Mary Murphy | 'Wild One' actress, 80
Mary Murphy, 80, a film and television actress best remembered for playing the wholesome small-town girl opposite Marlon Brando's rebellious motorcycle gang leader in The Wild One, died of heart disease May 4 at her home in Beverly Hills.
Mary Murphy, 80, a film and television actress best remembered for playing the wholesome small-town girl opposite Marlon Brando's rebellious motorcycle gang leader in
The Wild One,
died of heart disease May 4 at her home in Beverly Hills.
In The Wild One, the 1953 film about two rival biker gangs that menace the citizens of a tiny California town, Ms. Murphy played Kathie, the daughter of the ineffectual local cop, who captures the attention of Brando's tough guy, Johnny.
Ms. Murphy was a package wrapper at Saks Fifth Avenue on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills when she was discovered in a nearby coffee shop by Paramount Pictures talent scout Milton Lewis and signed to a contract.
Two years of uncredited bit parts and small roles preceded Ms. Murphy's first starring role, in the 1953 movie Main Street to Broadway.
She went on to have starring roles in Beachhead, A Man Alone, Hells Island, Sitting Bull, The Mad Magician, and other 1950s films. She later made guest appearances on TV series including Dr. Kildare, The Fugitive, and Ironside. - AP