Kate Manx was a beautiful and talented actress who starred in two low-budget films made by her then-husband Leslie Stevens, a television writer and director. She also appeared in several TV shows, such as Perry Mason, Stoney Burke, and The Littlest Hobo. However, behind her glamorous image, she was a troubled and unhappy woman who suffered from depression and drug addiction. On November 15, 1964, she took her own life by overdosing on sleeping pills. She was only 34 years old.
Early Life and Career
Kate Manx was born on October 19, 1930, in Akron, Ohio, as Kathryne Barbara Mylroie. She had a difficult childhood, as her father abandoned the family when she was young, and her mother remarried several times. She moved to New York City in her teens, where she worked as a model and a chorus girl. She also studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
She made her Broadway debut in 1951, in a musical comedy called Two on the Aisle, starring Bert Lahr and Dolores Gray. She married her first husband, Anthony Brady Farrell, a producer and director, in the same year. They divorced in 1958.
She met her second husband, Leslie Stevens, in 1957, when he cast her in a play he wrote and directed, called The Lovers. They married in 1958, and had a son, Leslie Stevens V, in 1959. Stevens was the creator of the TV series Stoney Burke, in which Manx played a recurring role. He also wrote and directed two films starring Manx, Private Property (1960) and Hero’s Island (1962). Both films were critically acclaimed, but failed to make a profit at the box office.
Personal Problems and Suicide
Manx’s marriage to Stevens was turbulent and unhappy. Stevens was reportedly abusive and controlling, and Manx felt insecure and isolated. She also developed a dependency on prescription drugs, such as barbiturates and amphetamines, to cope with her depression and anxiety. She attempted suicide several times, and was hospitalized for psychiatric treatment.
In 1964, Stevens filed for divorce, and Manx lost custody of their son. She became increasingly despondent and hopeless, and tried to kill herself again by slashing her wrists. She survived, but was left with scars on her arms. She moved to a small apartment in Torrance, California, where she lived alone.
On November 15, 1964, she took an overdose of sleeping pills, and was found unconscious by a friend who came to visit her. She was rushed to a hospital, but it was too late to save her. She was pronounced dead at 10:15 a.m. She left a note that read: “I’m sorry, Leslie. I love you. Please forgive me.”
Legacy and Rememberance
Kate Manx’s death was a shock to her fans and friends, who remembered her as a sweet and gentle person, who had a lot of potential as an actress. Her former co-stars, such as James Mason, Troy Donahue, and Jack Lord, expressed their sadness and sympathy for her tragic fate.
Her films, especially Private Property and Hero’s Island, have gained a cult following over the years, and are considered examples of independent cinema. Her performances have been praised for their naturalness and vulnerability, and have influenced other actresses, such as Sissy Spacek and Jessica Lange.
She is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, next to her son, who died in 1994, at the age of 35, from a heart attack.
