Marie McDonald

Marie McDonald (born Cora Marie Frye) was an American singer from Burgin, Kentucky. She started her career at a young age, participating in beauty pageants and gaining attention as "The Queen of Coney Island" and "Miss New York State." She ventured into show business by debuting in George White's Scandals of 1939 and landed roles in Broadway productions and Hollywood films. McDonald earned the nickname "The Body" for her attractive figure and became a popular pin-up girl during World War II. Despite initial success, McDonald faced professional challenges and sought recognition for her acting and singing abilities. She switched studios, moving from Universal to Paramount and later to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Columbia Pictures. Throughout her career, she also faced personal challenges, including multiple marriages and romances that kept her in the media spotlight. One of the most notable incidents in her life was a controversial kidnapping claim. McDonald reported being abducted by two men who demanded a ransom, but the police found inconsistencies in her story, leading to no conclusive evidence or charges. In October 1965, her sixth husband, Donald F. Taylor, found her dead in their California home. The coroner attributed her death to "active drug intoxication due to multiple drugs", later determined to be accidental rather than suicide. Her three surviving children were raised by former husband Harry Karl and his wife Debbie Reynolds.