Marilyn Maxwell

The less famous, but still undeniably talented, of the "Marilyn" sex symbols of the 1940s/'50s was born Marvel 'Marilyn Maxwell' (qv) in Clarinda, Iowa on August 3, 1920 (she later began using her middle name professionally at the suggestion of 'Louis B. Mayer' (qv)). As a teenager, she worked as an usher at the Rialto Theater in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and later as a radio singer.In 1942, Maxwell signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, appearing on such radio shows as "The Abbott and Costello Show", "Beat the Band", and "Stars Over Hollywood". That same year, she made her movie debut in the star-studded World War II propaganda film _Stand by for Action (1942)_ (qv). She went on to star in such popular movies of the 1940s/50s as _Thousands Cheer (1943)_ (qv), _Lost in a Harem (1944)_ (qv), _Champion (1949)_ (qv), _Key to the City (1950)_ (qv), _The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)_ (qv) (in which she introduced the carol "Silver Bells"), and _Rock-a-Bye Baby (1958)_ (qv). Throughout World War II, and later the Korean War, she accompanied three-time co-star (and off-screen lover) 'Bob Hope' (qv) on USO tours to entertain troops.Throughout the 1950s, Maxwell directed her focus to television, with guest appearances on such series as _The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950)_ (qv), _General Electric Theater (1953)_ (qv), The 'Red Skelton' (qv) Hour (1951), _The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (1956)_ (qv), and _Playhouse 90 (1956)_ (qv). This continued into the '60s, as Maxwell appeared on _Wagon Train (1957)_ (qv), _The Danny Thomas Show (1953)_ (qv), _Burke's Law (1963)_ (qv), _The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)_ (qv), and The 'Bob Hope' (qv) Show (1950), and even game shows such as _I've Got a Secret (1952)_ (qv) and _Stump the Stars (1947)_ (qv). Her most prominent part in this period was that of diner owner Grace Sherwood on _Bus Stop (1961)_ (qv), a series she left after one season after becoming bored of "doing nothing but pour a second cup of coffee and point the way to the men's room".Maxwell was married three times - to actor 'John Conte' (qv), restaurateur Anders Nylund McIntyre, and producer 'Jerry Davis' (qv) - each marriage ending in divorce. She had one son with Davis, Matthew (b. 1956). On March 20, 1972, 15 year-old Matthew returned home from school, only to find his mother dead from an apparent heart attack. Maxwell was 51 at the time of her death.::Anonymous