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Marie Windsor

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Marie Windsor
Windsor in 1956
Born
Emily Marie Bertelsen

(1919-12-11)December 11, 1919
Marysvale, Utah,U.S.
DiedDecember 10, 2000(2000-12-10)(aged 80)
Beverly Hills, California,U.S.
Resting placeMountain View Cemetery, Marysvale, Utah, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1939–1991
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Spouse(s)Ted Steele (1946; annulled)
Jack Hupp (1954–2000, her death)
Children1

Marie Windsor(bornEmily Marie Bertelsen;December 11, 1919 – December 10, 2000)[1][2]was an American actress known for herfemme fatalecharacters in the classicfilm noirfeaturesForce of Evil,The Narrow MarginandThe Killing.Windsor's height (5'9 ", 175 cm) created problems for her in scenes with all but the tallest actors. She was the female lead in so manyB moviesthat she became dubbed the "Queen" of the genre.[3]

Early years[edit]

Windsor was born in 1919 inMarysvale, Utah,the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lane Bertelsen.[4]She graduated fromMarysvale High Schoolin 1934, doing a "musical reading" as part of the graduation exercises.[5]She attendedBrigham Young University,where she participated in dramatic productions.[6][7]She was described in a 1939 newspaper article as "an accomplished athlete... expert as a dancer, swimmer, horsewoman, and plays golf, tennis and skis."[8]

In 1939, Windsor was chosen from a group of 81 contestants[9]to be queen of Covered Wagon Days inSalt Lake City,Utah.[8]She was unofficially appointed "Miss Utah of 1939" by her hometown’sChamber of Commerce,[10]and trained for the stage under Hollywood actress and coachMaria Ouspenskaya.[11]

Voluptuous and leggy, but unusually tall (5'9 ") for a starlet of her generation, Windsor felt that she was handicapped when playing opposite actors of average stature (claiming she had to progressively bend at the knees walking across the room in scene withJohn Garfield).[12]As she later recalled, a production withForrest Tuckeras co-star made her happy with finally getting a male lead who was her 'own size'.[12]

In later years, thanks to her early screen success, Windsor was able to pursue her studies more extensively, primarily withStella Adler[10]and also at theLee Strasberg Theatre Institute.[13]

Windsor worked in radio in Salt Lake City before moving to California.[14]In California, she worked as a model for glamor photographer Paul Hesse.[15]

Stage[edit]

In 1940, after her move to Hollywood and enteringOuspenskaya's drama school, she appeared in the playForty Thousand Smiths,her first use of the stage name "Marie Windsor".[11]The next year she appeared inOnce in a Lifetimeat thePasadena Playhouse.[16]She also played a villain in a New York production ofFollow the Girls.[17]Years later, in the 1980s, she returned to the stage.[18]

Film[edit]

After working for several years as atelephone operator,a stage and radio actress, and a bit part and extra player in films, Windsor began playing feature parts on the big screen in 1947.[19]

Her first film contract, withWarner Bros.in 1942, resulted from her writing jokes and submitting them toJack Benny.Windsor said she submitted the gags under the name M.E. Windsor "because I was afraid he might be prejudiced against a woman gag writer".[14]When Benny finally met Windsor, "he was stunned by her good looks" and had a producer sign her to a contract.[14]After a tenure withMetro-Goldwyn-Mayerin which the studio "signed her, put her in two small roles and then promptly forgot her", she signed a seven-year contract in 1948 withEnterprise Productions.[15]

The actress' first memorable role in 1948 was withJohn GarfieldinForce of Evilplaying seductress Edna Tucker. She had roles in numerous 1950s film noirs, notablyThe Sniper,The Narrow Margin,City That Never Sleeps,and theStanley Kubrickheist film,The Killing,in which she playedElisha Cook, Jr.'s, scheming wife. She also made her first foray into science fiction with the release ofCat-Women of the Moon(1953). Windsor co-starred withRandolph ScottinThe Bounty Hunter(1954).

