Wanda Hendrix was a beautiful and talented actress who rose to fame in the 1940s and 1950s. She starred in several films, such as Ride the Pink Horse, Prince of Foxes, and Captain Carey, U.S.A. She also had a tumultuous marriage with war hero and actor Audie Murphy, who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and abused her. But what was Wanda Hendrix cause of death? How did she die at the young age of 52?
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The Early Life and Career of Wanda Hendrix
Wanda Hendrix was born Dixie Wanda Hendrix on November 3, 1928, in Jacksonville, Florida. Her father was a logging foreman and her mother was a homemaker. She had two sisters and a brother. She was interested in acting from an early age and joined a local theater group. She was discovered by a talent agent who took her to Warner Bros. when she was 16 years old. Her parents moved with her to California, where she graduated from University High School.
She made her film debut in Confidential Agent in 1945, playing a minor role. She soon got more prominent roles in films such as Nora Prentiss, Welcome Stranger, and Variety Girl. She signed a contract with Paramount Pictures and earned critical acclaim for her performance in Ride the Pink Horse in 1947, where she played a naive Mexican girl who helps a vengeful ex-GI. She also appeared in comedies such as Miss Tatlock’s Millions and My Own True Love.
She caught the eye of Tyrone Power, who cast her as his leading lady in Prince of Foxes in 1949. The film was a historical adventure set in Renaissance Italy, where she played a noblewoman who falls in love with Power’s character, a spy for Cesare Borgia. The film was a box office success and boosted her popularity.
The Stormy Marriage of Wanda Hendrix and Audie Murphy
Wanda Hendrix met Audie Murphy, the most decorated American soldier of World War II, in 1946. He had seen her on the cover of Coronet magazine and arranged to meet her through his agent. They fell in love and got married on February 8, 1949. However, their marriage was troubled by Murphy’s psychological problems stemming from his war experiences. He suffered from nightmares, flashbacks, paranoia, and mood swings. He often held her at gunpoint during his violent episodes and accused her of infidelity. He also wanted her to quit acting and become a housewife.
Wanda Hendrix filed for divorce in April 1950, citing mental cruelty. The divorce was finalized on April 14, 1951. She later said that she still loved him but could not live with him. She also said that he never hit her or cheated on her, but he was emotionally unstable and needed help.
She co-starred with him in one film, Sierra, in 1950, where they played a couple who fall in love while fleeing from outlaws. The film was made before their divorce and was released after it.
The Later Years and Death of Wanda Hendrix
After her divorce from Murphy, Wanda Hendrix continued to act in films, mostly westerns and war dramas. Some of her notable films were The Highwayman, Montana Territory, South of Algiers, Sea of Lost Ships, Highway Dragnet, and The Black Dakotas. She also worked in television shows such as Pulitzer Prize Playhouse, Robert Montgomery Presents, The Ford Television Theatre, Bat Masterson, My Three Sons, Wagon Train, and Bewitched.
She married twice more after Murphy. On June 26, 1954, she married James Langford Stack Jr., a wealthy sportsman and the brother of actor Robert Stack. She retired from films to focus on her marriage, but they divorced on November 3, 1958. On June 7, 1969, she married Steven La Monte, an Italian financier and oil company executive. They divorced on November 17, 1980.
She made a comeback to acting in the 1960s and 1970s, appearing in films such as The Boy Who Caught a Crook, One Minute Before Death (based on an Edgar Allan Poe story), and Mystic Mountain Massacre (which was never released). Her last film role was in Dracula’s Dog in 1978.
Wanda Hendrix died on February 1, 1981, in Burbank, California from double pneumonia (according to IMDb). She was only 52 years old. She was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery (according to Wikipedia).
The Legacy of Wanda Hendrix
Wanda Hendrix was a talented actress who had a promising career in Hollywood. She was known for her beauty, charm, and versatility. She played a variety of roles, from innocent ingénues to sophisticated ladies. She worked with some of the biggest stars of her time, such as Tyrone Power, Alan Ladd, Charles Coburn, and Richard Conte. She also had a tragic love story with Audie Murphy, who was haunted by his war trauma and could not give her the happiness she deserved.
Wanda Hendrix is remembered as one of the stars of the golden age of Hollywood. She left behind a legacy of films that showcase her talent and charisma. She also left behind a story of courage and resilience in the face of adversity. She was a woman who followed her dreams and never gave up on love.
