Marguerite Louise Skliris-Alvarez ( Skliris; born April 7, 1922), known as Margia Dean, is an American former

beauty queen A beauty pageant is a competition that has traditionally focused on judging and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants. Pageants have now evolved to include inner beauty, with criteria covering judging of personality, intelligence, ...

and stage and screen actress of Greek descent, who had a successful career in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

films during the 1940s until the early 1960s.

Biography

She was born in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

but moved to

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

with her parents at a young age. She began acting at the age of 7, appearing on stage in many child roles and later won the Women's National Shakespeare Contest for her role as

Juliet Juliet Capulet () is the female protagonist in William Shakespeare's romantic tragedy ''Romeo and Juliet''. A 13-year-old girl, Juliet is the only daughter of the patriarch of the House of Capulet. She falls in love with the male protagonist R ...

in a production of ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

''. She also took up modelling and was named "Miss San Francisco" and " Miss California" in 1939. She was a top-five runner-up to

Patricia Donnelly Patricia Donnelly Harris (October 30, 1919 – October 25, 2009) was Miss America in 1939. Early years Born Patricia Mary Donnelly in Durand, Michigan, she was a singer in grade school and on radio programs, and she began singing with a band ...

in the "

Miss America 1939 Miss America 1939, the 13th Miss America pageant, was the last pageant to be held at the famed Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The finals were held on Saturday, September 9, 1939, and Miss Michigan, Patricia Donnelly, was crowned Miss Am ...

" competition. She made her feature film debut in ''

Casanova in Burlesque ''Casanova in Burlesque'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins and written by Frank Gill Jr.. The film stars Joe E. Brown, June Havoc, Dale Evans, Marjorie Gateson, Lucien Littlefield and Ian Keith. The film was released o ...

'' (1944) and adopted her stage name, Margia Dean. Although never under contract to a studio, most of the films, some 16 in all, she made were for the producer

Robert L. Lippert Robert Lenard Lippert (March 31, 1909 – November 16, 1976) was an American film producer and cinema chain owner. He was president and chief operating officer of Lippert Theatres, Affiliated Theatres and Transcontinental Theatres, all based in ...

. Her first leading role was in '' Shep Come Home'' (1948) and roles followed in '' Red Desert'' (1949), ''

FBI Girl ''FBI Girl'' is a 1951 American film noir crime film about a female FBI employee who becomes involved in government plot involving corruption and murder. The film was directed by William A. Berke, and stars Cesar Romero, George Brent and Audrey T ...

'' (1951), '' The Lonesome Trail'' (1955), '' Villa!!'' (1958) and ''

Seven Women from Hell ''Seven Women from Hell'' is a 1961 war drama directed by Robert D. Webb and starring Patricia Owens, Denise Darcel (in her final film), Margia Dean, Yvonne Craig and Cesar Romero about women prisoners in a Japanese World War II prison camp, int ...

'' (1961). Dean starred in a 1958 western, '' Ambush at Cimarron Pass'', that featured

Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the "Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "''Doll ...

in one of his earliest film roles. She also portrayed a trapeze artist in the 1961 circus tale '' The Big Show'', which starred

Esther Williams Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer and actress. She set regional and national records in her late teens on the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Ol ...

and Robert Vaughn. Her association with Lippert had led to her being cast in ''

The Quatermass Xperiment ''The Quatermass Xperiment'' (a.k.a. ''The Creeping Unknown'' in the United States) is a 1955 British science fiction horror film from Hammer Film Productions, based on the 1953 BBC Television serial ''The Quatermass Experiment'' written by Ni ...

'' (1955), the first Hammer horror film. Frustrated that her roles were predominantly in

B movie A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature ...

s, she eventually retired from acting following her marriage in 1965 to her second husband, architect Felipe Alvarez. Her final film was ''

Moro Witch Doctor ''Moro Witch Doctor'' ( fil, Amok) is a 1964 Filipino adventure film written and directed by Eddie Romero, and co-produced by Romero, Kane W. Lynn and Irwin Pizor (doing business as "Hemisphere Pictures"). The film stars Jock Mahoney, Margia Dean, ...

'' (1964). She briefly became involved in movie production, producing '' The Long Rope'' (1961) with Hugh Marlowe as well as a number of television pilots. She has since been vice-president of a

real estate Real estate is property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this (also) an item of real property, (more general ...

firm and has worked in costume design and interior decoration.

Filmography

* ''

'' (1944) * ''

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) * ''

Take It Big ''Take It Big'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Howard J. Green and Joe Bigelow. The film stars Jack Haley, Harriet Hilliard, Mary Beth Hughes, Richard Lane, Arline Judge and Fritz Feld. Also featured i ...

