Marian Carr (born Marion Dorice Dunn;[citation needed] July 6, 1926 – July 30, 2003), sometimes credited as Marion Carr, was an American actress who appeared in a number of films in the late 1940s through the 1950s.

Marian Carr
Carr in 1947
Born
Marion Dorice Dunn

(1926-07-06)July 6, 1926
DiedJuly 30, 2003(2003-07-30) (aged 77)
Other namesMarion Carr
Marian Carr Mason
OccupationActress
Spouses
Frederick Levy
(m. 1948; div. 1954)
Lester Linsk
(m. 1958; div. 1966)
Children1

Biography

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Carr was born July 6, 1926, in Providence, Kentucky.[1] In her adolescence, she relocated with her family to Chicago, Illinois, where she attended Austin High School.[2]

After graduating high school, Carr worked in an office as well as taking jobs modeling in Chicago.[2] She was spotted by a talent scout and was named "Chicago's Prettiest Office Worker" in 1946.[2] Following this, Carr relocated Los Angeles, where she began acting in local theater productions.[2] She subsequently signed a film contract with RKO Pictures in 1946 under Howard Hughes.[2][3] She made her feature film debut in San Quentin (1946), followed by a minor part in Frank Capra's 1946 It's a Wonderful Life.[1] Carr had lead roles in several films, including the Westerns The Devil Thumbs a Ride (1947) and Northern Patrol (1953). After marrying Frederick Levy, an executive for Blum Candy, Carr took a temporary hiatus from acting, and resided in San Francisco,[4] where she gave birth to a son in 1952.[2]

After divorcing Levy in 1954, she returned to acting with supporting roles in Ring of Fear (1954), and two film noir by director Robert Aldrich: World for Ransom (1954) and cult classic Kiss Me Deadly (1955), in the latter of which she portrayed the sister of a mobster.[2] Carr appeared in several other films, such as the unique L.A. noir horror film ‘’The Indestructible Man’’, as a recovering stripper girlfriend of the lead cop, Western Ghost Town (1956), before making her final feature film appearance in Nightmare (also 1956) before retiring.[5] Carr later married television producer Lester Linsk in 1958, though the marriage ended in divorce in 1966.[6][7] She subsequently married Francis Jerome Mason.[6]

Death

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Carr died in Palm Desert, California, on July 30, 2003.[6]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Director Notes Ref.
1946 Twin Husbands Harriet Hal Yates Short film [8]
1946 San Quentin Betty Rogers Gordon Douglas [8]
1946 It's a Wonderful Life Jane Wainright Frank Capra [8]
1947 The Devil Thumbs a Ride Diane Ferguson Felix E. Feist [8]
1953 Northern Patrol Quebec Kid Rex Bailey [8]
1954 World for Ransom Frennessey March Robert Aldrich [8]
1954 Ring of Fear Valerie St. Dennis James Edward Grant [8]
1955 Ingrid - The Story of a Fashion Model Mannequin Géza von Radványi
1955 Cell 2455 Death Row Doll Fred F. Sears [8]
1955 Kiss Me Deadly Friday Robert Aldrich [8]
1955 The Seven Little Foys Chorine Melville Shavelson [8]
1956 When Gangland Strikes Hazel R. G. Springsteen [8]
1956 Indestructible Man Eve Martin Jack Pollexfen [8]
1956 The Harder They Fall Alice Mark Robson [8]
1956 Ghost Town Barbara Leighton Allen H. Miner [8]
1956 Nightmare Madge Novick Maxwell Shane [8]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1952 China Smith Anya Karenski Episode: "Shanghai Clipper"
1953 The Loretta Young Show Doreen Episode: "Kid Stuff"
1953 Four Star Playhouse Alice Dana Episode: "The Witness" [2]
1954 Schlitz Playhouse Anne Episode: "At the Natchez Inn"
1954 The Whistler Paula Layton Episode: "Cup O'Gold"
1955 The Red Skelton Hour Secretary Episode: "Honeymooner's Spoof"
1955 The Millionaire Vie Harrington Episode: "The Don Lewis Story"
1963 The Doctors Mrs. Gardella Episode: "#1.73"

References

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  1. ^ a b "Marian Carr". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Koper 2010, p. 57.
  3. ^ "Marian Carr to Join 'Christian' as Nurse". Harrisburg Telegraph. November 29, 1947. p. 45 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (November 16, 1953). "'Oklahoma!' Tests Six; Marian Carr Aerialist; Topical Tales Bilingual". Los Angeles Times. p. 71 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Koper 2010, pp. 57–59.
  6. ^ a b c "The Private Life and Times of Marian Carr". Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  7. ^ Skolsky, Sidney (September 9, 1969). "Gossipel Truth For Hollywood". Valley Times. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Koper 2010, p. 61.

Sources

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  • Koper, Richard (2010). Fifties Blondes: Sexbombs, Sirens, Bad Girls and Teen Queens. Duncan, Oklahoma: BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1-593-93521-4.
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