Marilyn Maxwell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marilyn Maxwell
Maxwell in 1961
Born	Marvel Marilyn Maxwell (1921-08-03)August 3, 1921 Clarinda, Iowa, U.S.
Died	March 20, 1972(1972-03-20) (aged 50) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Years active	1942–71
Spouse(s)	John Conte ​ ​ (m. 1944; div. 1946)​ Anders McIntyre ​ ​ (m. 1950; div. 1951)​ Jerry Davis ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1960)​
Children	1

Marilyn Maxwell was an American actress and entertainer. She was born on August 3, 1921, and passed away on March 20, 1972. Marilyn was famous in the 1940s and 1950s. She starred in many movies and radio shows. She also traveled with Bob Hope to entertain soldiers during World War II and the Korean War. These trips were called USO tours.

Marilyn's Early Life

Marilyn Maxwell grew up in Clarinda, Iowa. In the 1930s, she worked as an usher at the Rialto Theater in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She went to Central High School in Fort Wayne. However, she left school in her second year. She joined a band in Indianapolis as a singer.

Her Acting Career

From the trailer for Stand by for Action (1942)

Marilyn started her career as a singer on the radio. She also sang on stage with Ted Weems' big band. She was still a teenager at that time. In 1942, she signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). This was a big movie studio.

Marilyn appeared on radio shows like Beat the Band. She was also on The Abbott and Costello Show. The head of MGM, Louis B. Mayer, asked her to change her name. Her real first name was Marvel. She dropped Marvel and kept her middle name, Marilyn.

She starred in many movies. Some of her films include Lost in a Harem (1944) with Abbott and Costello. She also appeared in Champion (1949) with Kirk Douglas. In The Lemon Drop Kid (1951), she acted with Bob Hope. The famous Christmas song "Silver Bells" was first sung by Marilyn Maxwell and Bob Hope in this movie. Other films were New York Confidential (1955) and Rock-A-Bye Baby (1958) with Jerry Lewis.

Marilyn also sang on The Jimmy Durante Show twice. This was during its second season (1955–1956). She was also a mystery guest on the TV show 'What's My Line' in 1953.

Marilyn's Personal Life

Trailer for High Barbaree

Marilyn Maxwell was married three times. All of her marriages ended in divorce. In September 1944, she married actor John Conte. They divorced in June 1946. Her second marriage was to Anders McIntyre. It lasted from January 1950 to March 1951. Marilyn's third marriage was to writer and producer Jerry Davis. They were married for six years and divorced in 1960. Marilyn and Jerry had one child, a son named Matthew. He was born in 1956.

Marilyn Maxwell passed away on March 20, 1972. She was 50 years old. Her 15-year-old son found her at home after school. It seemed she had a heart attack. She had been getting treatment for some health issues. Many famous people attended her funeral. These included Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Jack Benny.

Radio Appearances

Filmography

Feature Films

Short Films

• Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Goes to Bat (1950) – Herself
• Brooklyn Goes to Las Vegas (1956) – Herself

See also

In Spanish: Marilyn Maxwell para niños