Happy Centennial Birthday, Margia Dean!

Actress Margia Dean will celebrate her 100th birthday on April 7, 2022.

Margia was born Marguerite Skliris in Chicago, Illinois, in 1922, and moved to California at a young age. Under her birth name, Marguerite Skliris, she won the Miss California title, going on to be a runner-up for Miss America.

Marguerite's film career began in 1944 under her new professional name, Margia Dean; she appeared in films for the next two decades.

Many of the films in the first years of Margia's career were bit roles in films for Lippert Pictures; Lippert films have given me a lot of viewing pleasure, and I love that Margia contributed to them.

Periodically in the '40s she had more substantial roles, such as the saloon gal in RIMFIRE (1949) for Screen Guild Productions with James Millican and Reed Hadley. 

Later in her career, Westerns offered Margia bigger opportunities. Among her notable Westerns were THE LONESOME TRAIL (1955) with Wayne Morris and John Agar, BADLANDS OF MONTANA (1957) with Rex Reason and Beverly Garland, AMBUSH AT CIMARRON PASS (1958) with Scotty Brady and Clint Eastwood, and VILLA! (1958) with Brian Keith and Cesar Romero. Margia also contributed her musical talents to VILLA!, composing music and singing.

She's seen below with Scott Brady in AMBUSH AT CIMARRON PASS, which I'm hoping to review for my Western Roundup column at Classic Movie Hub in the next few weeks. It's rather wonderful that two stars of that film, Margia and Clint Eastwood, are still with us in 2022! (Update: Here's my Classic Movie Hub review of AMBUSH AT CIMARRON PASS.)

With Brian Donlevy in THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT (1955);

Her final film was MORO WITCH DOCTOR (1964) opposite Jock Mahoney.

Some years ago Margia did a wonderful interview with Mike Fitzgerald for Western Clippings in which she shared her film career memories at some length, including impressions of various costars. It's an enjoyable and interesting read which I recommend.

Margia's post-film career found her engaged in varied business endeavors. She married Felipe Alvarez in 1965, and they've now been married over 56 years.

I recently had the pleasure of corresponding with Felipe, who told me that Margia is in excellent health and enjoys reading, playing cards, and watching television.

Happiest centennial birthday wishes to Margia Dean!

Previously reviewed films in which Margia Dean appeared: I SHOT JESSE JAMES (1949), RIMFIRE (1949), WESTERN PACIFIC AGENT (1950), MOTOR PATROL (1950), HI-JACKED (1950), FINGERPRINTS DON'T LIE (1951), FBI GIRL (1951), TAKE CARE OF MY LITTLE GIRL (1951).

Reviewed for Classic Movie Hub: FRONTIER GAMBLER (1956), AMBUSH AT CIMARRON PASS (1958).

July 2023 Update: I'm sorry to announce that Margia Dean has passed away at the age of 101.

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