Paula Raymond was an American model and actress who played the leading lady in numerous movies and television series in the 1950s. She was the niece of American pulp-magazine editor Farnsworth Wright. She co-starred with Cary Grant in Crisis (1950) and Robert Taylor in The Devil’s Doorway (1950). She also appeared in film noir thrillers, horror films, and westerns. She was a beautiful and talented woman who seemed to have a promising career ahead of her. However, her life was marred by injuries, accidents, and illnesses that eventually led to her death in 2003. What was the cause of death of Paula Raymond? How did she cope with the challenges and tragedies that befell her? This article will explore the life and death of Paula Raymond, a glamorous starlet who turned out to have moderate acting ability.
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Early Years and Modeling Career
Paula Raymond was born on November 23, 1924 as Paula Ramona Wright in San Francisco, California. Her father was a corporate lawyer. Following her parents’ divorce, Raymond and her mother moved to Los Angeles. As a child, Raymond studied ballet, piano, and singing. She was a member of both the San Francisco Opera Company and the San Francisco Children’s Opera Company. She graduated from Hollywood High School in 1942. Following graduation, she returned to San Francisco to attend college. She also worked with two theater companies there.
Before she became an actress, Raymond was a photographers’ model. She told author Leo Verswijver “I got started modeling at $25 an hour and [I] forgot all about acting, because I was earning a living.” Her work included posing for the cover of True Confessions magazine.
Film and Television Career
Raymond’s first acting role was playing Bettina Bowman in Keep Smiling (1938), credited as Paula Rae Wright. In 1947, she was signed by Columbia, where she spent two years appearing in B-movies, including a number of westerns such as Challenge Of The Range (1949), starring Charles Starrett.
In 1950, she was put under contract by MGM, where she played opposite leading men such as Cary Grant and Dick Powell. Early in her career, Raymond acted in film noir thrillers such as the cult classic City That Never Sleeps (1953) with Gig Young, Mala Powers and Marie Windsor, and later in her career, she appeared in horror films. Her low-budget horror movies included Blood of Dracula’s Castle (1969). In 1950, she played Cary Grant’s leading lady in Crisis, a political thriller directed by Richard Brooks. In 1952, she co-starred with Cecil Kellaway in The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953), one of the first giant monster movies. In 1954, she starred as Queen Berengaria in the film King Richard and the Crusaders (1954), based on Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Talisman. She also starred in the 1955 Western The Gun That Won the West (1955), featuring Dennis Morgan and Richard Denning.
Raymond did some work for Paramount Pictures using the screen name Rae Patterson. She also appeared in independent films such as The Flight That Disappeared (1961) and Hand of Death (1962).
In the late 1950s and 1960s, Raymond appeared in many television shows including Perry Mason (five episodes), Maverick (two episodes), Hawaiian Eye (five episodes), M Squad (three episodes) with Lee Marvin, 77 Sunset Strip (four episodes), Peter Gunn (one episode), The Untouchables (one episode), Rawhide (one episode), Bonanza (one episode), The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (one episode), and others. She turned down the role of saloon keeper Kitty Russell in the long-running western classic series Gunsmoke and the role went instead to Amanda Blake.
Accidents and Illnesses
Raymond’s career was hampered by several accidents and illnesses that affected her health and appearance. In 1958, she suffered a broken arm and a concussion when she fell off a horse while filming a scene for The Gun That Won the West. In 1962, she was involved in a car crash that nearly killed her and caused severe facial damage. Her nose was severed by the rear view mirror and she had multiple fractures and lacerations. She underwent extensive plastic surgery to restore her beauty and returned to acting within a year.
In 1977, she had another car accident that broke her back and left her partially paralyzed for six months. She recovered but had to use a cane for the rest of her life. In 1984, she fell down a flight of stairs at her home and broke her hip. She had a hip replacement surgery but developed an infection that required more operations. In 1999, she fell again and broke her other hip. She also suffered from diabetes, arthritis, and osteoporosis.
Death and Legacy
In 2003, Raymond died at the age of 79 from a series of respiratory ailments. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea. She was survived by her daughter Raeme Patterson, who was born from her first marriage to Captain Floyd Patterson. She had two other marriages, both of which ended in divorce.
Paula Raymond was a versatile actress who could play drama, comedy, romance, and adventure. She had a glamorous image and a charming personality. She was admired by her fans and respected by her colleagues. She faced many hardships and obstacles in her life, but she never gave up on her passion for acting. She left behind a legacy of films and television shows that showcase her talent and beauty. She was a star who shone brightly in Hollywood’s golden age.
