Christine McIntyre was an American actress and singer who appeared in various films in the 1930s and 1940s, but is mainly remembered as the beautiful blonde actress who appeared in many of The Three Stooges shorts produced by Columbia Pictures. She had a versatile range of roles, playing charming heroines, scheming villains, and flighty socialites with equal ease. She also had a classically trained soprano voice, which she showcased in several musical numbers in her films. But how did this talented and attractive star die? What was the cause of her death? In this article, we will explore the life and death of Christine McIntyre, and reveal how she succumbed to cancer at the age of 73.
Early Life and Career
Christine Cecilia McIntyre was born on April 16, 1911, in Nogales, Arizona, as one of five children. She developed an interest in music and singing at an early age, and received a Bachelor of Music degree at Chicago Musical College in 1933. She then moved to Hollywood, where she began singing in feature films at RKO Pictures. She made her film debut in 1937’s Swing Fever, and then appeared in a series of B-westerns featuring the likes of Ray Corrigan and Buck Jones. She also appeared occasionally in mainstream feature films, such as 1939’s Blondie Takes a Vacation. She sang songs such as “The Blue Danube” and “Voices of Spring” in a Vienna-themed short Soundies musical film, and her performance was singled out as the best of the inaugural series.
The Three Stooges and Columbia Pictures
In 1944, Columbia Pictures producer Hugh McCollum signed McIntyre to a decade-long contract. At Columbia, she appeared in many short subjects starring Shemp Howard, Harry Langdon, Andy Clyde, Joe Besser, Bert Wheeler, and Hugh Herbert. The Herbert comedy Wife Decoy is actually a showcase for McIntyre, who is the principal character. In this film, she appears as a brunette who dyes her hair blonde. From then on in her screen appearances, she remained a blonde.
McIntyre’s association with the Three Stooges would become her most memorable. Her debut appearance with the team was in Idle Roomers, followed by a solo Shemp Howard short, Open Season for Saps. McIntyre’s singing voice was featured prominently in 1945’s Micro-Phonies, as she sang both “Voices of Spring” and “Lucia Sextet”. She would again sing “Lucia Sextet” three years later in Squareheads of the Round Table and its 1954 remake, Knutzy Knights.
McIntyre played various roles in the Stooges shorts, ranging from sweethearts to femme fatales to villains. She often displayed a knack for physical comedy, as well as verbal wit. She was also one of the few actresses who could stand up to the Stooges’ antics without being intimidated or overpowered by them. She appeared in a total of 37 shorts with the Stooges, more than any other actress.
Personal Life and Death
McIntyre married John Donald Wilson, a radio producer and writer, in 1953. They had no children. Wilson’s sudden death from a heart attack on January 26, 1984 at age 79 took its toll on McIntyre. She was already suffering from cancer at the time of his passing, and his death worsened her illness.
McIntyre died in Van Nuys, California on July 8, 1984, at age 73. According to Wikipedia, her cause of death was cancer. According to Dead or Kicking, she passed away from cancer as well. She is interred with her husband at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Christine McIntyre was a talented and beautiful actress who left a lasting impression on many fans of comedy and music. She was one of the most frequent and beloved co-stars of The Three Stooges, and one of the few who could match their comic timing and energy. She also had a remarkable singing voice that added charm and elegance to her films. She died too soon from a cruel disease that robbed her of her vitality and joy. She will always be remembered as one of the brightest stars of Columbia Pictures’ golden era of short subjects.
