Susan Morrow was an American actress who rose to fame in the 1950s with roles in films such as The Savage, Cat-Women of the Moon, and Macabre. She also appeared in popular TV shows such as Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, and Maverick. However, her career faded in the 1960s and she retired from acting at the age of 29. She died on May 8, 1985, 17 days before her 53rd birthday. But what was the cause of her death and what happened to her after she left Hollywood?
Early Life and Career
Susan Morrow was born as Jacqueline Ann Teresa Bernadette Immoor on May 25, 1932, in Teaneck, New Jersey. She was the elder sister of Judith Exner, who later became notorious for her alleged affairs with President John F. Kennedy and mobster Sam Giancana. Her family moved to North Hollywood, California, when she was 13. She graduated from North Hollywood High School.
Morrow’s screen debut came in Gasoline Alley (1951), a comedy based on a long-running comic strip. She played Hope Wallet, the girlfriend of the main character Corky Wallet. She reprised her role in the sequel Corky of Gasoline Alley (1951). She also had a supporting role in On the Loose (1951), a drama about two rebellious teenage girls.
Morrow’s breakthrough came in 1952 when she co-starred with Charlton Heston in The Savage, a western film about a white man raised by Sioux Indians. She played Tally Hathersall, a frontier woman who falls in love with Heston’s character. The film was a box office success and earned Morrow favorable reviews.
Morrow continued to work in various genres, including adventure, mystery, horror, and science fiction. Some of her notable films were The Blazing Forest (1952), Problem Girls (1953), Canadian Mounties vs Atomic Invaders (1953), Body Beautiful (1953), Cat-Women of the Moon (1953), Man of Conflict (1953), Battle Cry (1955), and Macabre (1958).
Morrow also made guest appearances on several TV shows, such as The Loretta Young Show, Sea Hunt, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, Bronco, Maverick, and Lawman. Her last TV role was in 1960 on Lawman, where she played Connie Coleman, a woman who tries to seduce Marshal Dan Troop.
Personal Life and Death
Morrow was married three times. Her first husband was comedian Gary Morton, whom she married in December 1953. The marriage was annulled on July 9, 1957. Her second husband was William Robinson, whom she married on August 31, 1957. They divorced in October 1959. Her third and final husband was Clarence Sheldon Attix Jr., whom she married on July 4, 1963. They had four children together.
Morrow died on May 8, 1985, in San Diego, California. The cause of her death was not publicly disclosed, but some sources claim that she died of a non-communicable disease. She was buried at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in San Diego.
Morrow’s death was largely unnoticed by the media and the public. She had been out of the spotlight for over two decades and had lived a quiet life away from Hollywood. She left behind a legacy of films and TV shows that are still enjoyed by fans of classic cinema and television.
