Marie Wilson (born Katherine Elizabeth Wilson; August 19, 1916 – November 23, 1972) was an American radio, film, and television actress. She may be best remembered as the title character in My Friend Irma.
Early life Wilson was born in Anaheim, California, on August 19, 1916. Her nickname at Anaheim High School was "Maybelle". Wilson graduated from high school in 1933.
Career
Radio Although Wilson was afraid of the microphone used in radio, she played scatterbrained Irma Peterson in the radio comedy My Friend Irma from April 11, 1947, to August 23, 1954.
Film Wilson began her career in Hollywood in the 1934 film Down to Their Last Yacht as a ship passenger, and then appeared in Babes in Toyland as Mary Quite Contrary. Wilson appeared in Ladies Crave Excitement (1935), The Girl Friend (1935), Stars Over Broadway (1935), Miss Pacific Fleet (1935), The Big Noise (1936), Melody for Two (1937), Boy Meets Girl (1938), Sweepstakes Winner (1939), Virginia (1941), She's in the Army (1942), You Can't Ration Love (1944), Young Widow (1946), and Never Wave at a WAC (1952). Her career got a boost when she performed at Harold Lloyd's Beverly Hills Little Theatre for Professionals, which led to her being cast in Boy Meets Girl in 1938.
In 1936, she played Miss Murgatroyd in Satan Met a Lady, a loose adaptation of the 1929 novel The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. She was in The Great Garrick as Nicolle in 1937. Wilson was in Fools for Scandal as Myrtle in 1938. She was in Waterfront in 1939 as Ruby Waters.
In 1949, she played Irma Peterson in the film My Friend Irma, reprising her role from the radio series. In 1950, she again played Irma in My Friend Irma Goes West. In 1952, she played Jane Sweet in A Girl in Every Port, based on the short story They Sell Sailors Elephants by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan. In 1957, she played Marie Antoinette in The Story of Mankind, loosely based on the nonfiction book The Story of Mankind (1921) by Hendrik Willem van Loon. Wilson's last film was 1962's Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation, based on the novel by Edward Streeter.
Wilson also had roles in short films, including Bum Voyage (1934), Slide, Nellie, Slide (1936), Vitaphone Pictorial Revue (Series 2 No. 6) (1938), and Vitaphone Pictorial Revue (Series 2 No. 12).
Television Wilson first appeared on television in the series My Friend Irma from 1952 to 1954. She was in two episodes of Burke's Law. Wilson's voice was featured in the short-lived animated television series Where's Huddles?. Her last role was in 1972 as Margaret Cooperman in Love, American Style. Wilson was a guest on The Ed Sullivan Show on four occasions.
Stage In June and July 1950, Wilson portrayed Lady Teazle in a production of The School for Scandal at the Circle Theater in Hollywood. She appeared with her husband, Allan Nixon, who played Charles Surface. During February 1958 she starred as Cherie opposite Robert Gist as Bo in a production of Bus Stop at the Sombrero Playhouse in Phoenix, Arizona.
Walk of Fame Wilson's talents have been recognized with three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: for radio at 6301 Hollywood Boulevard, for television at 6765 Hollywood Boulevard, and for movies at 6601 Hollywood Boulevard.
Sculpture Wilson's left leg was the model for a 35-ft (sometimes referred to as 34-ft), two-ton sculpture outside the Theme Hosiery (later Sanderson Hosiery) plant on Olympic and Barrington in West Los Angeles. The DuPont Co. commissioned the plaster leg, which was painted as if to be wearing nylons, to promote its new nylons product. Wilson was hoisted thigh-level at the sculpture's unveiling August 6, 1949.
Personal life Wilson was married to actor Allan Nixon from 1942 to 1950. Her 1951 marriage to actor Robert Fallon lasted until her death from cancer at age 56. Wilson was interred in the Columbarium of Remembrance at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills.
