Shirley O'Hara (born Shirley Har; August 15, 1924 – December 13, 2002) was an American actress. She appeared in numerous films from the 1940s to the 1980s.

Biography

O'Hara was born in

Rochester, Minnesota Rochester is a city in Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. It is located along rolling bluffs on the Zumbro River's south fork in Southeast Minnesota. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a popul ...

in 1924 and graduated from Rochester High School in 1942. As a high school senior, she worked at three film theaters in downtown Rochester. After graduation, O'Hara moved to Hollywood. Her job as an elevator operator at

Saks Fifth Avenue Saks Fifth Avenue (Colloquialism, colloquially Saks) is an American Luxury goods, luxury department store chain founded in 1867 by Andrew Saks. The first store opened in the F Street and 7th Street shopping districts, F Street shopping distric ...

brought her in contact with people who worked with films, and she signed with

RKO Studios RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, is an American film production and distribution company, historically one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith ...

when she was 18 years old. She began her acting career in 1943. Her film debut was in the Kay Kyser musical '' Around the World'' (1943). Other films in which she appeared included '' Tarzan and the Amazons'', '' The Chase'', '' Higher and Higher'' and ''

Ghost Ship A ghost ship, also known as a phantom ship, is a ship, vessel with no living crew aboard; it may be a fictional ghostly vessel, such as the ''Flying Dutchman'', or a physical Flotsam, jetsam, lagan and derelict, derelict found adrift with its cre ...

'' (1952). O'Hara's figure led to her role in ''Ghost Ship'', as the result of a process that was featured in the September 13, 1943, issue of ''

Life Life, also known as biota, refers to matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, Structure#Biological, organisation, met ...

''. RKO held a competition to find the "shapeliest 'shadow girl'" for the role, because the leading lady in the film was seen only in silhouette. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, she received the ''Support for America'' award, acknowledging her wartime efforts with the Hollywood Canteen. She also appeared in several

TV series A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming platf ...

during the 1950s, including ''

Fireside Theatre ''Fireside Theatre'' (later known as ''Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre, Jane Wyman Theatre, The Jane Wyman Show'' and ''Jane Wyman Presents'') is an American anthology drama series that ran on NBC from 1949 to 1958, and was the firs ...

'', ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'', '' The Millionaire'', ''

Racket Squad ''Racket Squad'' is an American TV crime drama series that aired from 1951 to 1953. The format was a narrated anthology drama, as each individual episode featured various ordinary citizens getting ensnared in a different confidence scheme. Ep ...

'' and '' Dragnet''. In 1970, O'Hara appeared as Mrs. Drew on the TV western '' The Virginian'' in the episode "The Mysterious Mr. Tate." During the early 1970s, she was appointed director of public relations for

The Burbank Studios The Burbank Studios (formerly known as NBC Studios) is a television production facility located in Burbank, California, United States. The studio is home to ''Days of Our Lives'', ''Extra (American TV program), Extra'', the ''IHeartRadio Thea ...

. In 1973, she played Mrs. Malone, a night school teacher, on the season four episode "Two Wrongs Don't Make a Writer" on ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from September 19, 1970 ...

''. She appeared on three episodes of the '' Bob Newhart Show'' as ditzy temporary secretary, Debbie Flett. She appeared in the films ''

Duel A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two people with matched weapons. During the 17th and 18th centuries (and earlier), duels were mostly single combats fought with swords (the rapier and later the small sword), but beginning in ...

'' (1971) and ''

Rocky ''Rocky'' is a 1976 American independent film, independent sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the first installment in the Rocky (film series), ''Rocky'' franchise and also star ...

'' (1976). A member of the Publicists Guild, she retired in 1995.

Personal life

O'Hara was married to Jimmy McHugh Jr., and they lived in England, where he headed the London branch of

MCA Inc MCA may refer to: Science and technology Astronomy * Mars-crossing asteroid, an asteroid whose orbit crosses that of Mars Aviation * Minimum crossing altitude, a minimum obstacle crossing altitude for fixes on published airways * Medium ...

. They had one son, Jimmy McHugh III, but later divorced. Her second marriage was to Milton Krims.

Death

On December 13, 2002, O'Hara died at the Motion Picture Hospital in Calabasas, California, from complications of

diabetes Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of th ...

at the age of 78.

TV and filmography

* ''

Gildersleeve on Broadway ''Gildersleeve on Broadway'' is a 1943 American comedy film starring Harold Peary as his radio character The Great Gildersleeve. It is the third of four Gildersleeve features, others were '' The Great Gildersleeve'' (1942), '' Gildersleeve's B ...