Television[edit]

Later, Windsor moved to television. She appeared as "The Mutton Puncher" in season 3 ofCheyenne,in 1957. She appeared in 1954 asBelle Starrin the premiere episode ofStories of the Century.In 1962, she played Ann Jesse, a woman dying in childbirth, in the episode "The Wanted Man" ofLawman.Windsor appeared in the first season ofBarnaby Jones;episode "Twenty Million Alibis" (May 5, 1973).

Windsor worked consistently through the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. She appeared on programs such asCheyenne,Bat Masterson,Bonanza,Tales of Wells Fargo,Yancy Derringer,77 Sunset Strip,Maverick(in the 1957 episode titled "The Quick and the Dead"withJames GarnerandGerald MohrasDoc Holliday) and (in the 1962 episode "Epitaph for a Gambler"withJack Kelly),The Red Skelton Hour,Hawaiian Eye,Perry Mason,Bourbon Street Beat,The F.B.I.,The Incredible Hulk,Rawhide,Adam-12,Mannix,Charlie's Angels,General Hospital,Salem's Lot,andMurder, She Wrote.Windsor remained on screen once or so annually up to the 1990s, playing her final role and going into retirement in 1991 at the age of 72.

Recognition[edit]

Windsor has a star in at 1549 N. Vine Street in the Motion Pictures section of theHollywood Walk of Fame.It was dedicated January 19, 1983.[20]

In 1987, Windsor received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for best actress for her work inThe Bar Off Melrose.[18]She also received the Ralph Morgan Award from theScreen Actors Guildfor her service on the organization's board of directors.[18]

Personal life[edit]

Windsor was married briefly to bandleaderTed Steele.[17]They were wed April 21, 1946, in Marysvale, Utah.[21]They divorced that same year[18](an item in a 1953 newspaper column says that the marriage was ended by annulment, not divorce).[22]

In July 1950, newspaper columnistLouella Parsonsreported, "Marie Windsor has set her marriage to Alex Lunciman, aBeverly Hillsstock broker, for October ".[23]

She marriedrealtor[3]Jack Hupp, a member of the 1936 U.S. Olympic basketball team. Hupp had his own family connection with show business; he was the son of actorEarle Rodney.[3]Hupp, with whom Windsor had a son, Richard Rodney, was inducted posthumously into theUniversity of Southern California(USC) Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. Hupp had a son, Chris, from a prior marriage.[1][24]

Windsor was politicallyconservative,a member of theScreen Actors Guild,and supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund.[25]ARepublican,she supportedDwight Eisenhower's campaign in the1952 presidential election.[26]

After her acting career ended, Windsor became a painter and sculptor. Windsor was also a lifelong member ofThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[27]

Death[edit]

Windsor died of congestive heart failure on December 10, 2000, the day before her 81st birthday.[18]She is interred with Hupp in her native Marysvale, Utah, at Mountain View Cemetery.[citation needed]

Filmography[edit]

Source:[28]

Television[edit]