Filmography
Film Year Title RoleNotes 1934 Down to Their Last Yacht Ship Passenger Babes in Toyland Mary Quite Contrary 1935 Ladies Crave Excitement Girl The Girl Friend Girl Musical film directed by Edward Buzzell Stars Over Broadway Molly Musical film directed by William Keighley Miss Pacific Fleet Virginia 'Vergie' Matthews Comedy film directed by Ray Enright Broadway Hostess Dorothy Romantic comedy musical film directed by Frank McDonald 1936 Colleen Mabel Romantic and musical film directed by Alfred E. Green The Big Noise Daisy Comedy and crime film directed by Frank McDonald Satan Met a Lady Miss Murgatroyd China Clipper Sunny Avery Drama film directed by Ray Enright King of Hockey Elsie Drama film directed by Noel M. Smith 1937 Melody for Two Camille Casey Musical film directed by Louis King Public Wedding Tessie Comedy film directed by Nick Grinde Over the Goal Co-ed The Great Garrick Nicolle 1938 The Invisible Menace Sally Mystery film directed by John Farrow Fools for Scandal Myrtle Boy Meets Girl Susie Screwball comedy directed by Lloyd Bacon. Broadway Musketeers Miss Connie Todd Drama film directed by John Farrow 1939 Sweepstakes Winner Jennie Jones Comedy film directed by William C. McGann Waterfront Ruby Waters Should Husbands Work? Myrtle Comedy film directed by Gus Meins The Cowboy Quarterback Maizie Williams Comedy film directed by Noel M. Smith 1941 Virginia Connie Potter Drama film directed by Edward H. Griffith Rookies on Parade Kitty Mulloy Musical-comedy film directed by Joseph Santley Flying Blind Veronica Gimble Action-comedy film directed by Frank McDonald Harvard, Here I Come! Zella Phipps Comedy film directed by Lew Landers 1942 Broadway Grace Crime-drama musical film directed by William A. Seiter She's in the Army Susan Slatterty Comedy-drama film directed by Jean Yarbrough 1944 You Can't Ration Love Bubbles Keenan Comedy film directed by Lester Fuller Shine on Harvest Moon Margie Musical-biographical film of the vaudeville team of Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth directed by David Butler Music for Millions Marie Musical-comedy film directed by Henry Koster 1946 Young Widow 'Mac' McCallister Drama film directed by Edwin L. Marin No Leave, No Love Rosalind Musical film directed by Charles Martin 1947 The Private Affairs of Bel Ami Rachel Michot Drama film directed by Albert Lewin The Fabulous Joe Gorgeous Gilmore Comedy film directed by Harve Foster Linda, Be Good Margie LaVitte Comedy film directed by Frank McDonald 1949 My Friend Irma Irma Peterson 1950 My Friend Irma Goes West 1952 Never Wave at a WAC Clara Schneiderman / Danger O'Dowd Comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod A Girl in Every Port Jane Sweet 1953 I Was a Burlesque Queen Margie LaVitte Marry Me Again Doris Comedy film written and directed by Frank Tashlin 1957 The Story of Mankind Marie Antoinette 1962 Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation Mrs. Turner
Film shorts/documentaries Year Title RoleNotes 1934 Bum Voyage Ship's Passenger at Party Directed by Nick Grinde 1935 My Girl Sally Leading actress Directed by Alfred J. Goulding 1936 Slide, Nellie, Slide Nellie, the Softball Player Directed by Ralph Staub 1938 Swingtime in the Movies Herself Directed by written by Crane Wilbur For Auld Lang Syne #3 Herself Documentary Vitaphone Pictorial Revue (Series 2 No. 6) Herself Directed by Willard Du Brul, Clem McCarthy, and I. Miller Vitaphone Pictorial Revue (Series 2 No. 12) Herself Directed by Lloyd French 1950 Screen Snapshots: The Great Showman Herself Directed by Ralph Staub 1954 Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Stars on Parade Herself Written and directed by Ralph Staub
Television Year Title RoleNotes 1952–1954 My Friend Irma Irma Peterson Contract role 1962 The Comedy Spot Ernestine Episode: "The Soft Touch" Ernestine Ernestine McDougal Made-for-TV-movie directed by Sidney Salkow 1963 Empire Guest Episode: "Hidden Asset" (S 1:Ep 26) 1964 Burke's Law Chuchi Smith Episode: "Who Killed Marty Kelso?" (S 1:Ep 22) My Son, the Witch Doctor Leading actress Made-for-TV-movie 1965 Burke's Law Ramona Specks Episode: "Who Killed Wimbledon Hastings?"( S2:Ep 20) 1968 Mr. Blackwell Presents Herself Directed by William Edwards and William Stierwalt 1969 Jack Cassidy's St. Patrick's Day TV Special Singer Directed by William Rainbolt 1970 Where's Huddles? Penny McCoy Contract role 1972 Love, American Style Margaret Cooperman Episode: "Love and the Girlish Groom / Love and the New You / Love and the Oldlyweds / Love and the Wishing Star" (S 4:Ep 4)
References
Notes
Original publisher Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. in 1929.
Citations
Sources
External links
Photographs and literature "Everybody’s Friend: Remembering Stan Lee and Dan DeCarlo’s 'My Friend Irma,'" Hogan's Alley #16, 2009