'' (1943) – Model (uncredited) * '' Government Girl'' (1943) – Girl in Hotel Lobby (uncredited) * '' Around the World'' (1943) – Shirley (uncredited) * '' Higher and Higher'' (1943) – Bridesmaid (uncredited) * ''

The Ghost Ship ''The Ghost Ship'' is a 1943 American black-and-white psychological thriller film starring Richard Dix and directed by Mark Robson. It was produced by Val Lewton for RKO Radio Pictures as part of a series of low-budget horror films. The fil ...

'' (1943) – Ellen's Sister (uncredited) * ''

The Falcon Out West ''The Falcon Out West'' (aka ''The Falcon in Texas'') is a 1944 American mystery film directed by William Clemens and starring Tom Conway, Joan Barclay and Barbara Hale. The film was part of RKO's The Falcon series of detective films, this ...

'' (1944) – Hat Check Girl (uncredited) * ''

Seven Days Ashore ''Seven Days Ashore'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by John H. Auer and written by Edward Verdier, Irving Phillips and Lawrence Kimble. The film stars Wally Brown, Alan Carney, Marcy McGuire, Virginia Mayo, Elaine Shepard, Gordon Oliver ...

'' (1944) – Girl in Band (uncredited) * ''

Show Business Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz or showbiz (since 1945), is a vernacular term for all aspects of the entertainment industry.''Oxford English Dictionary'' 2nd Ed. (1989) From the business side (including managers, agents, produce ...

'' (1944) – Chorine (uncredited) * '' Step Lively'' (1944) – Louise, 'Daughter' in Rehearsal (uncredited) * '' Three Is a Family'' (1944) – Janet (uncredited) * '' Tarzan and the Amazons'' (1945) – Athena * '' Cuban Pete'' (1946) – Girl (uncredited) * '' The Runaround'' (1946) – Stewardess (uncredited) * ''

Lover Come Back Lover Come Back may refer to: *''Lover Come Back'', a 1940 novel by Clair Blank *Lover Come Back (1931 film), ''Lover Come Back'' (1931 film), starring Constance Cummings *New Moon (1940 film), ''New Moon'' (1940 film), a musical also known as ''Lov ...

'' (1946) – Show Girl (uncredited) * '' The Chase'' (1946) – Manicurist * ''

Love Laughs at Andy Hardy ''Love Laughs at Andy Hardy'' is a 1946 American comedy film directed by Willis Goldbeck and starring Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone and Bonita Granville. It was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film is also known under its American promotional t ...

'' (1946) – College Coed (uncredited) * ''

Bells of San Fernando ''Bells of San Fernando'' is a 1947 American historical romantic adventure film directed by Terry O. Morse and starring Donald Woods, Gloria Warren and Shirley O'Hara. Duncan Renaldo co-wrote the screenplay and was an associate producer o ...

'' (1947) – Nita * ''

'' (1952) * '' Mr. and Mrs. North'' (1953) – Phyllis Tucker * ''

'' (1953) (2 episodes) ** (Season 5 Episode 17: "The Lady Wears a Star") – Lucinda ** (Season 5 Episode 24: "A Grand Cop") – Mary Casey * '' Crime Wave'' (1953) – Girl with Bandaged Man (uncredited) * ''

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars ''Schlitz Playhouse of Stars'' is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS. Offering both comedies and drama, the series was sponsored by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company. The title was shortened to ''Schlitz Playh ...

'' (1953) (Season 3 Episode 12: "Fresh Start") – Landlady * '' December Bride'' (1954) (Season 1 Episode 3: "The Chinese Dinner") * '' The Star and the Story'' (1955) (Season 1 Episode 12: "First Offense") – Mrs. Canelli * ''

Highway Patrol A highway patrol is a police unit, detail, or law enforcement agency created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways within a jurisdiction. They are also referred to in many countri ...

'' (1956) (Season 1 Episode 30: "Hitchhiker Dies") – Payroll Clerk * ''

Sneak Preview A film screening is the displaying of a motion picture or film, generally referring to a special showing as part of a film's production and release cycle. To show the film to best advantage, special screenings may take place in plush, low seat-cou ...

'' (1956) (Season 1 Episode 3: "One Minute from Broadway") * '' The Detectives'' (1960) (Season 1 Episode 13: "Karate") – Mrs. Stalker * '' The 3rd Voice'' (1960) – Carreras' Secretary * ''

Sea Hunt ''Sea Hunt'' is an American action adventure television series that aired in syndication from 1958 to 1961 and was popular for decades afterwards. The series originally aired for four seasons, with 155 episodes produced. It stars Lloyd Bridges ...

