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Marilyn Chris (born Marilyn Miller, 1938 or 1939) is an American actress. She is known for playing the role of Wanda Webb Wolek on the ABC soap opera, One Life to Live (1972–1976, 1980–1994). She starred Off-Broadway in Allen Ginsberg's Kaddish (1972), winning an Obie Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Variety Critics Poll, and a Drama Desk Award for her performance. In the 1980s, she appeared on Broadway in Brighton Beach Memoirs.

Early life

Chris was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jack Miller, an English-Scottish Mennonite and Sylvia Slavin, a Russian Jew. When she was growing up, her father walked out on the family and her grandfather, who she was close with, died.

She attended Junior High School 109 in Brooklyn. One of her classmates was Steve Lawrence (when he was still known as Sidney Liebowitz). Chris was then accepted at the High School of Performing Arts. After high school, she enrolled at City College of New York.

Career

On February 23, 1958, the New York Daily News chose Chris as that week's "Typical American Girl." Her photo appeared in the Sunday magazine section and she won a $25 prize. She began her acting career in the 1950s at The Living Theatre. She appeared in productions for the theatre, including Many Loves, Women of Trachis, In the Jungle of Cities, The Apple, and Man is Man. Prompted by the discovery that her birth name was already registered with Actors Equity, Miller devised a stage name simply by shortening her then-married name, Christopoulos.

In 1963, she appeared in The Good Soldier Schweik for the Chelsea Theater Center. She made her film debut in Love with the Proper Stranger (1963), co-starring with Natalie Wood and Steve McQueen. In 1965, Chris was an under study for the roles of Agnes Graham and Sylvia Goldman in the original Broadway production of The Family Way. In 1967, she was a stand by for the roles of Lulu and Meg in The Birthday Party on Broadway. In 1968, she was a stand by for the title role in a Broadway production of The Seven Descents of Myrtle.

Chris appeared in the romantic drama film John and Mary (1969), co-starring with Dustin Hoffman. In 1970, she guest starred on Hawaii Five-O. The same year, she played Myrtle Young in the crime film The Honeymoon Killers. She also had a role in the drama film The People Next Door. Chris appeared on Broadway in Lenny.

In 1972, Chris briefly played the role of Edie Hoffman on the ABC soap opera All My Children. She was cast as Naomi, the paranoid mother of Allen Ginsberg in Kaddish. The play opened at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in February 1972. Chris won an Obie Award for her performance. She also won a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Variety Critics Poll.

In May 1972, she was cast in the contract role of Wanda Webb on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. The character opened a restaurant called Heavenly Hash in the fictional city of Llanview. Her true love was Vince Wolek (Antony Ponzini).

Chris played Mrs. Bingham in the comedy film Rhinoceros (1974), co-starring with Gene Wilder. In July 1974, she co-starred with Lee Wallace in the musical Laugh a Little, Cry a Little at the Westbury Music Fair. She played Faye Stone in the television film Strike Force (1975), co-starring with Richard Gere. In 1976, Chris left her role on One Life to Live.

She starred as Rose Lander in the film Looking Up (1977). Chris guest starred on Rafferty and Barney Miller. She played Harriet in the television film Some Kind of Miracle (1979). The same year, she appeared in the television miniseries Backstairs at the White House. She made guest appearances on Family and Kaz.

Chris played Mavis Skinner in the comedy film The Black Marble (1980). The same year, she also appeared in the romantic comedy film Loving Couples. She had a role in the television film The Secret War of Jackie's Girls. In 1980, Chris returned to the role of Wanda on One Life to Live. She appeared in the television film Kent State (1981).

In the early 1980s, Chris returned to Broadway, playing Kate Jerome in Brighton Beach Memoirs. She co-starred with her husband, Lee Wallace, in the television film A Doctor's Story (1984). She guest starred on Fame in 1986. Chris appeared in the film American Stories: Food, Family and Philosophy (also titled Histoires d'Amerique) (1989). In 1990, she co-starred with Lee Wallace in Taking Stock for the Jewish Repertory Theatre.

