Adele Mara (born Adelaida Delgado; April 28, 1923 – May 7, 2010) was an American actress, singer, and dancer, who appeared in films during the 1940s and 1950s and on television in the 1950s and 1960s.

Early years

Mara was born in Highland Park, Michigan, to Spanish parents. She had a brother, Luis, who became an actor.

Dancing

Mara danced as part of bandleader

Xavier Cugat Xavier Cugat (; 1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was a Spanish musician and bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music. In New York City ...

's show as well as on two episodes of ''

Maverick Maverick, Maveric or Maverik may refer to: History * Maverick (animal), an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick Aviation * AEA Maverick, an Australian single-seat sportsplane design * General Aviation Design Burea ...

'' entitled " Seed of Deception" and "

The Spanish Dancer ''The Spanish Dancer'' is a 1923 American silent costume epic starring Pola Negri as a gypsy fortune teller, Antonio Moreno as a romantic count, and Wallace Beery as the king of Spain. The film was directed by Herbert Brenon and also features a ...

Film

Under the professional name of Adele St. Mara, she won a contract with

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...

and gained experience in the studio's "B" features and comedy shorts. This was soon shortened to Adele Mara. One of Mara's early roles was as a receptionist in the

Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical farce and slapstick. Six Stooges appeare ...

film '' I Can Hardly Wait''. Mara and

Leslie Brooks Leslie Brooks (born Virginia Leslie Gettman; July 13, 1922 – July 1, 2011) was an American film actress, model and dancer. Early life Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, her parents brought her to Southern California at an early age, where aroun ...

played the sisters of

Rita Hayworth Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino; October 17, 1918May 14, 1987) was an American actress, dancer and producer. She achieved fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars, appearing in 61 films over 37 years. The press coined th ...

's character in the

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer. He is often called the greatest dancer in Hollywood film history. Astaire's career in stage, film, and tele ...

film ''

You Were Never Lovelier ''You Were Never Lovelier'' is a 1942 American musical romantic comedy film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. The supporting cast also features Adolphe Menjou, Xavier Cugat and Adele Mara. The music was co ...

''. In ''

Alias Boston Blackie ''Alias Boston Blackie'' (1942) is the third in a series of fourteen Columbia Pictures "B" movies starring Chester Morris as Boston Blackie. It was preceded by ''Meet Boston Blackie'', ''Confessions of Boston Blackie'' and followed by '' Boston ...

'' (1942), she plays the leading female role, as the sister of an escaped and wrongfully accused convict. When her Columbia contract lapsed, she moved to Republic Pictures, where she became a fixture in the studio's westerns and outdoor adventures. She appeared in ''

The Vampire's Ghost ''The Vampire's Ghost'' is a 1945 American horror film directed by Lesley Selander, written by Leigh Brackett and John K. Butler, and starring John Abbott, Charles Gordon, Peggy Stewart, Grant Withers, Emmett Vogan and Adele Mara. The film was r ...

'', ''

Wake of the Red Witch ''Wake of the Red Witch'' is a 1948 American adventure film directed by Edward Ludwig, produced by Edmund Grainger and starring John Wayne, Gail Russell, Gig Young, Adele Mara and Luther Adler. It is based upon the 1946 novel of the same name wri ...

'' starring John Wayne, '' Angel in Exile'' (

leading lady A leading actor, leading actress, or simply lead (), plays the role of the protagonist of a film, television show or play. The word ''lead'' may also refer to the largest role in the piece, and ''leading actor'' may refer to a person who typica ...

), '' Sands of Iwo Jima'' with John Wayne in which she was John Agar's love interest, ''

California Passage ''California Passage'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane starring Forrest Tucker, Adele Mara and Estelita Rodriguez.Pitts, p. 52. Plot Cast * Forrest Tucker as Mike Prescott * Adele Mara as Beth Martin * Estelita Rodri ...

'' (leading lady), and

Don Siegel Donald Siegel ( ; October 26, 1912 – April 20, 1991) was an American film and television director and producer. Siegel was described by ''The New York Times'' as "a director of tough, cynical and forthright action-adventure films whose taut ...

