Ilona Massey was a Hungarian-American actress who rose to fame in the 1930s and 1940s with her roles in films such as Rosalie, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, and Love Happy. She was also a stage and radio performer who appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies and hosted her own musical variety show. She was known for her beauty, charm, and talent, and was often compared to Marlene Dietrich. However, her life was not without challenges and tragedies, and she died of cancer at the age of 64 in 1974. This article will explore the life and legacy of Ilona Massey, as well as the cause of her death.
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Early Life and Career
Ilona Massey was born as Ilona Hajmássy on June 16, 1910 in Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary (now in Hungary). She came from a musical family, as her father was a violinist and her mother was a singer. She started singing at an early age and performed in operettas and cabarets in Budapest and Vienna. She also studied ballet and acting, and made her film debut in 1935 in a Hungarian musical comedy called Szíriusz.
She soon caught the attention of Hollywood producers, who saw her potential as a new star. She signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1936 and moved to the United States. She changed her name to Ilona Massey and was billed as “the new Dietrich”. She acted in three films with Nelson Eddy, including Rosalie (1937), Balalaika (1939), and Northwest Outpost (1947). She also starred with Lon Chaney Jr. in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) as Baroness Frankenstein, and with the Marx Brothers in Love Happy (1949) as Madame Egelichi, a femme fatale spy.
Stage and Radio Success
Ilona Massey was not only a film actress, but also a stage and radio performer. In 1943, she appeared on Broadway in the Ziegfeld Follies, a musical revue that featured glamorous showgirls and comedy sketches. She sang songs such as “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” and “You Are My Lucky Star”. She received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, who praised her voice, beauty, and personality.
She also ventured into radio, where she starred in several shows. In 1950, she was one of the stars of the NBC spy show Top Secret, where she played an undercover agent who used her singing talents to infiltrate enemy lines. In 1952, she began starring in Rendezvous on ABC television, a mystery-drama with plenty of glamour thrown in. She played various roles such as a princess, a spy, or a femme fatale.
The Ilona Massey Show
In 1954, Ilona Massey got her own musical variety show on DuMont Television Network. The show was called The Ilona Massey Show, and it featured Massey singing songs with guests in a nightclub set. The music was provided by the Irving Fields Trio, a popular jazz group at the time. The show lasted for 10 episodes, from November 1, 1954 to January 3, 1955.
The Ilona Massey Show was one of the few shows that showcased Massey’s talent as a singer and entertainer. It also gave her more creative control over her career, as she was able to choose the songs and guests that suited her style. However, the show did not attract enough viewers or sponsors to continue, and it was cancelled after one season.
Personal Life and Politics
Ilona Massey had a tumultuous personal life that involved four marriages and divorces. Her first husband was Nick Szavazd, a Hungarian actor whom she married in 1935 and divorced in 1936. Her second husband was Alan Curtis, an American actor whom she married in 1941 and divorced in 1942. Her third husband was Charles Walker, a businessman whom she married in 1952 and divorced in 1954. Her fourth and last husband was Donald Dawson, a lawyer and Air Force general whom she married in 1955.
Massey became an American citizen in 1946. She remained strongly anti-communist for what she saw as the destruction of her native country by the Soviet Union. She supported the Republican Party and campaigned for Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election. She also picketed the United Nations during the 1959 visit of Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev.
Cause of Death
Ilona Massey died of cancer on August 20, 1974 at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. She was 64 years old. She was buried in Arlington National Cemetery near her husband Donald Dawson, who had died in 1973.
Ilona Massey’s death marked the end of a remarkable career that spanned three decades and two continents. She was a versatile and talented performer who excelled in film, stage, radio, and television. She was also a glamorous and charismatic star who captivated audiences with her beauty and charm. She left behind a legacy of memorable performances and songs that are still enjoyed by fans today.
