Marilyn Johnson Tucker was a talented actress who appeared in several movies in the 1940s and 1950s, most notably as Rita Hayworth’s friend in Tonight and Every Night (1945). She was also the second wife of actor Forrest Tucker, best known for his role as Sgt. Morgan O’Rourke in the TV series F Troop.
Early Life and Career
Marilyn Johnson was born on September 19, 1922, in Detroit, Michigan. She started her acting career in the early 1940s, and soon landed roles in films such as The Racket Man (1944), Wife Decoy (1945), and The Blonde from Brooklyn (1945). She also appeared in several musicals, such as Ten Cents a Dance (1945) and Two Tickets to Broadway (1951).
She married Forrest Tucker in 1951, after he divorced his first wife, Sandra Jolley. They had two children, Pamela and Forrest Jr. The couple was happy and devoted, despite Forrest’s frequent absences due to his work. Marilyn supported her husband’s career and often accompanied him on his tours and travels.
Death and Legacy
Marilyn Johnson Tucker died on July 19, 1960, at the age of 37, in Beverly Hills, California. The cause of death was rheumatic heart disease, a condition that affects the heart valves and can lead to heart failure. She had been suffering from the disease for several years, and had undergone surgery in 1959. She was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in San Bernardino, California.
Her death was a devastating blow for Forrest Tucker, who was deeply in love with her. He later said that she was the only woman he ever loved, and that he never recovered from her loss. He remarried twice, but both marriages ended in divorce. He died of lung cancer in 1986, at the age of 67.
Marilyn Johnson Tucker was a beautiful and talented actress who left behind a legacy of films and memories. She was also a loving wife and mother who gave her all to her family. She is remembered as one of the stars of Hollywood’s golden era, and as a tragic victim of a heart disease that cut her life short.