's ''

Count the Hours ''Count the Hours!'' is a 1953 crime film noir directed by Don Siegel, featuring Macdonald Carey, Teresa Wright, John Craven, and Jack Elam.. Plot The bodies of farmer Fred Morgan and his housekeeper are found. Suspicion falls on hired hand Geor ...

'' (supporting role).

Television

In 1955 Mara appeared as Sarita on the TV western ''

Cheyenne The Cheyenne ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Great Plains. Their Cheyenne language belongs to the Algonquian language family. Today, the Cheyenne people are split into two federally recognized nations: the Southern Cheyenne, who are enr ...

'' in the episode "Border Showdown." In 1958, Mara played Maria Costa in the ''Bat Masterson'' episode "Double Showdown" with

Gene Barry Gene Barry (born Eugene Klass, June 14, 1919 – December 9, 2009) was an American stage, screen, and television actor and singer. Barry is best remembered for his leading roles in the films '' The Atomic City'' (1952) and ''The War of The Worl ...

. In 1961, Mara appeared as a nurse with

Cesar Romero Cesar Julio Romero Jr. (February 15, 1907 – January 1, 1994) was an American actor and activist. He was active in film, radio, and television for almost sixty years. His wide range of screen roles included Latin lovers, historical figures in c ...

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

's ''

The Red Skelton Show ''The Red Skelton Show'' is an American television comedy/variety show that aired from 1951 to 1971. In the decade prior to hosting the show, Richard "Red" Skelton had a successful career as a radio and motion pictures star. Although his televi ...

'' in a sketch titled "Deadeye and The Alamo". About this time, she guest-starred on the

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

series '' The Tall Man'' with

Clu Gulager William Martin Gulager (; November 16, 1928 – August 5, 2022), better known as Clu Gulager, was an American television and film actor and director born in Holdenville, Oklahoma. He first became known for his work in television, appearing in ...

, as well as three

episodes Episodes may refer to: * Episode An episode is a narrative unit within a larger dramatic work or documentary production, such as a series intended for radio, television or streaming consumption. The noun ''episode'' is derived from the Greek ...

of ''

'' (one with

James Garner James Garner (born James Scott Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American actor. He played leading roles in more than 50 theatrical films, including ''The Great Escape (film), The Great Escape'' (1963) with Steve McQueen; Paddy ...

and Jack Kelly and two with only Kelly), and episodes of '' Laramie'', '' Tales of Wells Fargo'' with

Dale Robertson Dayle Lymoine Robertson (July 14, 1923February 27, 2013) was an American actor best known for his starring roles on television. He played the roving investigator Jim Hardie in the television series ''Tales of Wells Fargo'' and railroad owner Ben ...

and ''

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' is the first Western television series written for adults, premiering four days before '' Gunsmoke'' on September 6, 1955. Two weeks later came the Clint Walker western ''Cheyenne''. The series is loosely ...

'' with

Hugh O'Brien Hugh O'Brien (July 13, 1827 – August 1, 1895) was the 31st mayor of Boston, from 1884 to 1888. O'Brien is notable as Boston's first Irish and Catholic mayor, having emigrated from Ireland to America in the early 1830s. O'Brien was the editor ...

. She also appeared in the '' Alfred Hitchcock Hour'' episode "House Guest" in 1962.

Personal

Mara was married to screenwriter/series creator/producer/novelist

Roy Huggins Roy Huggins (July 18, 1914 – April 3, 2002) was an American novelist and an influential writer/creator and producer of character-driven television series, including ''Maverick'', '' The Fugitive'', ''Hunter'', and ''The Rockford Files''. He ...

and appeared as the leading lady in three episodes of his 1957 television series ''

''. They had three sons, Thomas in 1960, John in 1961, and James Patrick in 1963 and remained married until his death at age 87 in 2002. The marriage had spanned half a century. Mara's brother, Luis Delgado played small, often uncredited roles in films and TV, especially in the projects of his close friend

, for whom Delgado also worked as a personal assistant.

