Marie Wilson: Hollywood's Ultimate "Dumb Blonde"

"Someday I wish someone would offer me a different kind of role," lamented Marie Wilson. "My closest friends admit that whenever they tell someone they know me, they have to convince them that I'm really not dumb. To tell you the truth I think people are disappointed I'm not."

Marie Wilson was Hollywood's ultimate dumb blonde from early movie roles to the radio program bringing her stardom, "My Friend Irma." There has always been dumb blondes but none so establishing the classic stereotype as the 39-23-38 Wilson and the actress was forever identified with the typecast. However, Wilson attained the Hollywood success she always desired.

Stardom did not arrive quickly. Wilson was 31 when "My Friend Irma" became a hit. She was born Katherine Elizabeth Wilson on August 19, 1916 in Anaheim, California and her parents divorced when she was seven months old. Father Wally Wilson died when she was five and left her $11,000 in trust. Stepfather Frank White raised Wilson.

At 19, Wilson convinced her mother to allow her to use the trust money in pursuit of a Hollywood career. The family moved to Hollywood where Wilson quickly spent all of the money on a house, car and mink coat. Wilson briefly worked in a toy department, got some extra work and landed a comedy screen test at MGM. That test let to a Warner Brothers contract in 1935. Wilson desired straight roles but Jack L. Warner only envisioned her in sexy parts.

The studio put Wilson to work in supporting roles in "Broadway Hostess" (1935), "Stars Over Broadway" (1935), "Colleen" (1936), "China Clipper" (1936) and "The Great Garrick" (1937). In "Satan Met a Lady" (a 1936 version of Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon"), Warren William played Sam Spade and Wilson his scatterbrained secretary. Wilson's first husband, Nick Grinde, directed her in "Public Wedding" (1937).