Trivia

Losing the dizzy Billie Dawn role to Judy Holliday in the film version of Born Yesterday (1950) was a particular disappointment. She, however, did the role in summer stock years later.

Marie and husband Bob Fallon adopted a four month old baby boy on December 1, 1955. She first saw the baby at a Memphis hospital while doing a benefit there.

Her first husband, actor Allan Nixon, was a bit part actor for the most part. Marie, the breadwinner, continued to try and find him work throughout their turbulent marriage. They worked together in her film Linda, Be Good (1947), in which he had a small role, and in the stage plays "The School for Scandal" and "Three Out of Four". In between Nixon was arrested numerous times for drunk and disorderly conduct. After a couple of separations, she finally divorced him after 8 years of marriage.

While several sources reveal that she was married to director Nick Grinde, who was largely responsible for Marie's early film career boost, the couple actually was at one time engaged and even announced a wedding date, but it never took place and they eventually parted, according to a Classic Images magazine article written by Marie's biographer Charles Tranberg.

Her parents divorced when she was only seven months old. Her father, Wally Wilson, died when she was five and left her $11,000 in a trust, which she eventually used to pursue her Hollywood career. It was her stepfather, Frank White, who raised Marie.

Interred at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills -- Columbarium of Remembrance, Vault 61274.