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Lynn Merrick

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Lynn Merrick
Publicity Photo of Lynn Merrick
Born
Marilyn Llewelling

(1919-11-19)November 19, 1919
DiedMarch 25, 2007(2007-03-25) (aged 87)
OccupationActress
Years active1940–1955
Spouses
(m. 1945; div. 1948)
Robert Goelet, Jr.
(m. 1949; div. 1956)
FamilyGoelet family

Lynn Merrick (born Marilyn Llewelling;[1] November 19, 1919 – March 25, 2007) was an American actress who appeared in over 40 films during the 1940s, mainly for Columbia and Republic Studios.

Early life

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Merrick was born Marilyn Llewelling on November 19, 1919 in Fort Worth, Texas.[1]

Career

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In the 1930s, she studied acting and worked as a model after moving to California.[2]

In 1940, she was one of thirteen women selected by the Motion Picture Publicists Association as a "Baby Star", a selection process which was meant to highlight the most promising new film stars.[3] She made the bulk of her films during the 1940s, starring in 22 feature films for Republic Pictures; 16 of these were Don Barry westerns.

Her first Barry film was Two Gun Sheriff, and her last was Fugitive from Sonora. She later worked for Columbia Pictures, where she starred in films alongside Richard Dix, Chester Morris, and Warner Baxter. Merrick retired from films after Escape from Terror (1955),[2] starring and directed by Jackie Coogan.

In 1948, Merrick and her husband at the time, Conrad Nagel, appeared in summer stock theater in Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut.[4] After retiring from acting, Merrick was an executive with the Barbizon School of Modeling.[2]

Personal life

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She was married and divorced twice. Her first marriage was to Nagel. They received an interlocutory decree on March 26, 1947,[5] and the divorce became final on August 26, 1948.[6]

On October 26, 1949, she wed producer Robert Goelet, Jr. in Europe.[4] Both unions were childless. In 1950, Merrick received emergency treatment at Santa Monical Hospital after taking an overdose of sleeping pills. A news story distributed by International News Service described the overdose as "the climax to a spat with her husband, wealthy Robert Goelet."[7]

Merrick was of the Baptist faith.[8]

Death

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Merrick died on March 25, 2007, aged 87, at her home in West Palm Beach, Florida from undisclosed causes.[9]

She was cremated with her ashes scattered.[10]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1940 'Til We Meet Again Fussy Woman's Daughter Uncredited
Dr. Christian Meets the Women Kity Browning (as Marilyn Merrick)
Flight Angels Marilyn (as Marilyn Merrick)
Ragtime Cowboy Joe Mary Curtiss (as Marilyn Merrick)
1941 A Missouri Outlaw Virginia Randall
Death Valley Outlaws Carolyn Johnson
The Apache Kid Barbara Taylor
Kansas Cyclone Martha Ming
Desert Bandit Sue Martin
The Gay Vagabond Betty Dixon
Two Gun Sheriff Ruth Norton
Sis Hopkins Phyllis
1942 Outlaws of Pine Ridge Ann Hollister
The Sombrero Kid Dorothy Russell
The Cyclone Kid Mary Phillips
Jesse James, Jr. Joan Perry
Stageeoach Express Ellen Bristol
Arizona Terrors Lila Adams
Youth on Parade Emmy Lou Piper
1943 Doughboys in Ireland Gloria Gold
Days of Old Cheyenne Nancy Carlyle
Dangerous Blondes Mary Ralston
Is Everybody Happy? Ann
Fugitive from Sonora Dixie Martin
Carson City Cyclone Linda Wade
Dead Man's Gulch Mary Logan
Mountain Rhythm Linda Weaver
The Crime Doctor's Strangest Case Ellen Trotter
1944 Meet Miss Bobby Socks Helen Taylor
Nine Girls Eve Sharon
Stars on Parade Dorothy Dean
Swing Out the Blues Penelope Carstairs
1945 A Guy, a Gal and a Pal Helen Carter
Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion Constance Gloria Mannard
Voice of the Whistler Joan Martin Sinclair
The Blonde from Brooklyn Susan Parker aka Susanna Bellwither
1946 Dangerous Business Lizbeth Ellsworth
A Close Call for Boston Blackie Geraldine 'Gerry' Peyton
1948 I Love Trouble Mrs. Johnson
1954 Escape from Terror Lee Brooks (final film role)

References

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  1. ^ a b Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. p. 511. ISBN 9781476625997. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Lentz, Harris M. III (2008). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2007: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. ISBN 9780786434817. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  3. ^ "Wampus Baby Star Surprised By Her Selection". Ames Daily Tribune. Iowa, Ames. April 17, 1941. p. 15. Retrieved June 6, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ a b "Lynn Merrick Weds Robert Goelet Jr". Joplin Globe. Missouri, Joplin. Associated Press. October 30, 1949. p. 7. Retrieved July 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "Divorces". Billboard. May 17, 1947. p. 47. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  6. ^ "Actress Lynn Merrick Severs Marriage Tie". The Ottawa Journal. Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Associated Press. August 27, 1948. p. 21. Retrieved July 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ "Lynn Merrick Recovering From Sleeping Tablets". Long Beach Independent. California, Long Beach. International News Service. March 26, 1950. p. 38. Retrieved July 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ Morning News, January 10, 1948, Who Was Who in America (Vol. 2).
  9. ^ McLellan, Dennis (April 2, 2007). "Lynn Merrick, 85; B-western actress appeared in over 40 movies in the 1940s". LA Times.
  10. ^ Wilson, Scott (September 16, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. ISBN 9781476625997 – via Google Books.
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