Death

Mara died of natural causes at age 87 on May 7, 2010.

Selected filmography

Jean Willes-Gene Barry-Adele Mara in Bat Masterson

* ''

Honolulu Lu ''Honolulu Lu'' is a 1941 American musical film directed by Charles Barton and written by Eliot Gibbons. The film stars Lupe Vélez, Bruce Bennett, Leo Carrillo, Marjorie Gateson, Don Beddoe and Forrest Tucker. The film was released December 11 ...

'' (1941) as Debutante (uncredited) * '' Navy Blues'' (1941) * ''

'' (1942) as Lita Acuna * ''

'' (1942) as Eve Sanders * ''

Blondie Goes to College ''Blondie Goes to College'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer. The film is a part of the ''Blondie'' series, starring Penny Singleton in the title role. It is the tenth of twenty-eight Blondie movies starring Penny Sing ...

'' (1942) as Babs Connelly * ''

Shut My Big Mouth ''Shut My Big Mouth'' is a 1942 American comedy Western film directed by Charles Barton and starring Joe E. Brown. Plot A shy horticulturist becomes involved with a local criminal in the old west. Cast * Joe E. Brown as Wellington ...

'' (1942) * '' Crime Doctor'' (1943) as Nurse (uncredited) * ''

Redhead from Manhattan ''Redhead from Manhattan'' is a 1943 comedy film directed by Lew Landers and written by Joseph Hoffman. The film stars Lupe Vélez in one of her last screen appearances, Michael Duane, Tim Ryan, Gerald Mohr, Lillian Yarbo and Arthur Loft. The fi ...

'' (1943) as Check Girl (uncredited) * ''

Riders of the Northwest Mounted ''Riders of the Northwest Mounted'' is a 1943 American Western film directed by William Berke and written by Fred Myton. The film stars Russell Hayden, Dub Taylor, Bob Wills, Adele Mara, Dick Curtis and Richard Bailey. The film was released on ...

'' (1943) as Gabrielle Renaud (uncredited) * '' Reveille with Beverly'' (1943) as Evelyn Ross * ''

Call of the South Seas ''Call of the South Seas'' is a 1944 American action film directed by John English starring Janet Martin, Allan Lane and William Henry.Langman p.172 The film's sets were designed by the art director Gano Chittenden. Cast * Janet Martin as ...

'' (1944) as Aritana * '' Atlantic City'' (1944) as Adele – Barmaid * ''

The Fighting Seabees ''The Fighting Seabees'' is a 1944 war film, directed by Edward Ludwig and starring John Wayne and Susan Hayward. The supporting cast includes Dennis O'Keefe, William Frawley, Leonid Kinsky, Addison Richards and Grant Withers. ''The Fighting S ...

'' (1944) as Twinkler Tucker – Jitterbugger (uncredited) * '' Faces in the Fog'' (1944) as Gertrude * ''

Thoroughbreds The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are con ...

'' (1944) as Sally Crandall * ''

Girls of the Big House ''Girls of the Big House'' is a 1945 American drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Lynne Roberts, Virginia Christine and Marion Martin.LoBrutto p.449 The film's sets were designed by the art director Gano Chittenden. Plot A ...

'' (1945) as Harriett * ''

Song of Mexico ''Song of Mexico'' is a 1945 American musical film written and directed by James A. FitzPatrick and starring Adele Mara, Edgar Barrier, George J. Lewis, Jacqueline Dalya, José Pulido and Raquel De Alva. It was released on December 28, 1945, by ...

'' (1945) as Carol Adams * '' The Tiger Woman'' (1945) as Sharon Winslow * ''

Bells of Rosarita '' Bells of Rosarita '' is a 1945 American musical Western film starring Roy Rogers and directed by Frank McDonald. Plot Cowboy balladeer Roy Rogers meets Sue Farnum (Dale Evans), a girl returning from back East, who is cheated out of her inhe ...

