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Marla English

Marla English

Birthday: 1935-01-04 | Place of Birth: San Diego, California, USA

She was born Marleine Gaile English in San Diego, California. As a teenager, she worked as a model and performed locally. English was originally signed to a contract by Paramount Pictures in 1952 after winning a San Diego beauty pageant to be "Fairest of the Fair". She was paid $150 per week to appear in such films as Red Garters (1954) and Rear Window (1954). She was often cut out of these films. Her contract went up to $200 a week. Her breakthrough role came when she was borrowed by Aubrey Schenck to appear in Shield for Murder (1954). She received a major break when she was cast opposite Spencer Tracy in The Mountain, a film which was to be made in France. English was given a smallpox vaccine before leaving to go on location. She quickly developed a raging fever and decided to pull out of the movie. Paramount suspended English and replaced her with Barbara Darrow. Parade Magazine questioned English about her decision in September 1955. She said it was a very dumb move and was unsure why she decided against making The Mountain. A close relative told the publication that English had fallen in love with Paramount actor Larry Pennell. She became enraged when the studio would not give Pennell a role in the film so they could travel to France together. English made mostly B films throughout her career in Hollywood. Some of these include Three Bad Sisters, Runaway Daughters, The She Creature, Flesh and the Spur, and Voodoo Woman. In 1955, she appeared with John Ireland and Pennell in Hell's Horizon.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

1957
Voodoo Woman

as    Marilyn Blanchard

1956
The She-Creature

as    Andrea Talbott / Elizabeth Wetherby

1956
Runaway Daughters

as    Audrey

1956
Flesh and the Spur

as    Wild Willow

1955
Desert Sands

as    Zara

1954
Shield for Murder

as    Patty Winters