Mara Corday

Mara Corday, born Marilyn Joan Watts on January 3, 1930, in Santa Monica, California, was an American actress, model, and showgirl who rose to fame in the 1950s.

Corday began her entertainment career as a showgirl at the Earl Carroll Theatre in Hollywood at the age of 17, adopting the stage name "Mara Corday" — "Mara" from a nickname and "Corday" from a perfume brand. Her striking beauty led to modeling opportunities and eventually to a contract with Universal-International Pictures.

She became known for her roles in science fiction and Western films, notably starring in "Tarantula" (1955), "The Giant Claw" (1957), and "The Black Scorpion" (1957). Corday also appeared in Westerns such as "Drums Across the River" (1954) and "Man Without a Star" (1955).

In 1957, she married actor Richard Long, with whom she had three children. Following his death in 1974, her longtime friend Clint Eastwood helped revive her acting career, casting her in films like "The Gauntlet" (1977), "Sudden Impact" (1983), and "The Rookie" (1990).

Beyond acting, Corday was featured as Playboy's Playmate of the Month in October 1958.

She passed away on February 9, 2025, at the age of 95 .