In March and April 1992, Chris appeared in Barefoot in the Park at the Valley Forge Music Fair. She co-starred with Bernard Barrow, Cady McClain, and Walt Willey. In October 1992, she co-starred with Lee Wallace in God of Vengeance for the Jewish Repertory Theatre. Soap Opera Digest reported in January 1994 that Chris would be leaving her role on One Life to Live. Her final air date was February 7, 1994.

In the 1990s, she made guest appearances on Law & Order. She also guest starred on New York News. Chris played Josie Basilio in Trees Lounge (1996). She co-starred with Steve Buscemi, who also wrote and directed the film. In 1997, she appeared in the television film Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way. The same year, she also had a role in the film The Deli. In May 1997, Chris played Faye in The Young Girl and the Monsoon at Playwrights Horizons.

Chris guest starred on Third Watch in 1999. She guest starred on Deadline and Oz in the early 2000s. She played Phyllis in The Great New Wonderful (2005), a comedy film about New Yorkers living in the city after the September 11 attacks. She appeared as Mrs. Chadwick in the comedy film Waltzing Anna (2006). Chris guest starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

In March 2010, she appeared in Sin at the Baruch Performing Arts Center's Rose Nagelberg Theatre. The play closed abruptly due to lack of funds. She played Elizabeth Robbins in the suspense film Altered Minds (2013). In July 2024, Chris played serial killer Nannie Doss in a solo reading of The Giggling Granny at the Southampton Cultural Center.

Personal life

Chris has married three times, the first two ending in divorce: first, in 1957, to aspiring playwright George Christopoulos, with whom she had a son, Paul; next, on New Year's Eve 1967, to actor Ric Mancini; and finally—from December 14, 1975 until his death on December 20, 2020—to actor Lee Wallace.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Notes

1. Two reference works concerning the history of daytime TV—each of whose Marilyn Chris entries includes a birthday without specifying the year—diverge widely as to the month and day of her birth. The Soap Opera Book : Who's Who in Daytime Drama, published in 1992 by Todd Publications, lists May 19 as her birthday, whereas Daytime TV Star's Directory, published by Popular Library in 1976, has September 24.

