How Brigid Bazlen’s Cause of Death at 44 was Utterly Tragic

Brigid Bazlen was a promising young actress who starred in three Hollywood films in the early 1960s. She was hailed as the next Elizabeth Taylor and the new American Bardot. However, her career and her life were cut short by her death from cancer at the age of 44. In this article, we will explore the life and death of Brigid Bazlen, and how her tragic fate affected her family and fans.

Early Life and Career

Brigid Mary Bazlen was born on June 9, 1944, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA. She was the daughter of Arthur Bazlen, a retail chain executive, and Maggie Daly, a newspaper columnist with Chicago’s American. Maggie Daly was one of the celebrated Daly sisters, who were known for their writing and work in journalism, fashion and advertising. Life magazine ran two feature stories on the sisters with a young Bazlen appearing in the second.

Bazlen was discovered at the age of 6 by an NBC executive who was looking for a child actress for the soap opera Hawkins Falls, Population 6200. She won the part and became a regular on the show for two years, winning rave reviews. She also starred in the children’s program The Blue Fairy, which was one of the earliest shows to be produced in color. She played the role of the Blue Fairy, who lived in the Blue Forest and granted wishes to children.

Hollywood Breakthrough

In 1960, Bazlen moved to Hollywood with her mother and signed a contract with MGM. She made her film debut in The Honeymoon Machine, a comedy starring Steve McQueen and Jim Hutton. She played the role of Julie Fitch, a young woman who falls in love with a naval officer. The film was a moderate success, but Bazlen received positive notices for her performance.

Her next film was King of Kings, a biblical epic directed by Nicholas Ray. She played the role of Salome, the seductive daughter of Herodias, who dances for Herod Antipas and asks for the head of John the Baptist. Bazlen’s portrayal of Salome was controversial, as she wore a revealing costume and performed a sensual dance. The film was a box office flop, but Bazlen’s performance was praised by some critics and condemned by others.

Her third and final film was How the West Was Won, a sprawling western that featured an all-star cast, including James Stewart, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Gregory Peck, Debbie Reynolds, and many others. Bazlen played the role of Dora Hawkins, a young woman who marries a gambler and travels west with him. The film was a huge hit and won three Academy Awards. Bazlen’s performance was well received, and she was considered as a rising star in Hollywood.

Personal Life and Retirement

Bazlen married twice in her life. Her first husband was Jean-Paul Vignon, a French singer and actor, whom she met on the set of The Honeymoon Machine. They married in 1966, when Bazlen was 22 and Vignon was 31. They had a daughter, Marguerite, in 1967. However, their marriage was short-lived, and they divorced in 1968.

Her second husband was Marlin Greene, a record producer and musician, whom she met in 1969. They married in 1972, when Bazlen was 28 and Greene was 36. They moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where Greene worked with artists such as Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. Bazlen retired from acting and devoted herself to her family and her hobbies, such as painting and gardening.

Death and Legacy

Bazlen moved to Seattle, Washington, in the late 1980s, and spent the latter part of her life caring for her mother, who had developed a tumor on her left leg that led to an amputation. Bazlen was a heavy smoker and her health began to decline as she entered her mid-40s. She was diagnosed with cancer and died on May 25, 1989, at the age of 44. She was survived by her husband, her daughter, her father, and her three sisters.

Bazlen’s death was a shock to her fans and the film industry, as she had been out of the public eye for many years. She was remembered as a talented and beautiful actress who had a promising career ahead of her, but who chose to leave it behind for a simpler life. Her films have been re-released and restored over the years, and she has gained a cult following among film buffs and historians. She is also regarded as one of the most tragic figures in Hollywood history, whose life and death were utterly tragic.

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