Margaret Sheridan was an American actress who rose to fame in the early 1950s, thanks to her role as Nikki Nicholson in the science fiction classic The Thing from Another World. She was discovered by director Howard Hawks, who believed she was the most promising actress of her era. However, her career did not live up to the expectations, and she died at the young age of 55 from lung cancer. In this article, we will explore the life and death of Margaret Sheridan, and how lung cancer robbed her of her potential.
Contents
Early Life and Discovery by Howard Hawks
Margaret Elizabeth Sheridan was born on October 29, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. She was the daughter of Thomas Galligan Sheridan, Sr., and Julia P. Sheridan. She attended college in Los Angeles, where she was spotted by Howard Hawks, a renowned director who had made films such as Scarface, Bringing Up Baby, and His Girl Friday. Hawks was impressed by her beauty and talent, and offered her a contract with RKO Pictures. He also gave her acting lessons and groomed her for stardom.
Turning Down Red River and Accepting The Thing from Another World
In 1947, Sheridan married William F. Pattison, a professional airline pilot. The same year, Hawks offered her the female lead opposite John Wayne in the 1948 film Red River, a western epic that is considered one of the best films of all time. However, Sheridan turned down the role because she was pregnant with her first child. She later regretted this decision, as the role went to Joanne Dru, who became a star after the film’s success.
In 1951, Hawks gave Sheridan another chance to prove herself. He cast her as Nikki Nicholson, a journalist who accompanies a group of scientists and soldiers to investigate a crashed alien spacecraft in the Arctic. The film was The Thing from Another World, a science fiction horror film that is widely regarded as one of the best films of the genre. Sheridan delivered a memorable performance as the smart and sassy heroine who falls in love with the leader of the expedition, played by Kenneth Tobey. The film was a hit with critics and audiences alike, and Sheridan received praise for her role.
Career Decline and Personal Problems
Despite the success of The Thing from Another World, Sheridan’s career did not take off as expected. She appeared in only three more films: One Minute to Zero (1952), a war drama with Robert Mitchum; I, the Jury (1953), a film noir based on Mickey Spillane’s novel; and Pride of the Blue Grass (1954), a family film about a racehorse. None of these films were very successful or memorable, and Sheridan failed to make an impression on Hollywood.
Sheridan also faced difficulties in her personal life. She divorced Pattison in 1952, after having two children with him. She then married Paul Wellington Wildman in 1953, with whom she had another child. However, this marriage also ended in divorce in 1954. Sheridan retired from acting after Pride of the Blue Grass, and focused on raising her three children.
Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Death
In the early 1980s, Sheridan was diagnosed with lung cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments, but they were not effective. She died on May 1, 1982, at the age of 55, in Orange, California. She was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.
Sheridan’s death was mourned by her fans and colleagues, who remembered her as a talented and beautiful actress who deserved more recognition. Howard Hawks said that she was “not the same girl” he had discovered in college, and that if she had taken the role in Red River, her career would have flourished.
Conclusion
Margaret Sheridan was an actress who had a promising start in Hollywood, but could not sustain it due to various factors. She is best known for her role as Nikki Nicholson in The Thing from Another World, a film that has become a cult classic among science fiction fans. She died from lung cancer at the age of 55, leaving behind a legacy of what could have been.
