Marie Wallace
Encyclopedia
Marie Wallace is an American stage and television actress, best known for her performances in the cult Gothic soap opera Dark Shadows
.
on May 19, 1939, and grew up in the Yorkville
neighborhood, on Manhattan
's Upper East Side. She dreamt of being a star at an early age, having been inspired by the theatrical personality of Rev. Ralph Washington Sockman
, the minister of Christ Church Methodist, the church she attended in Manhattan.
As a teenager, she appeared in an Off-Broadway
production, and also did modelling. With her dark red hair, green eyes, classic features, and tall, slender figure, she was popular on the runway, and often did print work. In 1959, Marie performed on Broadway as a showgirl in Gypsy starring Ethel Merman
. Marie continued to perform in Broadway shows in the 1960s and early 1970s including the 1966 production of Sweet Charity
in the role of "Ursula".
produced by Dan Curtis
. Her first appearance was on October 4, and she played the part of the diabolical Frankenstein-like monster "Eve". She would go on to play the demented gypsy "Jenny Collins", Marie's personal favorite character, who was notable for her unkempt mane of red hair, black lace dress, and hysterical, cackling laughter. Her last part in the series was "Megan Todd", an antique shopkeeper. Her final episode on the program was aired March 16, 1970. In 2009, she returned to the world of Dark Shadows in the series of audio dramas produced by Big Finish Productions
. In 2010 she reprised the role of "Jenny Collins" in The Doll House
.
a soap opera spin—off from Another World. She continued to perform on Broadway,in soap operas, the theatre, and did many television commercials. In 1993, she played the part of Eleanor of Aquitaine
in a stage production of The Lion In Winter
which was directed by her former Dark Shadows co-star Jonathan Frid
. She still occasionally performs to this day. Marie is also a photographer, and spends much time involved in charity work. Her longtime friend Ruth Buzzi
described Marie as having "grace, beauty, intelligence, sincerity, and kindness". In 2005, her memoirs entitled On Stage and In Shadows was published.
Marie collaborated with freelance writer (and long-time Dark Shadows fan) Rod Labbe on an interview for Scary Monsters magazine, which was published in issue #77. Labbe will also be interviewing her for an upcoming issue of Fangoria magazine.
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
.
Early life and career
Marie was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on May 19, 1939, and grew up in the Yorkville
Yorkville, Manhattan
Yorkville is a neighborhood in the greater Upper East Side, in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City. Yorkville's boundaries include: the East River on the east, 96th Street on the north, Third Avenue on the west and 72nd Street to the south. However, its southern boundary is a subject of...
neighborhood, on Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's Upper East Side. She dreamt of being a star at an early age, having been inspired by the theatrical personality of Rev. Ralph Washington Sockman
Ralph Washington Sockman
Ralph Washington Sockman was the senior pastor of Christ Church in New York City, United States. He gained considerable prominence in the U.S...
, the minister of Christ Church Methodist, the church she attended in Manhattan.
As a teenager, she appeared in an Off-Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production, and also did modelling. With her dark red hair, green eyes, classic features, and tall, slender figure, she was popular on the runway, and often did print work. In 1959, Marie performed on Broadway as a showgirl in Gypsy starring Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman was an American actress and singer. Known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm", "Everything's...
. Marie continued to perform in Broadway shows in the 1960s and early 1970s including the 1966 production of Sweet Charity
Sweet Charity
Sweet Charity is a musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon. It was directed and choreographed for Broadway by Bob Fosse starring his wife and muse Gwen Verdon. It is based on Federico Fellini's screenplay for Nights of Cabiria...
in the role of "Ursula".
Dark Shadows
In 1968, Marie received national attention when she landed the first of three roles in the wildly popular Gothic soap opera Dark ShadowsDark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
produced by Dan Curtis
Dan Curtis
Dan Curtis was an American director and producer of television and film, probably best known for his miniseries The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, his afternoon TV series Dark Shadows, and the made for TV movie, . Dark Shadows originally aired from 1966 to 1971 and has aired in syndication...
. Her first appearance was on October 4, and she played the part of the diabolical Frankenstein-like monster "Eve". She would go on to play the demented gypsy "Jenny Collins", Marie's personal favorite character, who was notable for her unkempt mane of red hair, black lace dress, and hysterical, cackling laughter. Her last part in the series was "Megan Todd", an antique shopkeeper. Her final episode on the program was aired March 16, 1970. In 2009, she returned to the world of Dark Shadows in the series of audio dramas produced by Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
. In 2010 she reprised the role of "Jenny Collins" in The Doll House
The Doll House
Dark Shadows: The Doll House is a 2010 Big Finish Productions original dramatic reading based on the long-running American horror soap opera series Dark Shadows.-External links:*...
.
Later career
After Dark Shadows, Marie had a part as the delightfully evil "India Bishop Delaney" in SomersetSomerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
a soap opera spin—off from Another World. She continued to perform on Broadway,in soap operas, the theatre, and did many television commercials. In 1993, she played the part of Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages. As well as being Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, she was queen consort of France and of England...
in a stage production of The Lion In Winter
The Lion in Winter
-Synopsis:Set during Christmas 1183 at Henry II of England's château in Chinon, Anjou, Angevin Empire, the play opens with the arrival of Henry's wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, whom he has had imprisoned since 1173...
which was directed by her former Dark Shadows co-star Jonathan Frid
Jonathan Frid
John Herbert Frid is a theater, television, and film actor, best known for playing the role of vampire Barnabas Collins on the gothic television soap opera Dark Shadows.-Early Life:...
. She still occasionally performs to this day. Marie is also a photographer, and spends much time involved in charity work. Her longtime friend Ruth Buzzi
Ruth Buzzi
Ruth Ann Buzzi is an American comedienne and actress of theatre, film, and television. She is especially known for her performances on the comedy-variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1973.-Early life:...
described Marie as having "grace, beauty, intelligence, sincerity, and kindness". In 2005, her memoirs entitled On Stage and In Shadows was published.
Marie collaborated with freelance writer (and long-time Dark Shadows fan) Rod Labbe on an interview for Scary Monsters magazine, which was published in issue #77. Labbe will also be interviewing her for an upcoming issue of Fangoria magazine.
Personal life
In 1959, Marie married Gregory Pollock, a successful plastic surgeon who was also a former actor. The couple were devoted to one another, until his death in the early 1970s. She currently resides in New York City.External links
- Marie Wallace at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...