'' (1945) as Patty Phillips * ''

Flame of Barbary Coast ''Flame of Barbary Coast'' is a 1945 American musical-drama film starring John Wayne, Ann Dvorak, Joseph Schildkraut, William Frawley, and Virginia Grey. The movie was scripted by Borden Chase and directed by Joseph Kane. Plot Naive Montana cow ...

'' (1945) as Marie (uncredited) * ''

'' (1945) as Lisa * ''

Earl Carroll Vanities ''Earl Carroll Vanities'' is a 1945 American musical film directed by Joseph Santley and written by Frank Gill Jr. The film stars Dennis O'Keefe, Constance Moore, Eve Arden, Otto Kruger, Alan Mowbray and Stephanie Bachelor. It was released on Ap ...

'' (1945) as Chorine (uncredited) * '' Grissly's Millions'' (1945) as Maribelle * '' The Inner Circle'' (1946) as Geraldine Travis alias Gerry Smith * ''

I've Always Loved You ''I've Always Loved You'' is a 1946 American drama musical film produced and directed by Frank Borzage and written by Borden Chase. The film stars Philip Dorn, Catherine McLeod, William Carter, Maria Ouspenskaya, Felix Bressart and Elizabeth ...

'' (1946) as Senorita Fortalega * ''

The Magnificent Rogue ''The Magnificent Rogue'' is a 1946 American comedy film directed by Albert S. Rogell and written by Dane Lussier and Sherman L. Lowe. The film stars Lynne Roberts, Warren Douglas, Gerald Mohr, Stephanie Bachelor, Adele Mara and Grady Sutton. T ...

'' (1946) as Sugar Lee * ''

The Invisible Informer ''The Invisible Informer'' is a 1946 action film starring Linda Stirling, William Henry, and Adele Mara. Produced by Republic Pictures, it was directed by Philip Ford and written by Gerald Adams and Sherman Lowe. Plot Insurance investigators Ev ...

'' (1946) as Marie Ravelle * ''

The Last Crooked Mile ''The Last Crooked Mile'' is a 1946 American crime film directed by Philip Ford and written by Jerry Sackheim and Jerome Gruskin. The film stars Don "Red" Barry, Ann Savage, Adele Mara, Tom Powers, Sheldon Leonard and Nestor Paiva. The film was ...

'' (1946) as Bonnie * '' Night Train to Memphis'' (1946) as Constance Stephenson * ''

Traffic in Crime ''Traffic in Crime'' is a 1946 American action film directed by Lesley Selander, written by David Lang, and starring Kane Richmond, Anne Nagel, Adele Mara, Wade Crosby, Wilton Graff and Roy Barcroft. It was released on June 28, 1946, by Republic ...

'' (1946) as Silk Cantrell * ''

Passkey to Danger ''Passkey to Danger'' is a 1946 American film noir crime film directed by Lesley Selander and written by O'Leta Rhinehart and William Hagens. The film stars Kane Richmond, Stephanie Bachelor, Adele Mara, Gregory Gaye, Gerald Mohr and John Eldre ...

'' (1946) as Renee Beauchamps * '' The Catman of Paris'' (1946) as Marguerite Duval * ''

A Guy Could Change ''A Guy Could Change'' is a 1946 American drama film starring Allan Lane and Jane Frazee. The supporting cast features 13-year-old Robert Blake (billed as "Bobby Blake"), Wallace Ford, Adele Mara and Gerald Mohr. ''A Guy Could Change'' was the ...

'' (1946) as Bernice * ''

Exposed Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to: News sources * Exposé (journalism), a form of investigative journalism * '' The Exposé'', a British conspiracist website Film and TV Film * ''Exposé'' (film), a 1976 thriller film * ''Exposed'' (1932 ...

'' (1947) as Belinda Prentice * '' Blackmail'' (1947) as Sylvia Duane * '' Robin Hood of Texas'' (1947) as Julie * ''

The Trespasser Trespasser In the law of tort, property, and criminal law a trespasser is a person who commits the act of trespassing on a property, that is, without the permission of the owner. Being present on land as a trespasser thereto creates liabi ...

