Martha Vickers was a beautiful and talented actress who rose to fame in the 1940s, especially for her role as the troubled sister of Lauren Bacall in the film noir classic The Big Sleep. She had a promising career ahead of her, but it was cut short by her untimely death at the age of 46. What was the cause of her death and what were the circumstances surrounding it? Here is what we know.
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Early Life and Career
Martha Vickers was born as Martha MacVicar on May 28, 1925, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her father was an automobile dealer who moved the family to Hollywood when he took over an agency in Burbank, California. Martha was 15 at the time and soon began her career as a model and cover girl. She attracted the attention of producer David O. Selznick, who signed her to a contract, but did not give her any significant roles.
She then moved to Universal Studios, where she made her film debut in a small part in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943). She played minor roles in several other films, mostly horror and mystery genres, such as Captive Wild Woman (1943), The Mummy’s Ghost (1944), and The Falcon in Mexico (1944). She also appeared as a pin-up girl in magazines such as Yank: The Army Weekly during World War II.
Her big break came when she signed with Warner Bros., who gave her the role of Carmen Sternwood, the drug-addicted and promiscuous younger sister of Lauren Bacall’s character in The Big Sleep (1946), opposite Humphrey Bogart. She stole the show with her sultry and seductive performance, which earned her critical acclaim and public recognition. She followed this success with other films for Warner Bros., such as The Time, the Place and the Girl (1946), a musical comedy; The Man I Love (1947), a drama with Ida Lupino; That Way with Women (1947), a comedy with Dane Clark; and Love and Learn (1947), another musical comedy.
Personal Life and Marriages
Martha Vickers was known for her beauty and charm, which attracted many admirers and suitors. She dated several celebrities, such as actor James Stewart and director Frederick De Cordova. She also married three times, but none of her marriages lasted long.
Her first husband was A.C. Lyles, a film producer who worked for Paramount Pictures. They married on March 15, 1948, but divorced on September 28, 1948, after only six months.
Her second husband was Mickey Rooney, one of the most popular and prolific actors of his time. They married on June 3, 1949, after a whirlwind romance. They had one son together, Teddy Rooney, who was born on April 13, 1950. However, their marriage was troubled by Rooney’s alcoholism, infidelity, and career decline. They divorced on September 25, 1951.
Her third husband was Manuel Rojas, a Chilean polo player and actor who co-starred with Anthony Quinn in The Magnificent Matador (1955). They married on September 1, 1954, and had two daughters together, Maria Christina Rojas (born in 1955) and Maria Teresa Rojas (born in 1957). Their marriage also ended in divorce on May 5, 1965.
Later Career and Death
Martha Vickers’ film career faded in the 1950s, as she struggled to find good roles and projects. She made only a few films during this decade, such as Ruthless (1948), a drama with Zachary Scott; Bad Boy (1949), a drama with Audie Murphy; Alimony (1949), a crime film; The Big Bluff (1955), a film noir; Four Fast Guns (1960), a western; and The Rebel Set (1960), a crime film.
She also appeared on television shows, such as Perry Mason , The Rebel , Mike Hammer , and Hawaiian Eye . Her last screen appearance was in an episode of The Rebel , titled “The Actress”, which aired on June 12, 1960.
In the early 1970s, Martha Vickers was diagnosed with esophageal cancer , a type of cancer that affects the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. She underwent surgery and radiation therapy , but the cancer spread to other parts of her body. She died on November 2, 1971, at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles , California. She was only 46 years old.
She was buried at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood , California. Her grave is marked with a simple plaque that reads “Martha Vickers Rojas – Beloved Mother”.
Legacy and Influence
Martha Vickers was a talented and versatile actress who could play both comedy and drama, as well as sing and dance. She is best remembered for her role as Carmen Sternwood in The Big Sleep, which is considered one of the greatest film noir movies of all time. She brought a captivating and complex character to life, who was both innocent and corrupt, naive and manipulative, vulnerable and dangerous.
She influenced many other actresses who played similar roles, such as Kim Novak in Vertigo (1958), Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct (1992), and Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl (2014). She also inspired many artists and writers, such as Bob Dylan , who wrote a song titled “Martha Vickers” in 1965, and James Ellroy , who wrote a novel titled The Big Nowhere (1988), which features a character named Martha Vickers.
Martha Vickers was a star who shone brightly but briefly, leaving behind a legacy of beauty, talent, and mystery. According to Wikipedia , she was “one of Hollywood’s most underrated actresses”.