'' (1944) * '' The Desert Hawk'' (1944) * '' Accent on Crime'' (1944) * '' Minstrel Man'' (1944) * '' Earl Carroll Vanities'' (1945) * ''

The Power of the Whistler ''The Power of the Whistler'' is a 1945 film noir thriller film based on the radio drama ''The Whistler''. Directed by Lew Landers, the production features Richard Dix. It is the third of Columbia Pictures' eight " Whistler" films produced in ...

'' (1945) * '' Crime Doctor's Warning '' (1945) * ''

Who's Guilty? ''Who's Guilty?'' is a 1945 American film serial. It was the 28th of 57 serials released by Columbia Pictures. ''Who's Guilty?'' was a rare attempt at a whodunit mystery film in serial form. The serial's villain (The Voice) was designed to look ...

'' (1945) * ''

Living in a Big Way ''Living in a Big Way'' (1947) is an American musical comedy film starring Gene Kelly and Marie McDonald as a couple who marry during World War II after only knowing each other a short time. This was director Gregory La Cava's final film. Plot ...

'' (1947) * ''

Shep Comes Home ''Shep Comes Home'' is a 1948 American film written and directed by Ford Beebe for Lippert Pictures. It was a sequel to ''My Dog Shep'' (1946). Cast *Flame as Shep * Robert Lowery as Mark Folger * Billy Kimbley as Larry Havens *Martin Garralaga ...

'' (1948) * ''

I Shot Jesse James ''I Shot Jesse James'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Samuel Fuller about the murder of Jesse James by Robert Ford and Robert Ford's life afterwards. The story is built around a fictional rivalry between Ford and his eventual kill ...

'' (1949) * '' Rimfire'' (1949) * ''

Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon (, yuf-x-yav, Wi:kaʼi:la, , Southern Paiute language: Paxa’uipi, ) is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. The Grand Canyon is long, up to wide and attains a depth of over a m ...

'' (1949) * '' Ringside'' (1949) * ''

Treasure of Monte Cristo ''Treasure of Monte Cristo'' is a 1949 American film noir crime film directed by William Berke and starring Glenn Langan, Adele Jergens and Steve Brodie. Plot A descendant of Edmond Dantès finds himself framed for a crime he did not commit. ...

'' (1949) * ''

Tough Assignment ''Tough Assignment'' is a 1949 American crime film directed by William Beaudine and starring Don Barry, Marjorie Steele and Steve Brodie. It is regarded as a film noir.Spicer p.421 Plot A Los Angeles reporter and his photographer wife inves ...

'' (1949) * '' Red Desert'' (1949) * '' The Baron of Arizona'' (1950) * ''

Western Pacific Agent ''Western Pacific Agent '' is a 1950 Sigmund Neufeld Productions crime drama directed by Sam Newfield and starring Kent Taylor, Sheila Ryan, and Mickey Knox. The picture was written by Fred Myton based on a story by Milton Raison. It was release ...

'' (1950) * ''

Motor Patrol ''Motor Patrol'' (also known as ''Highway Patrol'') is a 1950 American film directed by Sam Newfield. Plot Two Los Angeles Police Department motorcycle officers respond to a report of a traffic accident and find that a pedestrian was killed by a ...

'' (1950) * ''

Hi-Jacked This is the list of episodes of the Gerry Anderson television series ''Joe 90'', filmed by Century 21 Productions for ITC Entertainment and first broadcast from 1968 to 1969 on Associated Television. Episodes are listed in the recommended broadcas ...

'' (1950) * '' The Return of Jesse James'' (1950) * ''

Bandit Queen ''Bandit Queen'' is a 1994 Indian Hindi-language biographical action-adventure film based on the life of Phoolan Devi as covered in the book ''India's Bandit Queen: The True Story of Phoolan Devi'' by the Indian author Mala Sen. It was written, ...

'' (1950) * '' Fingerprints Don't Lie'' (1951) * ''

Mask of the Dragon ''Mask of the Dragon'' is a 1951 American mystery film, mystery thriller film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Richard Travis (actor), Richard Travis , Sheila Ryan and Michael Whalen (actor), Michael Whalen. It was released by the independent ...

'' (1951) * ''

Tales of Robin Hood ''Tales of Robin Hood'' is a 1951 American film directed by James Tinling. The film was one of a series Robert L. Lippert wanted to make for television with R and L Productions but he ended up only making this and '' As You Were''. Filming star ...

'' (1951) * ''

Pier 23 ''Pier 23'' is a 1951 American noir crime film directed by William Berke and starring Hugh Beaumont, Ann Savage and Edward Brophy. It was distributed by the independent Lippert Pictures as a second feature. It was intended for television as well ...

