Marjorie Zier

Born: Feb 3, 1909
nationality: American

Biography

About Marjorie Zier

Edited by the community

Marjorie Zier was an American actress who appeared in silent and early sound films. Born Marjorie June Zier on February 3, 1909, in Hennepin, Minnesota, she was the daughter of Harrison Zier, a car salesman. In 1920, the family moved to Los Angeles, California, where Marjorie began taking dance lessons and dreamed of becoming an actress. At sixteen, she dropped out of high school and made her film debut in the silent drama The Ancient Mariner. She was later discovered by producer Mack Sennett, who hired her as one of his bathing beauties. The lovely brunette appeared in numerous films, including Pass The Dumplings, A Dozen Socks, and A Racing Rodea. Her final film was the 1930 comedy Rough Idea Of Love, and her acting career never took off.

Her personal life was marked by a series of marriages and challenges. In 1925, she eloped with Danny Dowling, a cafe entertainer. The marriage was annulled after he became abusive. On August 17, 1929, she married Hugh Pickering, a Chicago millionaire; they divorced two years later. In 1934, she married J. Richard Van Conover, a wealthy oil man, and filed for divorce in 1939 claiming he beat her. Her fourth marriage, to meat packing heir Michael Cudahy, lasted just three months.

By the early 1940s, Marjorie had developed a serious drinking problem and worked as a flight hostess for TWA. She began a relationship with Stanley Wassil, a real estate agent who was also an alcoholic, and their relationship turned abusive. On the evening of March 8, 1952, they fought, and he beat her badly. The next day, March 9, she died from her injuries at age forty-three. Stanley confessed to police, "I pushed her in the face and her head slammed against the wall. I didn't intend to kill her." He served only one year in jail. She was buried in an unmarked grave at Angelus Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Profile details

Personal

Died: Sunday 9th of March 1952 (age 43)
Birthplace: United States
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Sexuality: Straight

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate this profile

Frequently asked

How many times was Marjorie Zier married?

She was married four times: to Danny Dowling (annulled), Hugh Pickering (divorced), J. Richard Van Conover (divorced), and Michael Cudahy (divorced).

What led to the end of Marjorie Zier's acting career?

Her acting career never took off, and her final film was the 1930 comedy Rough Idea Of Love, after which she did not appear in further films.

What was the outcome of Stanley Wassil's confession?

Stanley Wassil confessed to striking Marjorie, but he served only one year in jail for her death.

Did you know

Marjorie Zier was a Mack Sennett bathing beauty and appeared in films such as Pass The Dumplings and A Dozen Socks.
Her marriage to Danny Dowling was annulled due to his abusive behavior.
She worked as a flight hostess for TWA later in life.
She was buried in an unmarked grave at Angelus Rosedale Cemetery.