Eve Miller was a Hollywood actress who appeared in 41 films between 1945 and 1961. She was best known for her roles in The Big Trees (1952) with Kirk Douglas, The Winning Team (1952) with Ronald Reagan, and Kansas Pacific (1953) with Sterling Hayden. She also had a successful television career, appearing in shows such as Lassie, Annie Oakley, and Richard Diamond, Private Detective. However, behind her glamorous image, Miller struggled with depression and personal problems that led to her tragic death by suicide in 1973. Here is her story.
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Early Life and Career
Eve Miller was born as Marilyn Miller on August 8, 1923, in Los Angeles, California. She was the only child of Robert Stanley Miller, a piano salesman, and his wife Lillian. She was raised in San Francisco, where she attended Lowell High School and San Francisco Junior College. During the early years of World War II, Miller worked as a welder in a shipyard, but later switched to a job as a department store clerk.
Miller’s acting career began when she was discovered by a talent scout while working as a showgirl at the Follies Bergere in San Francisco. She signed a contract with 20th Century Fox and changed her name to Eve Miller to avoid confusion with another actress named Marilyn Miller. She made her film debut in Diamond Horseshoe (1945), a musical starring Betty Grable and Dick Haymes. She then appeared in several minor roles in films such as I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now (1947), Buckaroo from Powder River (1947), and Inner Sanctum (1948).
Breakthrough and Success
Miller’s breakthrough came in 1951, when she was cast as the female lead in The Big Trees, a western starring Kirk Douglas. The film was produced and directed by Ida Lupino, a pioneering female filmmaker who took a liking to Miller and helped her get more exposure. Miller received positive reviews for her performance as Alicia Chadwick, a Quaker woman who falls in love with a lumberjack played by Douglas. The film was a box office hit and established Miller as a rising star.
Miller’s success continued with The Winning Team, a biopic of baseball pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander, played by Ronald Reagan. Miller portrayed Alexander’s wife, Margaret Killefer, who supported him through his struggles with epilepsy and alcoholism. The film was another hit and earned Miller praise for her acting skills and chemistry with Reagan. She also appeared in She’s Working Her Way Through College (1952), a musical comedy with Virginia Mayo and Ronald Reagan.
In 1953, Miller starred in Kansas Pacific, a western set during the Civil War, opposite Sterling Hayden. She played Barbara Bruce, a railroad engineer’s daughter who helps Hayden’s character build a railroad line across Kansas. The film was well received and showcased Miller’s versatility and charm. She also appeared in The Big Bluff (1955), a film noir with John Bromfield and Martha Vickers.
Television and Personal Problems
Miller’s main work in the 1950s came from television, where she appeared in numerous anthologies and series. She was a regular guest star on Fireside Theater, Four Star Playhouse, and Crossroads. She also had roles on Lassie, Annie Oakley, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, and The Millionaire. She was praised for her natural and engaging screen presence and her ability to handle different genres and characters.
However, Miller’s personal life was not as smooth as her professional one. She was a Democrat and supported Adlai Stevenson’s campaign during the 1952 presidential election, which caused some friction with her conservative co-stars. She also had a turbulent relationship with Glase Lohman, an actor who had a brief career in the mid-1950s. They became engaged in 1954, but had frequent arguments and breakups.
On July 21, 1955, after a heated fight with Lohman, Miller attempted suicide by stabbing herself in the abdomen. She was found by the police on her kitchen floor, surrounded by letters she had written to Lohman. She was rushed to the hospital and underwent four hours of surgery. She survived, but her career and reputation suffered. She was labeled as unstable and suicidal by the press and the public. She also faced legal troubles, as Lohman sued her for breach of promise and assault. The case was settled out of court, but Miller’s engagement was called off.
Later Years and Death
Miller’s film and television career declined after her suicide attempt. She appeared in only a few more films, such as The Story of Mankind (1957), The Buccaneer (1958), and The Last Hurrah (1958). She also had some television roles, such as on Perry Mason, The Rebel, and The Twilight Zone. Her last film was The Errand Boy (1961), a comedy with Jerry Lewis. She then retired from acting and lived a quiet life in Van Nuys, California.
On August 17, 1973, nine days after her 50th birthday, Miller died by suicide in her home. She was found with an empty vodka bottle and a scattering of pills. She left several suicide notes, one of which read: “Things just seemed to go too wrong too many times”. She was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills.
Eve Miller was a talented and beautiful actress who had a promising career in Hollywood. However, she also had a troubled and unhappy life that led to her tragic death. She is remembered as one of the stars of the golden age of cinema and television.
