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Martha Vickers

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Martha Vickers
Martha Vickers in 1947
Born
Martha MacVicar

(1925-05-28)May 28, 1925
DiedNovember 2, 1971(1971-11-02) (aged 46)
Resting placeValhalla Memorial Park
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active1943–1960
Spouses
(m. 1948; div. 1948)
(m. 1949; div. 1951)
Manuel Rojas
(m. 1954; div. 1965)
Children3

Martha Vickers (born Martha MacVicar; May 28, 1925 – November 2, 1971) was an American model and actress.

Early life

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Vickers was born Martha MacVicar in Ann Arbor, Michigan; her father was an automobile dealer. She began her career as a model[1][2] and cover girl. Her family moved to Hollywood when her father assumed control of an agency in Burbank, California. Vickers was 15 at that time.[1]

Film

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Martha Vickers pin-up in
Yank (1945)

Vickers' first film role was a small uncredited part in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943).[3]

She played minor roles in several films during the early 1940s, working first at Universal Studios and then at RKO Pictures. She next went to Warner Bros., where "they gave her the star push, rearranging her surname to 'Vickers.'"[2] Her work there included the role of Carmen Sternwood, the promiscuous, drug-addicted younger sister of Lauren Bacall's character in The Big Sleep (1946). She also featured in a musical, The Time, the Place and the Girl (also 1946), followed by two Warner Bros. comedies, Love and Learn and That Way with Women (both 1947).

During the 1950s Vickers worked more often in television than in films, with her final performances in either medium released in 1960.

Television

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Vickers's TV appearances included the 1959 Perry Mason episode, "The Case of the Jaded Joker", in which she played Sheila Hayes. Her final two performances, in 1960, were on The Rebel, starring Nick Adams.

Personal life

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Vickers was married three times, to A.C. Lyles (March 15, 1948 – September 28, 1948),[4] Mickey Rooney (June 3, 1949 – September 25, 1951),[5] and actor Manuel Rojas (September 1, 1954 – May 5, 1965).[6] Each marriage ended in divorce. Vickers had one son with Mickey Rooney, and two daughters with Rojas.[7]

Death

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Vickers died, aged 46, of esophageal cancer [citation needed] at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles on November 2, 1971.[1] She is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
1943 Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man Margareta Uncredited
Captive Wild Woman Dorothy Colman Credited as Martha MacVicar
Top Man High school girl Uncredited
Alternative title: Man of the Family
Hi'ya, Sailor Hostess Uncredited
1944 This Is the Life Girl Uncredited
Marine Raiders Sally Parker Credited as Martha MacVicar
The Mummy's Ghost Miss McLean, a student Uncredited
The Falcon in Mexico Barbara Wade Credited as Martha MacVicar
1946 The Big Sleep Carmen Sternwood
The Time, the Place and the Girl Victoria Cassel
1947 The Man I Love Virginia "Ginny" Brown
That Way with Women Marcia Alden
Love and Learn Barbara Wyngate
1948 Ruthless Susan Duane
1949 Daughter of the West Lolita Moreno
Bad Boy Lila Strawn Alternative title: The Story of Danny Lester
Alimony Kitty Travers aka Kate Klinger
1955 The Big Bluff Valerie Bancroft Alternative title: Worthy Detectives
1957 The Burglar Della
1960 Four Fast Guns Mary Hoag
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1952 The Unexpected 1 episode
1953-1951 General Electric Theater Louise
Helen
2 episodes
1954 Ford Theatre Nancy 2 episodes
The Whistler Louise 1 episode
1955 Fireside Theater Ellen Weston
Julie
2 episodes
1956 The Millionaire Ruth Murdock 1 episode
1957 Playhouse 90 1 episode
1959 Perry Mason Sheila Hayes 1 episode
1960 The Rebel Bess Weed
Agnes Boley
2 episodes

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Actress-Model Is Dead At Age Of 46". The Danville Register. Virginia, Danville. Associated Press. November 5, 1971. p. 3. Retrieved November 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ a b Monush, Barry (2003). Screen World Presents the Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors: From the silent era to 1965. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 759. ISBN 9781557835512. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  3. ^ Mank, Gregory William (2014). The Very Witching Time of Night: Dark Alleys of Classic Horror Cinema. McFarland. p. 275. ISBN 9781476615431. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  4. ^ "Martha Vickers, Movie Actress, Given Divorce". Joplin Globe. Missouri, Joplin. Associated Press. September 29, 1948. p. 3. Retrieved November 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Marill, Alvin H. (2004). Mickey Rooney: His Films, Television Appearances, Radio Work, Stage Shows, and Recordings. McFarland. p. 13. ISBN 9780786420155. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  6. ^ "Martha Vickers Wins Divorce". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. Associated Press. May 6, 1965. p. 54. Retrieved November 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ "The Official Website of Martha Vickers". www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com.
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