Mary Castle was an American actress who rose to fame in the 1950s for her striking resemblance to the glamorous star Rita Hayworth. She appeared in several films and television shows, mostly in western and crime genres, and was dubbed “the lady who looks more like Hayworth than Hayworth does”. However, her career was plagued by personal problems, such as alcoholism, financial troubles, and failed marriages. She died of lung cancer at the age of 67 in 1998. Here is a brief overview of her life and death.
Early Life and Career
Mary Castle was born as Mary Ann Noblett on January 22, 1931, in Pampa, Texas. She was the youngest of seven children and grew up in a poor family. She moved to Los Angeles with her mother when she was 10 years old and attended Hollywood High School. She started modeling bathing suits at the age of 19 and caught the attention of Columbia Pictures, who signed her to a contract in 1950.
She made her film debut in Mexican Hayride (1948), followed by minor roles in Always Leave Them Laughing (1949), The Threat (1949), The Tougher They Come (1950), and Just for You (1952). She also appeared in several westerns, such as Prairie Roundup (1951), Texans Never Cry (1951), When the Redskins Rode (1951), The Lawless Breed (1952), and Yaqui Drums (1956). Her most notable film role was in Three Steps to the Gallows (1953), also known as White Fire, where she played the femme fatale Yvonne.
She also made a mark on television, especially in the western series Stories of the Century (1954), where she co-starred with Jim Davis as Frankie Adams, a female detective who helped track down notorious outlaws. She also guest-starred in shows like Perry Mason, The Millionaire, The Lineup, and Gunsmoke.
Personal Problems and Decline
Despite her promising career, Castle faced many difficulties in her personal life. She was married four times, but none of her marriages lasted more than two years. Her first husband was William France Minchen, a wealthy oilman whom she married in 1957 and divorced in 1958. Her second husband was Wayne Cote, a former actor whom she married in 1960 and annulled in 1961. Her third husband was Erwin A. Frezza, a businessman whom she married in 1971 and divorced in 1972. Her fourth husband was Edward Frezza, a retired Air Force colonel whom she married in 1974 and separated from in 1976.
She also struggled with alcoholism, which affected her health and career. In 1959, she was arrested twice for drunkenness and attempted suicide by hanging herself in her jail cell. She also faced financial problems that resulted in legal action. In 1960, she filed for bankruptcy, listing $300 worth of clothes as assets and $13,678 in debts. She also had a debt warrant served on her after she was booked on another drunk charge.
She tried to revive her career in the 1960s, but with little success. She appeared in low-budget films like The Threat (1960) and The Jailbreakers (1960) and worked as a press agent for a gourmet food company and a hostess at a restaurant. She also did some stage work and radio commercials.
Death and Legacy
Castle retired from show business in the late 1960s and moved to Palm Springs, California. She lived a quiet life until she was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1997. She died on April 29, 1998, at the age of 67. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea.
Mary Castle was one of the many actresses who tried to emulate Rita Hayworth’s style and appeal, but never achieved the same level of fame and success. However, she left behind a legacy of films and television shows that showcased her beauty and talent. She is remembered as a glamorous starlet who had a tragic life.
