Vampira Actress Maila Nurmi Dies at 86
Jan 10, Actress and Television legend Maili Nurmi passed away in her home of cardiac arrest at the age 86. Best known as Vampira and for her appearance in Ed Wood's "cult classic" film Plan 9 from Outer Space, Nurmi appeared in 11 Films and hosted The Vampira Show on KABC.
In 1954 Nurmi attended a costume party dressed as Morticia Addams from the New Yorker comic strip. Noticed by producer Howard Stromberg Jr., she was asked to host her own late night show on KABC. The Vampira Show featured her introducing B movies interspersed with scenes of ghoulish humor in the now familiar low cut dress. The show earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Female Personality in 1955.
After the show was canceled, Nurmi seemed unable to shake her Vampira persona. Hoping to spark some life into her acting career, she was eventually talked into working on Plan 9 from Outer Space by the charismatic, if not technically inept Ed Wood. After reading the script she agreed, only after assuring she would not have to speak a word of Wood's horrible dialog.
She went on to play a few small parts in less than memorable films like Sex Kittens Go to College and The Magic Sword.
The Addams family came to television 10 years after Vampira and based the character of Morticia Addams on Vampira who ironically was based on the original Charles Addams New Yorker cartoons.
In 1981 a local television station hired Nurmi to recreate The Vampira Show. After the relationship fell apart, the show renamed the character Elvira, but changed little else.
Nurmi unsuccessfully sued Cassandra Peterson, the actress who portrayed Elivra for $10 million dollars in 1989, claiming the Elvira character was a rip off of her Vampira character. Unable to pay the legal fees the suit was eventually dropped.
Tim Burton's 1994 hit Ed Wood cast Lisa Marie as Nurmi.
She returned to the screen in 1998 to appear in "I Woke Up Early the Day I Died" a film based on an unused Ed Wood screenplay.
A documentary about her life, "Vampira: the Movie" was released in 2006.
A long time animal lover, Nurmi's website asks "In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make a donation in Maila's name may contact the Much Love Animal Rescue at muchlove.org.
Sources:
Maila 'Vampira' Nurmi dies at 86 - Variety
Cult Sirens: Vampira - Cult Sirens
Vampira - IMDB
Published by MrCopilot
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1 Comments
Post a CommentNo doubt Vampira will rise again! Hopefully, next time, in a vehicle not famous for being the likely worst sci-fi movie ever made (Plan 9 From Outer Space.) If that's the best she can get or do, maybe eternal life isn't such a good think after all!
David