Terry Burnham was a child actress who rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in films such as Imitation of Life and TV shows such as The Twilight Zone. She retired from acting in 1971 and lived a secluded life in Long Beach, California. She died on October 7, 2013, at the age of 64, but her death went unnoticed for years. What was the cause of her death and why did no one claim her remains? This article will explore the life and death of Terry Burnham, the mystery of her unclaimed ashes, and the fans who tried to honor her memory.
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Early Life and Career
Terry Burnham was born Elizabeth Teresa Burnham on August 8, 1949, in Los Angeles, California. She was the younger of two children born to Guy Calvin Burnham, an aeronautics engineer, and Elizabeth Teresa Buelna Symons. She attended Catholic schools and showed an early talent for acting. She made her television debut at age six in the series Climax!, alongside Brandon De Wilde. She went on to appear in many TV shows, such as I Love Lucy, M Squad, The Danny Thomas Show, and Shirley Temple’s Storybook.
She also had roles in several films, most notably as the daughter of Lana Turner’s character in Imitation of Life (1959), a melodrama about race and identity. She received national attention for her performance and was touted as “TV’s first Shirley Temple” by some producers. However, she never achieved the same level of fame as Temple or other child stars of her era.
The Twilight Zone Episode
One of Terry Burnham’s most memorable roles was in the first season of The Twilight Zone, a classic sci-fi anthology series created by Rod Serling. She appeared in the episode “Nightmare as a Child”, which aired on April 29, 1960. She played Markie, a blank-faced girl who delivered a deathly warning to a schoolteacher named Helen Foley (played by Janice Rule). Helen had repressed the memory of witnessing her mother’s murder by a man named Peter Selden (played by Shepperd Strudwick). Markie was actually Helen’s younger self, who came back to help her remember and confront the killer.
The episode was praised for its suspenseful plot and eerie atmosphere. Terry Burnham’s performance was also commended for being creepy and convincing. She delivered lines such as “I’m in no hurry” and “You’re not afraid of me, are you?” with a chilling calmness. She also had a striking resemblance to Janice Rule, which added to the mystery of their connection.
Retirement and Seclusion
Terry Burnham continued to act until 1971, when she appeared in her last film, Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!, a comedy starring Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller. She then retired from acting at the age of 22 and moved to Long Beach, California. She lived a quiet and private life, away from the spotlight and the public eye. She never married or had children. She also did not keep in touch with her family or friends from the entertainment industry.
According to some sources, she suffered from hypertension, diabetes, and depression. She also had a history of cardiac problems. She lived alone in a small apartment and rarely went out. She did not have any social media accounts or online presence. She also did not respond to fan mail or requests for autographs.
Death and Unclaimed Remains
On October 7, 2013, Terry Burnham died of cardiac arrest at her home in Long Beach, California. Her death certificate listed her occupation as “retired actress”. However, her death went unnoticed by the media and the public for years. No one came forward to claim her body or report her death. Her remains were stored at the Los Angeles County Crematorium for three years, waiting for someone to identify her or pay for her cremation.
In Los Angeles County, officials work to notify next-of-kin if no one has come forward after someone dies. They wait for three years to bury the dead (the embalmed body held in the LA County Morgue), which gives family members a chance to locate their missing relatives. The unclaimed dead are cremated after three years and end up in a common grave in the county’s public cemetery.
However, Terry Burnham’s fate was different. Her remains were bought by a fan from New York named Reuben Febus, who had been pursuing her autograph for about 15 years. He learned about her death from an online forum and contacted the morgue to arrange for her cremation and transportation of her ashes. He paid $340 for the service and received authority to have her ashes sent to him.
Fan Tributes and Burial
Reuben Febus was not the only fan who was interested in Terry Burnham’s life and death. Many other fans had been searching for her whereabouts and collecting her memorabilia for years. They had bought her photos, medical records, and personal belongings from online auctions and swap meets. Some of her items had even turned up as far away as Australia.
Febus decided to share his discovery of her death with other fans and asked for their suggestions on what to do with her ashes. He wanted to honor her memory and give her a proper burial. He also felt guilty for chasing her autograph and not respecting her privacy. He said, “Even if you don’t know the person, you develop a relationship, as strange as that sounds. That’s a person, not an autograph. She’s a human being, with hopes and dreams, just like anyone else.”
He received many responses from fans who expressed their condolences and gratitude. Some of them offered to help pay for the burial or donate items for a memorial service. Some of them suggested burying her in an actors and performers cemetery in Westchester County, New York, where she would be among her peers. Febus agreed to this idea and arranged for the burial.
On August 8, 2018, which would have been Terry Burnham’s 69th birthday, her ashes were buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Long Beach. A small group of fans attended the ceremony and paid their respects. They brought flowers, candles, photos, and memorabilia. They also played some of her films and TV shows on a laptop. They shared their stories and memories of Terry Burnham and thanked her for her work and legacy.
Conclusion
Terry Burnham was a talented actress who left a lasting impression on many people with her performances. She also lived a mysterious life that intrigued and fascinated many fans. Her death was a sad and lonely event that went unnoticed for years. However, thanks to the efforts of some devoted fans, she was finally given a dignified burial and a fitting tribute. She may have been forgotten by the world, but she was remembered by those who loved her.
