A veteran horror star famous for playing the undead has passed on herself: Vampira (real name Maila Nurmi) died of natural causes yesterday. She was 86.
While Nurmi appeared in several movies, including The Beat Generation and The Big Operator, she is probably best known for the character of Vampira she created in the 1950s. She was the Elvira of her day, hosting a local show on KABC in Los Angeles where she introduced horror movies. She caught the eye of director Ed Wood, who cast her in the cult classic Plan 9 From Outer Space. She was played by Lisa Marie in the Tim Burton film Ed Wood in 1994.
I was just watching Plan 9 recently and on the DVD there's a great documentary that features an extensive interview with Nurmi and other stars from the movie.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-12-2008 @ 4:07PM
KMF said...
Oh no! What a bummer. Vampira was every bit an icon as Marilyn Monroe.
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1-12-2008 @ 8:57PM
Heather Ferguson-Hurts said...
I just heard, bummer indeed.
I was lucky enough to meet Vampira and talk to her at length back in the late 70's. It was at a Punk club.
I used to watch her when I was a kid in LA. She will be sorely missed.
Val
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1-13-2008 @ 12:28PM
hub said...
Sad. :(
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1-15-2008 @ 8:04AM
casey said...
My sympathies. I saw her in reruns a few times, and was hypnotized by her looks. She made the perfect Goth girl.
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1-15-2008 @ 4:34PM
Empira said...
I had the great good fortune to have her as a Thanksgiving guest when a friend brought her to my party. She had the whole party wrapped around her little finger with her stories of Hollywood kink and intrigue. She was sharp and funny and she will be missed by those of us who were fortunate to have met and known her.
EMPIRA
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