biography
Born Marlene English in San Diego on January 4, 1934, actress Marla English began her career in show business as a teen model in the late 1940s. After
winning a local beauty contest, she signed a contract with Paramount Studios in 1952 upon graduating from high school at $150 per week. Paramount brought English
along slowly, putting her in bit parts in such films as Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954; with James Stewart) and Yankee Pasha
(1954; with Jeff Chandler, Rhonda Fleming, and Mamie Van Doren). 
Mid 1950s cheesecake photos of actress Marla English
Paramount loaned English out in 1954 for her first credited role in the United Artists film noir release Shield for Murder (1954; with
John Agar and Edmond O'Brien). But when English backed out of the Paramount adventure The Mountain (1956; with Spencer
Tracy and Robert Wagner), the studio dropped her contract. For the remainder of her career, English starred in such films as the actioner Hell's Horizon
(1955; with John Ireland, Bill Williams, and Hugh Beaumont), the noir thriller Three Bad Sisters
(1956; with Kathleen Hughes and John Bromfield), and the noir A Strange Adventure (1956; with Joan Evans and Ben Cooper. Today,
English is best remembered for her cult horror films, including The She-Creature (1956; with Chester Morris and Tom Conway) and Voodoo Woman (1957; with
Mike Connors and Lance Fuller), which was her final film. |
the films of marla englishShield for Murder (1954)Desert Sands (1955)Hell's Horizon (1955)
With John Ireland in the Columbia war drama Hell's HorizonA Strange Adventure (1956) 
From the Republic crime thriller A Strange Adventure. LEFT: With Joan Evans and Ben Cooper. RIGHT: With Ben Cooper and Nick AdamsThree Bad Sisters (1956)
From the campy United Artists drama Three Bad Sisters with Kathleen Hughes and Sara ShaneRunaway Daughters (1956)
From American International's teen angst drama Runaway DaughtersFlesh and the Spur (1957) 
From the American International western Flesh and the Spur. LEFT: English as Wild Willow. RIGHT: With John Agar and Mike ConnorsVoodoo Woman (1957) 
LEFT: With Mike Connors in the American International horror flick Voodoo Woman. RIGHT: With costar Lance Fullerlater years
After a brief first marriage to actor Richard Shannon in 1953 and a lengthy relationship with actor Larry Pennell, in August 1956 Marla English
married San Diego business owner Paul Sutherland. Her final film role came in American International's horror flick Voodoo Woman (1957; with Tom
Conway, Mike Connors, and Lance Fuller), which she completed shortly after her marriage.
English never resumed her film career and was happy to walk away from the limelight and raise a family. Sadly, Marla English passed away on December 10,
2012, at the age of 78. She was survived by her husband, a stepdaughter, three sons, her mother, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. |
filmographyFILM
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marla english television appearancesmarla english film now showing |
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