  • The Pepsi-Cola Playhousein the episode "Live a Little" (1954)
  • The Public Defenderas Melody Scanlon in "The Ring" (1954)
  • Stories of the CenturyasBelle Starrin the series premiere episode (1954)
  • Waterfrontas Marie Turner in the episode "Night at the Lighthouse" (1954)
  • Science Fiction Theateras Nell Brown in the episode "Time is Just a Place" (1955)
  • Cheyenneas Leda Brandt in "Decision at Gunsight" and as Thora Flagg in "The Mutton Puncher" (both 1957)
  • The Californiansas Dolly Dawson in "The Regulators" (1957)
  • Maverickin the episodes "The Quick and the Dead" (1957) withJames Garnerand "Epitaph for a Gambler" (1962) withJack Kelly
  • Bat Mastersonas saloon owner Polly Landers in "The Fighter" (1958)
  • Perry Masonin four episodes:
    • as Linda Griffith in "The Case of the Daring Decoy" (1958)
    • as Flavia Pierce in "The Case of the Madcap Modiste" (1960)
    • as Edith "Edie" Morrow in "The Case of the Tarnished Trademark" (1962)
    • as Mrs. Helen Reed in "The Case of the Wednesday Woman" (1964)
  • Yancy Derringerin episode 03, "Ticket to Natchez" (1958)
  • Rawhidein three episodes:
    • "Incident on the Edge of Madness" (1959)
    • S3:E26, "Incident of the Painted Lady" (1961) as Miss Katie
    • "Incident of the Rusty Shotgun" (1964) as Amie Claybank
  • The Alaskansas Maria Julien in the episode "Winter Song" (1959)
  • Tales of Wells Fargoas Dolly Staples in the episode "The Warrior's Return" (1959)
  • Bourbon Street Beatas Veda Troup in "The 10% Blues" and Mara in "Teresa" (both 1960)
  • The Rebelas Emma Longdon in "Glory" (1960)
  • Lassieas Mimi in "Little Cabbage" (1960)
  • 77 Sunset Stripas Countess Maruska in "Collector's Item" (1960)
  • New Comedy Showcaseas Angela Talbot in "Johnny Come Lately" (1960)
  • Hawaiian Eyein four episodes:
    • "The Comics" (1961)
    • "The Final Score" (1961)
    • "Location Shooting" (1962)
    • "Day in the Sun" (1962)
  • Bonanzaas Elizabeth Lassiter in the episode "Five Sundowns to Sunup" (1965)
  • Batmanin the episodes "Green Ice" and "Deep Freeze" (1966)
  • Mannixin the episodes "The Need of a Friend" (1968) and "Walk a Double Line" (1974)
  • Wild Women(1970) (TV)
  • Adam-12,in the episodes "Log 56: Vice Versa" (1971), "The Chaser" (1972) and "Hollywood Division" (1973)
  • Gunsmokein the episode "Trafton" (1971)
  • Alias Smith and Jonesas Helen Archer in the episode "High Lonesome Country" (1971) (TV)
  • Manhunter(1974)
  • Police Storyin the episode "Explosion" (1974)
  • Marcus Welby, M.D.in the episode "The Highest Mountain" (1976)
  • Charlie's Angelsin the episodes "Angels in Springtime" (1978) and "Angels at the Altar" (1979)
  • Salem's Lot(1979)
  • Lou Grant(two episodes, 1979 and 1980)
  • The Incredible Hulkas Belle Star in the episode "Sideshow" (1980)
  • The Perfect Woman(1981)
  • Simon & Simonin three episodes:
    • "Murder Between the Lines" (1983)
    • "The Dark Side of the Street" (1984)
    • "For Old Crime's Sake" (1987)
  • J.O.E. and the Colonel(1985)
  • Tales from the Darksideas Madam Angler in the episode "A New Lease on Life" (1986)
  • Commando Squad(1987)
  • Supercarrier(1988)
  • The New Adam-12(1990)
  • Murder, She Wrote(two episodes, 1987 and 1991)

References[edit]

