May Wynn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
May Wynn
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Wynn in The Caine Mutiny (1954)
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| Born |
Donna Lee Hickey
January 8, 1928 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | March 22, 2021 (aged 93) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1937–2021 |
| Spouse(s) |
Jack Kelly
(m. 1956; div. 1964)Jack W. Custer
(m. 1968; div. 1979) |
May Wynn (born Donna Lee Hickey on January 8, 1928) was an American dancer, singer, and actress. She became famous for her roles in movies and TV shows. May Wynn passed away on March 22, 2021, at the age of 93.
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Early Life and Family Background
May Wynn grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. She came from a family of performers. Her grandfather, Bertie Black, was a musician in vaudeville shows. Her father, Ray Hickey, was also a song-and-dance performer in vaudeville. May Wynn had Irish heritage. Before becoming an actress, she worked as a model. She also worked in a department store. She was even a page at La Guardia Field. Outside of work, she won many talent contests.
May Wynn's Acting Career
May Wynn started performing at age 17. She used her birth name, Donna Hickey, at the Copacabana nightclub in New York. She tried out for a big role in the movie From Here to Eternity (1953). However, Donna Reed got the part. Donna Reed later won an Academy Award for her acting.
In 1954, Donna Hickey changed her name to May Wynn. She chose this stage name after playing a character named May Wynn. This character was in the movie The Caine Mutiny (1954). After this, May Wynn starred in other movies. These included The Man Is Armed and The White Squaw (both from 1956).
She also appeared on television. She was in Jack Webb's NBC TV series, Noah's Ark. In this show, she acted alongside Paul Burke and Victor Rodman. May Wynn also guest-starred on Perry Mason. She played Donna Sherwood in an episode called "The Case of the Glittering Goldfish" (1959). In 1958, she starred with her husband, Jack Kelly, in The Hong Kong Affair.
Life After Acting
After her acting career, May Wynn worked in real estate. In 1989, she started a new job. She became a part-time aide at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic School. This school is in Newport Beach, California. In January 2018, the school celebrated her 90th birthday. At this time, she was known as Donna Custer. A newspaper article mentioned that she helped students. She taught them public speaking in after-school classes. She still received fan mail from her fans.
Personal Life
May Wynn married actor Jack Kelly in October 1956. They were married for eight years. The couple divorced in 1964. Later, she married Jack W. Custer in 1968. They were married until 1979, when they also divorced.
May Wynn passed away in Newport Beach, California. She died in March 2021 at the age of 93.
Selected Filmography
- The Caine Mutiny (1954)
- They Rode West (1954)
- The Violent Men (1955)
- The White Squaw (1956)
- Hong Kong Affair (1958)