'' (1960) (Season 3 Episode 19: "Cross Current") – Fran Parmalee * ''

The High Powered Rifle ''The High Powered Rifle'' is a 1960 American action film produced and directed by Maury Dexter and written by Joseph Fritz. The film stars Willard Parker, Allison Hayes, Dan Simmons, John Holland, Shirley O'Hara and Terrea Lea. The film was re ...

'' (1960) – Jean Brewster * ''

Stagecoach West Stagecoach West is a bus operator providing services in Gloucestershire, Bristol, Swindon, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, North Somerset and Herefordshire, in the West of England, and Monmouthshire in the South-East of Wales. The company is a subsidia ...

'' (1960) (Season 1 Episode 3: "The Dark Return") – Mrs. Jessup * ''

Rawhide Rawhide may refer to: *Rawhide (material), a hide or animal skin that has not been tanned * Whip made from rawhide Entertainment * ''Rawhide'' (1926 film), a Western directed by Richard Thorpe * ''Rawhide'' (1938 film), a Western starring baseball ...

'' (1960) (Season 3 Episode 6: "Incident on the Road to Yesterday") – Mrs. Slocum * '' Lock Up'' (1960) (Season 2 Episode 13: "Concrete Coffin") – Harriet Janis * ''

'' (1960-1963) (3 episodes) ** (Season 5 Episode 28: "Crowbait Bob") (1960) – Martha Guilbert ** (Season 6 Episode 29: "Stolen Horses") (1961) – Mrs. Kurtch ** (Season 9 Episode 7: "Quint's Trail") (1963) – Florie Neff * '' Schwarzer Kies'' aka ''Black Gravel'' (1961) * '' The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come'' (1961) – Mrs. Turner * ''

Love in a Goldfish Bowl ''Love in a Goldfish Bowl'' is a 1961 teen film directed by Jack Sher starring singing idols Tommy Sands and Fabian. Plot Gordon Slide and Blythe Holloway are two platonic best friends at a college, both from single-parent families. They are so ...

'' (1961) – Clara Dumont * ''

Bus Stop A bus stop is a place where Public transport bus service, buses stop for passengers to get on and off the bus. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage, where stops at busy locations may have shelter (building), shelters ...

'' (1961) (Season 1 Episode 1: "Afternoon of a Cowboy") – Mattie * ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'' (1961-1962) ** (Season 6 Episode 29: "The Pearl Necklace") (1961) – Nurse ** (Season 7 Episode 13: "The Silk Petticoat") (1962) – Flora * ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...

'' (1961-1963, TV Series) (2 episodes) ** (Season 2 Episode 24: "The Rip Van Winkle Caper") (1961) – George's Wife ** (Season 4 Episode 16: "On Thursday We Leave for Home") – Colonist * ''

The Untouchables Untouchable or Untouchables may refer to: People * Untouchability, the practice of socially ostracizing a minority group of very low social status * Untouchables, word for the Dalits or Scheduled Castes of India * Untouchables (law enforcement), ...

'' (1962) (Season 3 Episode 23: "The Case Against Eliot Ness") – Mrs. Halvorsen * '' Stoney Burke'' (1962) (Season 1 Episode 7: "Sidewinder") – Nurse * '' The Eleventh Hour'' (1962-1963, TV Series) (3 episodes) ** (Season 1 Episode 9: "Cry a Little for Mary Too") (1962) – Mrs. Stanger ** (Season 1 Episode 20: "Beauty Playing a Mandolin Underneath a Willow Tree") (1963) – Nurse ** (Season 1 Episode 23: "The Wings of the Morning") (1963) – Miss Pendleton * ''

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 a ...

'' (1963) (Season 1 Episode 32: "Death of a Cop") – Alice Reardon * ''

Sam Benedict ''Sam Benedict'' is an American legal drama that aired on NBC from September 1962 to March 1963. The series was created and executive produced by E. Jack Neuman, and produced by William Froug. The series starred Edmond O'Brien in the title role ...

'' (1963) (Season 1 Episode 26: "Read No Evil") – Helen Eddy * '' The Outer Limits'' (1963-1964) (2 episodes) ** (Season 1 Episode 8: "The Human Factor") (1963) – Dr. Soldini ** (Season 2 Episode 4: "Expanding Human") (1964) – Receptionist * ''

The Virginian (TV series) ''The Virginian'' (later renamed ''The Men from Shiloh'' in its final year) is an American Westerns on television, Western television series starring James Drury in the title role, along with Doug McClure, Lee J. Cobb, and others. It originall ...

'' (1964-1970) (2 episodes) ** (Season 3 Episode 15: "A Man of the People") (1964) – Mrs. Dolan ** (Season 9 Episode 5: "The Mysterious Mr. Tate") (1970 – Mrs. Drew * '' Sylvia'' (1965) – Mrs. Karoki * ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and four short stories, all of which involve a ...