'' (1947) as Deedee * ''

Web of Danger ''Web of Danger'' is a 1947 American action film directed by Philip Ford, written by David Lang and Milton Raison, and starring Adele Mara, Bill Kennedy, Damian O'Flynn, Richard Loo, Victor Sen Yung and Roy Barcroft. It was released on June 10 ...

'' (1947) as Peg Mallory * '' Twilight on the Rio Grande'' (1947) as Elena Del Rio * ''

'' (1948) as Teleia Van Schreeven * ''

Night Time in Nevada '' Night Time in Nevada '' is a 1948 American Western film directed by William Witney and starring Roy Rogers. Plot Ran Farrell kills his mining partner and instead of giving the money to his partner's (Jim Andrews) daughter he steals it. Joan ...

'' (1948) as Joan Andrews * '' Angel in Exile'' (1948) as Raquel Chavez * ''

I, Jane Doe ''I, Jane Doe'' is a 1948 American drama war film directed by John H. Auer and written by Lawrence Kimble and Decla Dunning. The film stars Ruth Hussey, John Carroll, Vera Ralston, Gene Lockhart, John Howard and Benay Venuta. Plot When the po ...

'' (1948) as Marga–Jane Hastings * '' The Gallant Legion'' (1948) as Catalina * ''

Campus Honeymoon ''Campus Honeymoon'' is a 1948 American comedy film directed by Richard Sale, written by Jerome Gruskin and Richard Sale, and starring Lyn Wilde, Lee Wilde, Adele Mara, Richard Crane, Hal Hackett and Wilson Wood. It was released on February 1 ...

'' (1948) as Bessie Ormsbee * ''

The Main Street Kid ''The Main Street Kid'' is a 1948 American comedy film directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by Jerry Sackheim and John K. Butler. The film stars Al Pearce, Janet Martin, Alan Mowbray, Adele Mara, Arlene Harris and Emil Rameau. The film wa ...

'' (1948) as Gloria * '' Sands of Iwo Jima'' (1949) as Allison Bromley * '' Rock Island Trail'' (1950) as Constance Strong * ''

'' (1950) as Beth Martin * '' The Avengers'' (1950) as Maria Moreno * ''

The Sea Hornet ''The Sea Hornet'' is a 1951 American adventure film directed by Joseph Kane and written by Gerald Drayson Adams. The film stars Rod Cameron, Adele Mara, Lorna Gray, Chill Wills, Jim Davis and Richard Jaeckel. The film was released on November ...

'' (1951) as Suntan Radford aka Golbraid * ''

'' (1953) as Gracie Sager – Max Verne's girlfriend * ''

The Black Whip ''The Black Whip'' is a 1957 American Civil War Western film directed by Charles Marquis Warren and starring Hugh Marlowe and Coleen Gray. The film brief describes the film as "two brothers rescue four dance-hall girls, and encounter trouble f ...

'' (1956) as Ruthie Dawson * ''

Back from Eternity ''Back from Eternity'' is a 1956 American drama film about a planeload of people stranded in the South American jungle and subsequently menaced by headhunters. The film stars Robert Ryan, Rod Steiger, Anita Ekberg and Gene Barry. The film is a ...

'' (1956) as Maria Alvarez, an airplane

stewardess A flight attendant, also known as steward/stewardess or air host/air hostess, is a member of the aircrew aboard commercial flights, many business jets and some government aircraft. Collectively called cabin crew, flight attendants are prima ...

* '' Curse of the Faceless Man'' (1958) as Maria Fiorillo * ''

The Big Circus ''The Big Circus'' is a 1959 film starring Victor Mature as a circus owner struggling with financial trouble and a murderous unknown saboteur. It was produced and cowritten by Irwin Allen, later known for a series of big-budget disaster films. Pl ...

'' (1959) as Maria 'Mama' Colino

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mara, Adele 1923 births 2010 deaths American film actresses 20th-century American actresses American people of Spanish descent Fordson High School alumni Actresses from Michigan People from Highland Park, Michigan 21st-century American women