Summary
Wanda McKay (born Dorothy Quackenbush; June 22, 1915 – April 11, 1996) was an American actress and model.
Wanda McKay | |
|---|---|
 Mckay in The Black Raven (1943) | |
| Born | Dorothy Quackenbush June 22, 1915 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Died | April 11, 1996 (aged 80) Rancho Mirage, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1939–1957 |
| Spouse | |
Early years edit
McKay was born as Dorothy Quackenbush in Portland, Oregon,[note 1][1] but her family later moved to Fort Worth in Texas. After moving to New York she became a model and her image was used to promote Chesterfield cigarettes.[2]
In 1938, McKay represented Trans World Airlines, for which she worked as a hostess, in a beauty competition at the Birmingham Air Show.[1] She won, being voted "Miss American Aviation".[2]
Career edit
By 1939 McKay had moved into films after being given a contract by Paramount Pictures. Initially she made small uncredited appearances before going on to starring roles as a leading lady in many B Movies during the 1940s, working in particular at studios such as PRC and Monogram Pictures.[2]: 135–137 Film worked dried up for her in the 1950s, and she appeared on television and in a minor role in The Merry Widow (1952). Her last film appearance was a small uncredited part in Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957).
Personal life edit
In 1977 she married Hoagy Carmichael, a marriage that lasted until his death in 1981.
Death edit
On April 11, 1996, McKay died of cancer in Los Angeles. She was 80.[1]
Partial filmography edit
- $1000 a Touchdown (1939) - Babe (uncredited)
- Our Neighbors – The Carters (1939) - Usherette (uncredited)
- All Women Have Secrets (1939) - Jessie
- The Farmer's Daughter (1940) - Cashier (uncredited)
- Those Were the Days! (1940) - Minor Role (uncredited)
- The Way of All Flesh (1940) - Cigarette Girl (uncredited)
- The Great McGinty (1940) - Bit Role (uncredited)
- Mystery Sea Raider (1940) - Lois (uncredited)
- The Quarterback (1940) - Blonde (uncredited)
- Dancing on a Dime (1940) - Lulu
- Life with Henry (1940) - Girl on Theatre Stage (uncredited)
- A Night at Earl Carroll's (1940) - Girl in Steve's Party (uncredited)
- Love Thy Neighbor (1940) - Showgirl (uncredited)
- Virginia (1941) - Girl (uncredited)
- The Mad Doctor (1941) - Girl at Charity Bazaar (uncredited)
- You're the One (1941) - Girl
- The Lady Eve (1941) - Daughter on Ship (uncredited)
- Las Vegas Nights (1941) - Cigarette Girl (uncredited)
- The Pioneers (1941) - Suzanna Ames
- Twilight on the Trail (1941) - Lucy Brent
- New York Town (1941) - Minor Role (uncredited)
- The Royal Mounted Patrol (1941) - Betty Duvalle
- Rolling Down the Great Divide (1942) - Rita
- The Lone Rider in Texas Justice (1942) - Kate Stewart
- One Thrilling Night (1942) - Millie Jason
- Law and Order (1942) - Linda Fremont
- Bowery at Midnight (1942) - Judy Malvern
- Corregidor (1943) - Nurse Jane 'Hey-Dutch' Van Dornen
- The Black Raven (1943) - Lee Winfield
- Let's Face It (1943) - Chorus Girl (uncredited)
- Danger! Women at Work (1943) - Doris Bendix
- Deerslayer (1943) - Hetty Hutter
- Smart Guy (1943) - Jean Wickers
- What a Man! (1944) - Joan Rankin
- Voodoo Man (1944) - Betty
- The Monster Maker (1944) - Patricia
- Raiders of Ghost City (1944, Serial) - Cathy Haines
- Leave It to the Irish (1944) - Nora O'Brien
- Belle of the Yukon (1944) - Cherie Atterbury
- There Goes Kelly (1945) - Anne Mason
- Hollywood and Vine (1945) - Martha Manning
- Sensation Hunters (1945) - Helen
- Kilroy Was Here (1947) - Connie Harcourt
- Jiggs and Maggie in Society (1947) - Millicent Perker
- Stage Struck (1948) - Helen Howard
- Jinx Money (1948) - Virginia
- Jungle Goddess (1948) - Greta Vanderhorn
- The Golden Eye (1948) - Evelyn Manning
- The Story of Life (1948)
- Because of Eve (1948) - Sally Stephens
- A Woman of Distinction (1950) - Merle - Shop Girl (uncredited)
- Roaring City (1951) - Sylvia Rand
- The Merry Widow (1952) - Girl at Maxim's (uncredited)
- Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957) - New York Operator (uncredited) (final film role)
Notes edit
- ^ McKay's obituary in the Los Angeles Times says that she was "born Dorothy McKay ...".
References edit
- ^ a b c "Wanda McKay; Film, TV Actress". Los Angeles Times. April 20, 1996. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
- ^ a b c Raw, Laurence (2012). Character Actors in Horror and Science Fiction Films, 1930–1960. McFarland. pp. 134–135. ISBN 9780786490493. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
Bibliography edit
- Raw, Laurance. Character Actors in Horror and Science Fiction Films, 1930–1960. McFarland, 2012.
External links edit
- Wanda McKay at IMDb