'' (1965) (Season 9 Episode 1: "The Case of the Laughing Lady") – Superintendent * '' The Fugitive'' (1966) (Season 3 Episode 21: "Shadow of the Swan") – Landlady * '' The Hostage'' (1967) – Mrs. Primus * ''

Mannix ''Mannix'' is an American detective television series that originally aired for eight seasons on CBS from September 16, 1967, to March 13, 1975. The show was created by Richard Levinson and William Link, and developed by executive producer ...

'' (1969-1975) (8 episodes) ** '' Season 2 Episode 23: "The Solid Gold Web"'' (1969) – Iris Meachim ** '' Season 3 Episode 1: "Eagles Sometimes Can't Fly"'' (1970) – Store Owner's Wife ** '' Season 3 Episode 21: "Fly, Little One"'' (1970) – Mrs. Carr ** '' Season 4 Episode 22: "The Color of Murder"'' (1971) – Martha ** '' Season 5 Episode 6: "Days Beyond Recall"'' (1971) – Mission Worker ** '' Season 6 Episode 17: "A Matter of Principle"'' (1973) – Mrs. Zeigler ** '' Season 7 Episode 20: "A Rage to Kill"'' (1974) – Housekeeper ** '' Season 8 Episode 17: "A Ransom for Yesterday"'' (1975) – Servant * ''

Room 222 ''Room 222'' is an American comedy-drama television series produced by 20th Century Fox Television that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC for 112 episodes, from September 17, 1969, until January 11, 1974. The show was broadcast on 1969 ...

'' (1970) (2 episodes) ** (Season 1 Episode 18: "Play It Loose") – Teacher ** (Season 2 Episode 5: "Choose One and They Lived Happily/Unhappily Ever After") – Miss Foss * '' The Young Lawyers'' (1970) (Season 1 Episode 10: "Are You Running with Me, Jimmy") – Dr. Louise Cantrell * ''

'' (1971) – Waitress * ''

Emergency! ''Emergency!'' is an American Action fiction, action-adventure medical drama television series jointly produced by Mark VII Limited and Universal Television. Debuting on NBC as a midseason replacement on January 15, 1972, replacing two situatio ...

'' (1973) (Season 3 Episode 3: "Alley Cat") – Ellie * ''

Mary Tyler Moore Mary Tyler Moore (December 29, 1936 – January 25, 2017) was an American actress, producer, and social advocate. She is best known for her roles on '' The Dick Van Dyke Show'' (1961–1966) and ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (1970–1977), whic ...

'' (1974) (Season 4 Episode 23: "Two Wrongs Don't Make a Writer") – Night School Teacher * ''

The Streets of San Francisco ''The Streets of San Francisco'' is an American television crime drama filmed on location in San Francisco and produced by Quinn Martin, with the first season produced in association with Warner Bros. Television (QM produced the show on its ow ...

'' (1976) (Season 4 Episode 18: "Underground") – Mrs. Evans * ''

'' (1976) – Secretary * ''

Rhoda ''Rhoda'' is an American sitcom television series created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns starring Valerie Harper that originally aired on CBS for five seasons from September 9, 1974 to December 9, 1978. It was the first spin-off of ''The ...

'' (1977) (Season 3 Episode 22: "The Second Time Around") – Marge * ''Flight to Holocaust'' (1977) (TV movie) – Mrs. Bender * '' Quincy'' (1978) (Season 3 Episode 13: "Crib Job") – Mrs. Barnett * ''

The Incredible Hulk The Hulk is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of '' The Incredible Hulk'' (May 1962). In his comic book ...

'' (1978) (Season 1 Episode 7: "747") – Mrs. MacIntire * ''

CHiPs ''CHiPs'' is an American crime drama television series created by Rick Rosner and originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983. After the final first-run telecast on NBC in May 1983, the series went into reruns on Sundays fr ...

'' (1978) – Elderly Woman * '' Crash'' (1978) (TV movie) * ''

Lucan Marcus Annaeus Lucanus (3 November AD 39 – 30 April AD 65), better known in English as Lucan (), was a Roman poet, born in Corduba, Hispania Baetica (present-day Córdoba, Spain). He is regarded as one of the outstanding figures of the Imper ...

'' (1978) (Season 1 Episode 9: "Brother Wolf") – Sally * ''Getting Wasted'' (1980) – Mrs. Kramer (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:OHara, Shirley 1924 births 2002 deaths American film actresses American television actresses People from Rochester, Minnesota Deaths from diabetes in California 20th-century American actresses