Maris Wrixon

Maris Wrixon
Wrixon in 1938 by George Hurrell
Born
Mary Alice Wrixon

(1917-12-28)December 28, 1917
DiedOctober 6, 1999(1999-10-06) (aged 81)
OccupationActress
Years active1939 – 1951
Spouse
(m. 1940; died 1999)
Children3[1]

Mary Alice "Maris" Wrixon (December 28, 1917 – October 6, 1999) was an American film and television actress. She appeared in over 50 films between 1939 and 1951.

Early years

Mary Alice Wrixon was born on December 28, 1917, in Pasco, Washington,[2] one of three children in a Montana-based family.[3] She was raised in Great Falls, Montana,[4][5] born to Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Wrixon.[6] Her interest in acting was sparked by a role she had in a class play[7] when she was a student at Great Falls High School.[8]

She gained acting experience at the Pasadena Community Playhouse.[9]

Career

Wrixon first appeared in films in the late 1930s, making one film in 1938 and 10 in 1939.[4] Between 1940 and 1942, she appeared in 29 films at Warner Brothers, alternating between uncredited parts (in films including High Sierra and Dark Victory) and supporting roles.

Wrixon worked primarily in B-movies and, in addition to her Warners films, in films produced by Poverty Row studios such as Monogram Pictures. Monogram released the film in which The New York Times says "horror fans remember her best", The Ape, which starred Boris Karloff.

Her final film was As You Were (1951).[4]

Personal life

Wrixon was married to Oscar-nominated film editor Rudi Fehr. She died in Santa Monica, California of heart failure on October 6, 1999.[4]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ Pesselnick, Jill (May 12, 1999). "Rudi Fehr". Variety. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  2. ^ "Has the Papers". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. June 2, 1940. p. 4.
  3. ^ "Movie Contract for Pasco Girl". The Spokesman-Review. December 24, 1938. p. 7. Retrieved September 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d Lentz, Harris M. III (2000). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 1999: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. p. 241. ISBN 9780786409198. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  5. ^ "Obituary for William Wrixon". Great Falls Tribune. August 4, 1953. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Great Falls Girl Assigned to Roles In Two Pictures". Great Falls Tribune. Montana, Great Falls. November 11, 1938. p. 6. Retrieved September 11, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Montana Girl Makes 'Em Talk". The Minneapolis Star. Minnesota, Minneapolis. July 20, 1941. p. Sunday Magazine - 7. Retrieved September 11, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Proves She's Right 'Type' in Film Role". The Pittsburgh Press. Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. December 31, 1938. p. 10. Retrieved September 11, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Former Falls Girl Wins Film Prominence". Great Falls Tribune. Montana, Great Falls. December 30, 1938. p. 5. Retrieved September 11, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.