References

1. ^ Hurst, Louise. (June 29, 1964). "How to Succeed in Acting and Making Home for Son". The Cincinnati Enquirer.
2. ^ "Here's another weekly winner in our search for THE TYPICAL AMERICAN GIRL". New York Sunday News Coloroto Magazine. February 23, 1958. p. 2. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
3. ^ Rout, Nancy E., Buckley, Ellen, Rout, Barney M., ed. (1992). The Soap Opera Book : Who's Who in Daytime Drama. West Nyack, N.Y.: Todd Publications. p. 56. ISBN 0-915344-36-X.
4. Denis Paul (1976). Daytime TV Star's Directory. New York: Popular Library. p. 187. OCLC 2518996
5. ^ Nabakov, Peter (August 20, 1967). "Chris Versatile Actress With Myriad Faces". The Santa Fe New Mexican. p. 38. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
6. ^ Bonderoff, Jason (October 13, 1992). "The Wanda Years". Soap Opera Digest. 17 (21): 114–116.
7. ^ Soares, Manuela (1992). The Soap opera book: who's who in daytime drama. Todd Publications. p. 56. ISBN 9780915344239. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
8. Tytell, John (1997). The Living Theatre: Art, Exile, and Outrage. Grove Press. p. 308. ISBN 9780802134868. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
9. "Living Theatre: Production & Ensembles". livingtheatre.org. Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
10. ^ "Marilyn Chris". primarystagesoffcenter.org. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
11. "Love with the Proper Stranger". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
12. ^ "Marilyn Chris". Playbill. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
13. "John and Mary". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
14. ^ "Credits: Marilyn Chris". TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
15. "The Honeymoon Killers". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
16. "The People Next Door - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
17. Barnes, Clive (February 11, 1972). "Glenn Weitzman and Marilyn Chris". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
18. ^ "1972". obieawards.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
19. ^ "Daytime doings on ABC". McKinney Courier-Gazette. November 5, 1972. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
20. ^ "Veteran Actors Perform in "Awake and Sing"". Centre Daily Times. August 7, 1975. p. 5. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
21. ^ "One Life to Live Where Are They Now: Marilyn Chris!". Soaps.com. July 14, 2009. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
22. Waldo, Garren (May 2, 2020). "What Ever Happened to One Life to Live's Wonderful Wanda Webb Wolek?". Soap Hub. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
23. "Rhinoceros - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
24. Calta, Louis (July 21, 1974). "News of the Stage". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
25. "Strike Force". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
26. "Looking Up". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
27. ^ "Chris, Marilyn 1938-". encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
28. "Some Kind of Miracle". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
29. "Backstairs at the White House". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
30. "The Black Marble - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
31. "Loving Couples". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
32. "The Secret War of Jackie's Girls". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
33. "Brighton Beach Memoirs". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
34. Byrnes, Eileen (April 3, 1984). "Simon's 'Brighton Beach Memoirs' is a classic comedy hit". The Evening News. p. 7A. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
35. "A Doctor's Story". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
36. "Histoires d'Amerique". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
37. "Valley Forge Music Fair Plans Broadway Series". The Morning Call. January 19, 1992. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
38. Schiff, Ellen (October 18, 1992). "Theater; A Play With a History, Both Dramatic and Legal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
39. "Comings & Goings". Soap Opera Digest. 19 (2): 15. January 18, 1994.
40. "Trees Lounge - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
41. Evans, Greg (October 17, 1997). "Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way". Variety. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
42. "The Deli". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
43. Waxman, Howard (May 11, 1997). "The Young Girl and the Monsoon". Variety. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
44. "The Great New Wonderful - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
45. "Waltzing Anna - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
46. Gans, Andrew (March 17, 2010). "Altman's Sin Opens at Baruch Performing Arts Center March 17". Playbill. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
47. Gans, Andrew (March 24, 2010). "Exclusive: Altman's Sin Closes Abruptly Off-Broadway". Playbill. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
48. "Altered Minds - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
49. Segal, Mark (July 3, 2024). "Bits and Pieces 07.04.24". The East Hampton Star. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
50. "New York, New York City Marriage Licenses Index, 1950-1995," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLSR-V5BY : 19 June 2017), George Christopoulos and Marilyn Miller, 1957, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States;Marriage, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States, from Reclaim the Records, The NYC Marriage Index (http://www.nycmarriageindex.com : 2016); citing New York City Clerk's Office.
51. Newton, Jim (May 19, 1968). "Two Summer Drama Groups List Stars; City Artists Do Well in State Show". Albuquerque Journal. p. 26. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
52. Hirsch, Linda (October 28, 1977). "Daytime Dial: Jennifer Still Around". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 9D. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
53. McPhee, Ryan (December 28, 2020). "Stage and Screen Actor Lee Wallace Dead at 90". Playbill. Retrieved January 12, 2024.

Sources

• Chelsea on the Edge: The Adventures of an American Theater, Davi Napoleon. Includes discussion of Robert Kalfin's off-Broadway multi-media production of Kaddish.Iowa State University Press. ISBN 0-8138-1713-7, 1991.

External links

• Marilyn Chris at IMDb
• Marilyn Chris at the Internet Broadway Database
• Marilyn Chris at the Internet Off-Broadway Database

• Biography
• United States
• New York (state)
• Theatre
• Film
• Television

• 1930s births
• American soap opera actresses
• American television actresses
• American film actresses
• American stage actresses
• Obie Award recipients
• Actresses from Brooklyn
• Living people
• American people of English descent
• American people of Russian-Jewish descent
• American people of Scottish descent
• 21st-century American women