Shirley O'Hara

Shirley O'Hara (born Shirley Har,[1][2] August 15, 1924 – December 13, 2002) was an American actress. She appeared in numerous films from the 1940s to the 1980s.[3]

Shirley O'Hara
Born
Shirley Har

(1924-08-15)August 15, 1924
Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedDecember 13, 2002(2002-12-13) (aged 78)
Calabasas, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1943–1995
Spouse(s)Jimmy McHugh Jr. (divorced)
Milton Krims (m. ?–1988; his death)
Children1

Biography

O'Hara was born in Rochester, Minnesota, in 1924 and graduated from Rochester High School[2] in 1942.[1] As a high-school senior, she worked at three film theaters in downtown Rochester.[2]

After graduation, O'Hara moved to Hollywood. Her job as an elevator operator at Saks Fifth Avenue brought her in contact with people who worked with films,[2] and she signed with RKO Studios when she was 18 years old.[4] She began her acting career in 1943. Her film debut was in the Kay Kyser musical Around the World (1943).[1] Other films in which she appeared included Tarzan and the Amazons, The Chase, Higher and Higher and Ghost Ship (1952).[3]

O'Hara's figure led to her role in Ghost Ship, as the result of a process that was featured in the September 13, 1943, issue of Life. RKO held a competition to find the "shapeliest 'shadow girl'" for the role, because the leading lady in the film was seen only in silhouette.[5]

During World War II, she received the Support for America award, acknowledging her wartime efforts with the Hollywood Canteen.[3]

She also appeared in several TV series during the 1950s, including Fireside Theatre, Gunsmoke, The Millionaire, Racket Squad and Dragnet.[3] In 1970 O'Hara appeared as Mrs. Drew on the TV western The Virginian in the episode "The Mysterious Mr. Tate."

During the early 1970s, she was appointed director of public relations for The Burbank Studios. In 1973, she played Mrs. Malone, a night school teacher, on the season four episode "Two Wrongs Don't Make a Writer" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. O’Hara appeared on three episodes of the Bob Newhart Show (Season 2 "T.S. Eliot", Season 3 “Dr. Ryan’s Express” and Season 5 “Et tu, Carol”) as the ditzy temporary secretary, Debbie Flett. Her character continually called Bob Dr. Ryan instead of Dr. Hartley. Also, during the 1970s, she appeared in the films Duel (1971) and Rocky (1976). She was a member of the Publicists Guild. She retired in 1995.[3]

Personal life

O'Hara was married to Jimmy McHugh Jr., and they lived in England, where he headed the London branch of MCA Inc. They had one son, Jimmy McHugh III. Later she married Milton Krims.[3]

Death

On December 13, 2002, O'Hara died at the Motion Picture Hospital[4] in Calabasas, California, from complications of diabetes at the age of 78.[3]

TV and filmography

References
  1. Jones, Will (July 20, 1982). "'Shadow Girl', husband reflect on decades in Hollywood". Star Tribune. Minnesota, Minneapolis. p. 13. Retrieved December 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Weber, Thomas (November 10, 2020). "Then and Now: From Rochester to Hollywood". Post Bulletin. Minnesota, Rochester. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  3. "Shirley O'Hara Krims". Variety. December 16, 2002. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  4. "Obituaries: Shirley O'Hara Krims". Hollywood Reporter. December 18, 2002. p. 16. Retrieved December 4, 2020 – via ProQuest.
  5. "Speaking of Pictures". Life. September 13, 1943. pp. 18–20. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
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