi Ltd. and Sweet Adeline.

She made her film debut in She's My Lillie, I'm Her Willie and subsequently played minor roles, often as showgirls. Several of her early roles were in musicals and she achieved some success as a singer. By the end of the decade she had played leading female roles in several "B" pictures, playing one of her most notable roles in James Whale's Sinners in Paradise (1938). Despite her success she was often cast in minor roles in more widely seen films such as His Girl Friday (1940). The majority of her roles were in comedies but she also appeared in dramas such as Boom Town (1940) in which she played a dance hall singer who is briefly romanced by Clark Gable. She played secondary roles in three Lupe Vélez "Mexican Spitfire" films in the early 1940s, and was a comic foil for the Marx Brothers in The Big Store, where the back of her skirt is cut away by Harpo.

She played a ghost in Gildersleeve's Ghost, and was the subject of a legendary fistfight between Gildersleeve star Harold Peary and Warner Bros studio mogul Bud Stevens at the Mocambo nightclub in 1943. Her more substantial roles included Alice Angel, a dizzy showgirl, in the murder mystery Lady of Burlesque with Barbara Stanwyck and Angel on My Shoulder. She also appeared in The Big Street with Lucille Ball, in the western The Woman of the Town with Claire Trevor and in The Great Mike at PRC in 1944.

By the late 1940s, her roles were often minor. Three Stooges fans will remember her as western cowgirl Gladys in Merry Mavericks. She played "Belle Farnol" in a 1950 episode of The Lone Ranger entitled "Pardon for Curley". Shortly afterward, she made her final film appearance in 1952. Married to a physicist, Martin retired, and although she expressed the desire to return to show business, suitable roles were not offered to her.

She was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to motion pictures, at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard. She died in 1985 in Santa Monica, California, and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Known For

Acting

1952Oklahoma Annieas LaBelle La Tour
1951Journey Into Lightas Diana (as Marian Martin)
1951Merry Mavericksas Gladys
1950Dakota Lilas Blonde Singer
1950Key to the Cityas Emmy
1949Oh, You Beautiful Dollas Bar Blonde
1949Come to the Stableas Rossi's Manicurist (uncredited)
1948Thunder in the Pinesas Pearl (as Marian Martin)
1947Should Husbands Marry?as Loud Friend's Girlfriend
1947Lighthouseas JoJo, the Blonde
1946That Brennan Girlas Marion, Natalie's Girl Friend (as Marian Martin)
1946Nobody Lives Foreveras Lou, Blonde (uncredited)
1946Angel on My Shoulderas Rosie Morgan Bentley
1946Black Angelas Millie
1946Queen of Burlesqueas Lola Cassell
1946Deadline for Murderas Laura Gibson
1946Suspenseas Shooting Gallery Blond (uncredited)
1946Cinderella Jonesas Burlesque Queen
1945Girls of the Big Houseas Dixie
1945Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywoodas Miss Milbane
1945On Stage Everybodyas Bubbles (uncredited)
1945Gangs of the Waterfrontas Rita (as Marian Martin)
1945Penthouse Rhythmas Irma King
1945The Phantom Speaksas Betty Hanzel
1945Eadie Was a Ladyas Rose Allure
1944The Great Mikeas Kitty Tremaine
1944Mystery of the Riverboatas Celeste Eltree [Chs. 1-4, 7]
1944The Merry Monahansas Soubrette
1944Gildersleeve's Ghostas Terry Vance
1944It Happened Tomorrowas Nurse (uncredited)
1944Sweethearts of the U.S.A.as Ghost of Josephine
1943The Woman of the Townas Daisy Davenport
1943Lady of Burlesqueas Alice Angel
1943They Got Me Coveredas Gloria
1942The McGuerins from Brooklynas Myrtle
1942Mexican Spitfire's Elephantas Diana De Corro
1942The Big Streetas Mimi Venus
1942Tales of Manhattanas Squirrel
1942Powder Townas Sue, Blonde Piano Player
1942Wedded Blitzas Mrs. Errol
1942Mexican Spitfire at Seaas Fifi Russell
1942Fly By Nightas Nurse
1941Weekend for Threeas Mrs. Gloria Weatherby
1941The Mexican Spitfire's Babyas Fifi
1941Lady Scarfaceas Ruby / Mary Jordan
1941New Wineas Mitzi
1941Cracked Nutsas Flashy Blonde in Corridor
1941Love at First Frightas Liza Hatrack
1941The Big Storeas Peggy Arden
1941The Lady from Cheyenneas Gertie
1941Blonde Inspirationas Wanda
1941Tall, Dark and Handsomeas Dawn
1940Ellery Queen, Master Detectiveas Cornelia
1940Blondes and Blundersas Blondie, Jewel Thief
1940Boom Townas Whitey
1940Untamedas 2nd Girl in Limousine (uncredited)
1940His Girl Fridayas Evangeline (uncredited)
1939Invisible Stripesas Blonde (uncredited)
1939The Man in the Iron Maskas Mlle. de la Valliere
1939Invitation to Happinessas Lola Snow
1939Sergeant Maddenas Charlotte LePage
1939Pirates of the Skiesas
1938His Exciting Nightas Gypsy McCoy
1938The Stormas Jane
1938Youth Takes a Flingas Girl on Beach
1938Sinners in Paradiseas Iris Compton
1938Cupid Takes a Holidayas Annabelle Postal -1st Prospective Bride
1938The Miss They Missedas
1936Boy, Oh Boyas Miss Glory Hutchinson
1935Richard Himber and His Orchestraas Singer
1935The Magic of Musicas Blonde guest
1935Moon Over Manhattanas
1934She's My Lilly, I'm Her Willieas Miss Brooks
1934Crime Without Passionas Theatre Cashier (uncredited)
1934Mr. W's Little Gameas The Blonde

Production