Virginia Clara Jones was born on November 30, 1920 in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the daughter of a newspaper reporter and his wife. The family had a rich heritage in the St. Louis area. Her great, great, great, grandfather served in the American Revolution and later founded the city of East St. Louis, Illinois which is located right across the Mississippi River from it's namesake.
Virginia had been interested in show business from an early age. Her aunt operated a dance studio and Virginia began taking lessons at the age of six. After graduating from high school in 1937, she became a member of the St. Louis Municipal Opera before she was signed to a contract by Samuel Goldwyn after being spotted by an MGM talent scout during a Broadway revue.
David O. Selznick gave Virginia a screen test, but decided she wouldn't fit into films. Goldwyn, however, discovered that her talent as an actress was there and cast her in a small role in 1943's JACK LONDON. She, later, had a walk-on part in FOLLIES GIRL that same year.
Virginia's beauty readily apparent, producers thought it was time to give her bigger and better roles.
In 1944, she was cast as Princess Margaret in THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE, with Bob Hope, and one year later appeared as Ellen Shavley in WONDER MAN. Her popularity increasing with every appearance, Virginia was cast in two more films in 1946, THE KID FROM BROOKLYN, with Danny Kaye, and THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, with Dana Andrews. Virginia's roles may have been coming in slowly, but with each one she improved upon her popularity.
Finally in 1947, she struck pay dirt with a plum assignment in the well-received movie, THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY as Rosalind van Hoorn. (That same year, Virginia married Michael O'Shea and would remain with him until his death in 1973. The union produced a daughter, Mary Catherine, in 1953). The striking beauty had still more plum roles in the 1950's. Parts in BACKFIRE (1950), STARLIFT (1951), SHE'S WORKING HER WAY THROUGH COLLEGE (1952), and SOUTH SEA WOMAN (1953), all showed she was still a force to be reckoned with.
By the end of that busy decade Virginia had begun to slow down with fewer parts on the silver screen. She had four roles in the 1960's and four more in the following decade. Her last role was as Janet Wilson in 1990's EVIL SPIRITS.
On January 17, 2005, Virginia Mayo died of pneumonia in a California nursing home. She was 84.
Check out these Virginia Mayo pics!
Virginia Pic 1
Virginia Pic 2
Virginia Pic 3
Virginia Pic 4
Virginia Pic 5
Virginia Pic 6
Virginia Pic 7
Click here to go to Tallulah Bankhead
Virginia Mayo is at long last writing the story of her life. It will be a collaborative effort as told to LC Van Savage. The name of the book will be THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE, BY VIRGINIA MAYO AS TOLD TO LC VAN SAVAGE.
This book will be available in late l999 or early 2000 and will be published by The Robins House, 727 Thorn St., Mt. Home, AR 72653, 870/424-2191.
Be watching this site or LC's (www.vansavage.com) for the announcement that this book is available.
For any further information you may need or if you have any questions, you may contact LC Van Savage at lc@vansavage.com, or check her website.
My heartfelt thanks to LC Van Savage for pic nos. 5,6,& 7. The last one is the one LC had Miss Mayo sign for me while she was in California interviewing Miss Mayo for her upcoming book. It would be a good idea to reserve your copy now by emailing Mrs. Van Savage at lc@vansavage.com
© 1998 Denny C. Jackson dejackso@iglou.com
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