Citations
  1. ^ab"Marie Windsor A Shining Light".piute.org.Piute County, Utah / Bushman Web Service. Archived fromthe originalon November 23, 2022.RetrievedNovember 23,2022.
  2. ^"Marie Windsor".Turner Classic Movies.
  3. ^abc"Marie Windsor: Her Face Is Familiar".Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.Associated Press. April 11, 1973. p. 51.RetrievedJune 5,2016– viaNewspapers.com.Open access icon
  4. ^"Beautiful 'Y' Coeds Vie For Carnival Queen Honors".Daily Herald.Provo, Utah. April 14, 1938. p. 2.RetrievedJune 4,2016– via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  5. ^"School Gives out Diplomas".The Salt Lake Tribune.May 20, 1934. p. 53.RetrievedJune 4,2016– via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  6. ^"'Lost Horizons' to Be Staged ".Daily Herald.December 8, 1937. p. 3.RetrievedJune 4,2016– via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  7. ^"'Lady of Lyons' Staged Tonight ".Daily Herald.January 18, 1938. p. 4.RetrievedJune 4,2016– via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  8. ^ab"Marysvale Miss Wins Contest For Wagon Days Queen".The Salt Lake Tribune.June 24, 1939. p. 15.RetrievedJune 4,2016– via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  9. ^"B.Y.U. Girl Crowned Queen of S.L. Covered Wagon Days".The Sunday Herald.Provo, Utah. June 25, 1939. p. 1.RetrievedJune 4,2016– via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  10. ^ab"Marie Windsor"on thePiute County, Utahwebsite
  11. ^ab"Screen to Claim 1939 Covered Wagon Days Queen".The Salt Lake Tribune.October 23, 1940. p. 5.RetrievedJune 5,2016– via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  12. ^abCelebrity Diss and Tell: Stars Talk About Each Other,Boze Hadleigh p. 181.
  13. ^Arkatov, Janice."Windsor's 'Star' Label Still Intact".The Los Angeles Times.April 23, 1986; retrieved April 30, 2015. "Currently, the objects of that vitality include a son (Ricky, 23), tennis ('though lately I haven't been playing so well') and art (she's sold more than 100 of her paintings)--along with civic duties (the Thalians, John Tracy Clinic, Screen Actors Guild) and ongoing studies (Stella Adler, the Lee Strasberg Institute, Harvey Lembeck Workshop and a recent screen writing class at UCLA)."
  14. ^abc"Marysvale Girl Wins Role In Jack Benny Movie".The Salt Lake Tribune.April 23, 1942. p. 13.RetrievedJune 5,2016– via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  15. ^abKeele, Beth (June 24, 1948)."Utah Star Wows Filmland".The Salt Lake Tribune.p. 39.RetrievedJune 5,2016– via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  16. ^"'39 Wagon Days Queen Rehearses Coast Play ".The Salt Lake Tribune.July 27, 1941. p. 13.RetrievedJune 5,2016– via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  17. ^abBergan, Ronald (January 23, 2001)."Marie Windsor, glamorous actress famed for bad-girl roles"(Web).The Guardian.London.RetrievedJune 6,2009.
  18. ^abcdeBernstein, Adam (December 14, 2000)."Prolific B-Movie Star Marie Windsor Dies".The Washington Post.RetrievedJune 6,2016.
  19. ^Katz, Ephraim (February 26, 2013).The Film Encyclopedia(7th ed.). New York: Harper Collins. p. 1242.ISBN978-0062277114.
  20. ^"Marie Windsor".Hollywood Walk of Fame.RetrievedJune 5,2016.
  21. ^"Marie Bertelsen Is Wed To Coast Band Leader".The Salt Lake Tribune.June 2, 1946. p. 41.RetrievedJune 5,2016– via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  22. ^Campbell, Lilian (August 14, 1953)."Today's Grab Bag".The Freeport Facts.Central Press. p. 2.RetrievedJune 5,2016– via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  23. ^Parsons, Louella O. (July 10, 1950)."Nunnally Johnson Confers With Widow Of Rommel On Movie Of Nazi General's Life".Lubbock Morning Avalanche.International News Service. p. 2.RetrievedJune 5,2016– via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  24. ^USC Official Athletic Website: 2007 Inductees For USC Athletic Hall of Fame Announced,usctrojans.cstv.com; accessed June 24, 2015.
  25. ^Bergan, Ronald (January 23, 2001)."Obituary: Marie Windsor".The Guardian.London.
  26. ^Motion Picture and Television Magazine,November 1952, page 34, Ideal Publishers
  27. ^"Marie Windsor".Brief Biographies of Latter-day Saint and/or Utah Film Personalities.March 8, 2005.
  28. ^Goble, Alan.The Complete Index to World Film, since 1885.2008.Index home page
Further reading
  • Oderman, Stuart,Talking to the Piano Player 2.BearManor Media, 2009.ISBN1-59393-320-7.

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