'' (1951) * ''

Kentucky Jubilee ''Kentucky Jubilee'' is a 1951 American musical-comedy film directed by Ron Ormond for Lippert Pictures. Plot Reporter Ellison; self-important film director Feld; and brash Master Of Ceremonies Colonna arrive in rural Kentucky to cover a local ...

'' (1951) * '' Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison'' (1951) * '' Savage Drums'' (1951) * ''

Take Care of My Little Girl ''Take Care of My Little Girl'' is a 1951 drama film directed by Jean Negulesco and starring Jeanne Crain, Dale Robertson, Mitzi Gaynor and Jean Peters. The film, shot in Technicolor, is based on the 1950 novel of the same name written by Peggy ...

'' (1951) * ''

Leave It to the Marines ''Leave It to the Marines'' is a 1951 American black-and-white comedy film from Lippert Pictures. It was produced by Sigmund Neufeld, directed by Sam Newfield and starred Lippert contract star Sid Melton. Plot Gerald Meek goes to apply for a ...

'' (1951) * ''

Sky High Sky High or Skyhigh may refer to: Business * Sky High Aviation Services, an airline based in the Dominican Republic Film and television * ''Sky High'' (1922 film), an American silent film * ''Sky High'' (1951 film), a US Air Force comedy wit ...

'' (1951) * ''

Superman and the Mole-Men ''Superman and the Mole Men'' is a 1951 American independent film, independent black-and-white superhero film released by Lippert Pictures. Produced by Barney A. Sarecky and directed by Lee Sholem, it stars George Reeves as Superman and Phyllis Co ...

'' (1951) * ''

Mr. Walkie Talkie ''Mr. Walkie Talkie'' is a 1952 American comedy film directed by Fred Guiol and starring William Tracy, Joe Sawyer and Margia Dean.Lentz p.250 Released by Lippert Pictures, it is the final film of the Doubleday and Ames army comedy films orig ...

'' (1952) * ''

Loan Shark A loan shark is a person who offers loans at extremely high interest rates, has strict terms of collection upon failure, and generally operates outside the law. Description Because loan sharks operate mostly illegally, they cannot reasonably ...

'' (1952) * ''

Mesa of Lost Women ''Mesa of Lost Women'' is a 1953 American low-budget black-and-white science fiction film directed by Herbert Tevos and Ron Ormond from a screenplay by Tevos and Orville H. Hampton who is given on-screen credit only for dialogue supervision. Pl ...

'' (1953) * ''

Sins of Jezebel ''Sins of Jezebel'' is a 1953 American historical drama film produced by Sigmund Neufeld and directed by Reginald Le Borg. It stars Paulette Goddard as Jezebel, the biblical queen of the northern kingdom of Israel during the 9th century BC. The f ...

'' (1953) * '' Fangs of the Wild'' (1954) * '' The Lonesome Trail'' (1955) * ''

'' (1955) * ''

Last of the Desperados ''Last of the Desperados'' is a 1955 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Orville H. Hampton. The film stars James Craig (actor), James Craig, Jim Davis (actor), Jim Davis, Barton MacLane, Margia Dean, D ...

'' (1955) * '' The Revolt of Mamie Stover'' (1956) * ''

Frontier Gambler ''Frontier Gambler'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Orville H. Hampton. The film stars John Bromfield, Coleen Gray, Kent Taylor, Jim Davis, Margia Dean and Veda Ann Borg. The film was released on July ...

'' (1956) * ''

Stagecoach to Fury ''Stagecoach to Fury'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by William F. Claxton and starring Forrest Tucker and Mari Blanchard. It was the first film from Robert L. Lippert's Regal films; the B picture unit of 20th Century Fox set up to ...

'' (1956) * ''

Badlands of Montana ''Badlands of Montana'' is a 1957 American Western film written and directed by Daniel B. Ullman. The film stars Rex Reason, Margia Dean, Beverly Garland, Keith Larsen, Emile Meyer and William Edward Phipps. The film was released on May 1, 1957, ...

'' (1957) * '' Ambush at Cimarron Pass'' (1958) * '' Villa!!'' (1958) * '' The Secret of the Purple Reef'' (1960) * '' The Big Show'' (1961) * ''

7 Women from Hell ''Seven Women from Hell'' is a 1961 war drama directed by Robert D. Webb and starring Patricia Owens, Denise Darcel (in her final film), Margia Dean, Yvonne Craig and Cesar Romero about women prisoners in a Japanese World War II prison camp, inte ...

'' (1961) * ''

'' (1964)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dean, Margia 1922 births 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American women Actresses from California Actresses from Chicago Actresses from Illinois Actresses from San Francisco American centenarians American film actresses American people of Greek descent Female models from California Female models from Illinois Living people Miss America 1930s delegates Models from Chicago Women centenarians