Gladys Maxine Cooper Gomberg (May 12, 1924 – April 4, 2009) was an American actress, activist, and photographer. She was perhaps best known for her role as private detective Mike Hammer's secretary Velda in the 1955 film ''

Kiss Me Deadly ''Kiss Me Deadly'' is a 1955 American film noir produced and directed by Robert Aldrich, starring Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart, Juano Hernandez, and Wesley Addy. It also features Maxine Cooper and Cloris Leachman appearing in th ...

'', which the ''Los Angeles Times'' called a "

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American '' ...

classic."

Early life

Gladys Maxine Cooper was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1924 to Richard and Gladys Cooper. Her father was employed as a

General Electric General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated in sectors including healthcare, aviation, power, renewable ene ...

distributor. She first became interested in the theater and acting while she was enrolled as a student at

Bennington College Bennington College is a private liberal arts college in Bennington, Vermont. Founded in 1932 as a women's college, it became co-educational in 1969. It claims to be the first college to include visual and performing arts as an equal partner in ...

in Vermont. Cooper transferred to the

Pasadena Playhouse The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California, United States. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engage ...

in Pasadena, California, where she completed her education in drama.

Early career

Cooper travelled to Europe in 1946 to perform for United States military troops stationed on the continent, following the end of World War II as part of the

United Services Organization The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

(USO). She travelled throughout post-war Europe, entertaining the troops with an ensemble of other actors, including

Veda Ann Borg Veda Ann Borg (January 11, 1915 – August 16, 1973) was an American film and television actress. Early years Born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Gottfried Borg, a Swedish immigrant, and Minna Noble, Borg became a model in 1936 before winni ...

Rose Hobart Rose Hobart (born Rose Kefer; May 1, 1906 – August 29, 2000) was an American actress and a Screen Actors Guild official. Early years Born in New York City, Hobart was the daughter of a cellist in the New York Symphony Orchestra, Paul Ke ...

, and Ellen Corby. She remained in Europe for more than five years, performing in both theatrical productions and television shows for the BBC. Her BBC television play credits included ''

I Killed the Count ''I Killed the Count'' is a 1937 play by Alec Coppel. Its success launched Coppel's career. 1937 London production Cast *Eric Maturin as Count Victor Mattoni *Athole Stewart as Viscount Sorrington *Alec Clunes as Detective Raines * Anthony Holl ...

'' in 1948, and '' You Can't Take It with You'' in 1947, which co-starred Finlay Currie. She often performed at the

Café de Paris Café de Paris may refer to: Establishments *Café de Paris (London), a London nightclub * Café de Paris, Chicago, a Chicago nightclub * Café de Paris (restaurant), Geneva * Café de Paris (Rome), a bar in Rome, Italy * Café de Paris (Cubzac-les ...

in London. Cooper returned to the United States during the 1950s, and appeared in a number of television roles, including the 1959 '' Twilight Zone'' episode "

And When the Sky Was Opened "And When the Sky Was Opened" is episode eleven of the American television anthology series ''The Twilight Zone''. It originally aired on December 11, 1959. It is an adaptation of the 1953 Richard Matheson short story "Disappearing Act." Openin ...

", and '' Dragnet''. She also made two guest appearances on ''

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 4 short stories, all of which involve a c ...

''.: in 1958 she played Gladys Strome, the title character, in "The Case of the Fugitive Nurse," and in 1959 she played Edith Devoe, also a nurse, in "The Case of the Caretaker's Cat."

''Kiss Me Deadly''

Cooper made her film debut in the 1955 thriller ''

'', which was based on a novel by

Mickey Spillane Frank Morrison Spillane (; March 9, 1918July 17, 2006), better known as Mickey Spillane, was an American crime novelist, whose stories often feature his signature detective character, Mike Hammer. More than 225 million copies of his books have ...

. Director Robert Aldrich cast Cooper in ''Kiss Me Deadly'' after seeing her turn as the character Anitra in a Los Angeles production of the play '' Peer Gynt''. Aldrich later cast Cooper in two of his other films, '' Autumn Leaves'' (1956) and '' What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'' (1962). She portrayed the character Velda, a trustworthy secretary to

Ralph Meeker Ralph Meeker (born Ralph Rathgeber; November 21, 1920 August 5, 1988) was an American film, stage, and television actor. He first rose to prominence for his roles in the Broadway productions of '' Mister Roberts'' (1948–1951) and ''Picnic'' ...

's detective Mike Hammer, the film's main character. In the early 1970s, the original ending in which Velda and Mike view an explosion which destroyed the beach house had vanished. The real ending was rediscovered by a film editor in the 1990s, though no one is sure why the ending had been tampered.

Later career

Cooper married Sy Gomberg, a screenwriter and producer, in 1957. She left the acting profession in the early 1960s in order to raise her family. Gomberg and her husband became active members of the Hollywood activist community. She helped to organize groups of actors, writers and studio executives to participate in marches with

Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 ...

Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery is the capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. Named for the Irish soldier Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River, on the coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico. In the 202 ...

, during the 1960s. Cooper also led campaigns against House Un-American Activities Committee's Hollywood blacklists. She also spearheaded protests by those in the entertainment industry against nuclear weapons, the Vietnam War, and other causes. Gomberg briefly returned to her acting roots during the 1970s. She made a cameo appearance as herself in the 1975 television series ''

Fear on Trial ''Fear on Trial'' is a 1975 American television film about the blacklisting of 1950s broadcast personality John Henry Faulk, based on Faulk's 1964 memoir of the same title.Article 11 o TitleSmith, Cecil. ''Los Angeles Times''. September 28, 19 ...

'', which starred

George C. Scott George Campbell Scott (October 18, 1927 – September 22, 1999) was an American actor, director, and producer who had a celebrated career on both stage and screen. With a gruff demeanor and commanding presence, Scott became known for his port ...

John Henry Faulk John Henry Faulk (August 21, 1913 – April 9, 1990) was an American storyteller and radio show host. His successful lawsuit against the entertainment industry helped to bring an end to the Hollywood blacklist. Early life John Henry Faulk w ...

, a blacklisted 1950s television and radio host. Gomberg became a photographer during her later life. Her photographs were used to illustrate a book by

Howard Fast Howard Melvin Fast (November 11, 1914 – March 12, 2003) was an American novelist and television writer. Fast also wrote under the pen names E.V. Cunningham and Walter Ericson. Biography Early life Fast was born in New York City. His mother, ...

entitled ''The Art of Zen Meditation''. The ''Los Angeles Times'' referred to the book as "beautiful" in a 1977 book review when referring to her photographs.

Death

Maxine and Sy Gomberg remained married until his death in 2001, aged 82. She died on April 4, 2009 from natural causes at her home in Los Angeles, aged 84.

Filmography

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Maxine 1924 births 2009 deaths Actresses from Chicago American film actresses American television actresses American anti–nuclear weapons activists American anti–Vietnam War activists American civil rights activists Women civil rights activists Burials at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American women