Marie Wilson (American actress)

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.

Wilson was born in Anaheim, California on August 19, 1916. Her nickname at Anaheim High School was Maybelle. Wilson graduated high school in 1933. At age 16, she soon moved her family of nine – including her mother, sister, grandfather, step-father and his four children to Hollywood after she inherited $11,000.

Radio

She played scatterbrained Irma Peterson in the radio situation comedy My Friend Irma for the Columbia network from April 11, 1947 to August 23, 1954. With the success of My Friend Irma, she would star in films.

Film

Wilson began her career in Hollywood in the 1934 film Down to Their Last Yacht as a ship passenger although uncredited. She was in Babes in Toyland as Mary Quite Contrary also in 1934. Babes in Toyland was based on Victor Herbert's popular 1903 operetta Babes in Toyland. Wilson would appear 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).

In 1936, she played Miss Murgatroyd in Satan Met a Lady,a loose adaptation of the 1929 novel The Maltese Falcon1 by Dashiell Hammett. Satan Met a Lady is based on the Pre-Code, under its original title directed by Roy Del Ruth. She was in The Great Garrick as Nicolle in 1937. The Great Garrick was based on the play Ladies and Gentlemen by Ernest Vajda. Wilson was in Fools for Scandal as Myrtle in 1938. Fools for Scandal is based on the unproduced 1936 play Return Engagement by Nancy Hamilton, James Shute, and Rosemary Casey. She was in Waterfront in 1939 as Ruby Waters. Waterfront is adapted from the play Blind Spot by Kenyon Nicholson.

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. Some of them were 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 with the television series My Friend Irma from 1952 to 1954. She was in two episodes of Burke's Law. Wilson was in the short-lived television series Where's Huddles?. Her last role was in 1972 before she died as Margaret Cooperman in Love, American Style. Wilson was a guest on The Ed Sullivan Show on four occasions.

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.

Wilson was afraid of the microphone used in radio. She was married to actor Allan Nixon from 1942 until their divorce in 1950. Her marriage to actor Robert Fallon, in 1951, lasted until her death from cancer at age 56. Wilson was interred in the Columbarium of Remembrance at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills.

Film

Film shorts/documentaries

Television