- Born
- Died
- Marilyn Harris was a child actress from San Fernando, California. She was active from the early 1930s to the early 1940s, retiring from the profession at age 19. She is primarily remembered for playing the tragic character of Little Maria in the classic horror film "Frankenstein" (1931). Her character briefly befriends Frankenstein's monster (played by Boris Karloff), being the only person to treat him with kindness. The monster soon misinterprets the rules of a children's game, throwing Maria into the waters of a lake and accidentally causing her death by drowning.
In 1924, Harris was born in San Fernando, California. Soon after her birth, she was placed in an orphanage located in Los Angeles. When she was only a month-old, the young girl was adopted by the Harris family. Her adoptive mother was a failed actress, and hoped that her daughter would get a chance at stardom. In later interviews, Harris recalled that her "stage mother" was physically and emotionally abusive.
As an infant, Harris reportedly appeared as an extra in a film featuring the dog actor Rin Tin Tin. By 1930, she started regularly appearing in films. She had a bit part in the western "The Big Trail" (1930), which featured a caravan of settlers in an attempt to cross the Oregon Trail. "Frankenstein" (1931) was her first credited role, and the first where she had speaking lines. Her scenes are considered a highlight of the film.
In her subsequent films, Harris was often an uncredited extra. Her next credited film appearance was in the drama film "A Wicked Woman" (1934). She played the character of Rosanne as a child, while Jean Parker played the older version of the character. In the war film "The Road Back" (1937), Harris played Maria, the sister of Ernst (one of the film's main characters). The film focused on German veterans of World War I, who had trouble adjusting to civilian life.
After a hiatus of her film career from 1937 to 1943, Harris resumed working in films. She was again reduced to working as an extra. To supplement her income, worked as a cashier at the theater "Hollywood Palladium". She started dating the bouncer Wally Watkins, and they were married in 1944. She decided to retire from acting, and spend the subsequent decades as a housewife.
In 1981, Harris was widowed when Wally Watkins died. She then married her second husband, Carl. In 1988, Harris was widowed again. She never remarried. In the 1990s, Harris appeared in a number of interviews about her film career. By that time, she was struggling with cancer. She died in December 1999, at the age of 75. She was the last surviving member cast member of "Frankenstein".
While Harris is long gone, she is fondly remembered by horror fans for her supporting role in one the of the best horror films of Universal Pictures. While she never achieved the stardom which her mother wanted for her, she has had enduring fame. Enough for her to be the subject of biographical articles and book chapters, published long after her heyday.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Dimos I
- SpousesWally Watkins(1944 - 1981) (his death, 1 child)? Wood
- After several takes of Harris's being thrown into the water by the monster in "Frankenstein," it was discovered that one last take was necessary, and director James Whale promised Marilyn, a good swimmer, anything she wanted if she would do the take one more time. She asked for her favorite snack: one dozen hard-boiled eggs. Whale gave her two dozen.
- During production of Frankenstein (1931) there was some concern that seven-year-old Marilyn Harris, who played Maria, the little girl thrown into the lake by the creature, would be overly frightened by the sight of Boris Karloff in costume and make-up when it came time to shoot the scene. When the cast was assembled to travel to the location, Marilyn ran from her car directly up to Karloff, who was in full make-up and costume, took his hand and asked "May I drive with you?" Delighted, and in typical Karloff fashion, he responded, "Would you, darling?" She then rode to the location with "The Monster".
- According to Harris, she was adopted by an overbearing stage mother.
- Harris learned later that she had appeared in an undetermined Rin-Tin-Tin movie when she was only one month old.
- Made her way into film history as the little girl accidentally drowned by the Frankenstein monster (as played by Boris Karloff) in the 1931 film "Frankenstein".
- Boris Karloff was a very sweet, wonderful man, and I just loved him. Immediately, from being on the lot, and taking his hand, I just loved him. I had no fear of him, whatsoever. We seemed to have a rapport together-and it was like magic.
- [on not doing personal appearances] As far as Frankenstein goes, I have a theory: that people remember the sweet, innocent little girl. And I think its cruel to put an older woman up there. It would destroy it for me, and I don't think its fair. That little girl should be remembered as she was - loving, and trusting. That's my belief.
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