Fay Eunice McKenzie (1918 - 2019)

Born 19 Feb 1918 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Robert Alexander Cochran Jr. — married Jan 1946 in Acapulco, Acapulco de Juárez, Guerrero, Mexico

Wife of Thomas Alan Waldman — married 2 Jan 1949 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Died 16 Apr 2019 at age 101 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

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Biography

Fay McKenzie is Notable.

Fay McKenzie was a centenarian, living to age 101.

Fay McKenzie was an American actress whose career spanned more than a century. She appeared in silent films as a child and later was "discovered" again and played leading roles opposite Gene Autry in the 1940s in five feature films. Her last role was in Kill a Better Mousetrap, a comedy based on a play by Scott K. Ratner, yet (as of April 2019) to be released.^[1]

Fay was born Eunice Fay McKenzie 19 February 1918^[2] in Hollywood, the daughter of actors Robert McKenzie and Eva Heazlit.^[3] Fay's father owned a stock company called the McKenzie Merry Makers, and was both an actor and director in stage and film productions.^[4]

When Fay was ten weeks old, in 1918, she appeared in Station Content with Gloria Swanson, playing Swanson's character's baby. She appeared in four other silent films as a child.^[5]

After taking a ten year break to attend Beverly Hills High School, Fay returned to films in 1934; however, her main claim to fame was as Gene Autry's co-star in a series of five feature films in the 1940s, including Sierra Sue, 1931, Cowboy Serenade, 1942; Heart of the Rio Grande, 1942; and Home in Wyomin', 1942. ^[6] Fay recalled: "I loved working with Gene, he was terrific! I could sing and that was something the earlier girls couldn't do. Yates knew I had done Broadway; that helped! I could do more than smile and wave at the cowboy."^[7]

During World War II, Fay helped raise money for the war effort and performed for the troops with the likes of Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Cary Grant, James Cagney, and Laurel and Hardy. ^[8] In the 1950s, Fay moved onto appearances on television on shows such as Bonanza and Mr. Lucky. She also returned to film, appearing in five movies for the director Blake Edwards.^[9]

Fay was married twice. Her first husband was the American actor Steve Cochran, whom she married in 1946^[10] The two were first married in January 1946 in Acapulco, Mexico; however, this marriage was annulled. The couple reconciled, and finally married again 19 February 1947 in Las Vegas.^[11] and divorced in 1948. Her second husband was the screenwriter Tom Waldman, whom she married 2 January 1949 in Los Angeles.^[12] They remained married until his death in 1985.

Fay died in Los Angeles on 16 April 2019 at the age of 101.

There is a wonderful interview of Fay McKenzie online at Western Clippings. The article, written by Boyd Magers, provides an account of Fay's life, including extensive quotes. The interview has many details about her professional life and career and is highly recommended reading. The interview can be found here. Her personality really shines through in this piece.

Sources

1. ↑ Fay McKenzie Dies at 101 New York Times Obituary, 24 April 2019.
2. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLW-FWGS : 18 January 2018), Robert B McKenzie in entry for Eunice Fay McKenzie, 19 Feb 1918; citing Birth, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, California State Archives, Sacramento.
3. ↑ California Birth Index, 1905-1995; Eunice F. McKenzie; 19 February 1918; mother's maiden name: Heazlit; birth county: Los Angeles.
4. ↑ Fay McKenzie on Wikipedia.
5. ↑ Fay McKenzie on Wikipedia. The films were A Knight of the West, 1921; When Love Comes, 1922; The Judgment of the Storm, 1924; and The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln, 1924.
6. ↑ Fay McKenzie on Wikipedia.
7. ↑ Fay McKenzie Interview by Boyd Magers, Western Clippings.
8. ↑ Fay McKenzie on Wikipedia.
9. ↑ Fay McKenzie Dies at 101 New York Times Obituary, 24 April 2019.
10. ↑ Plain Dealer, Thursday, 3 October 1946, page 2. According to the article, Fay McKenzie and Steve Cochran were married January 1946 in Acapulco, Mexico; however, the marriage was annulled. They had planned to marry again in the U.S. October 1946, but this marriage was also called off.
11. ↑ Corpus Christi Times, Thursday, 20 February 1947, page 2. From this article, we know that Fay and Steve were finally married for a second time 19 February 1947 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
12. ↑ California, Marriage Index, 1949-1959; Eunice F. McKenzie; age 26; marriage date: 2 January 1949; Los Angeles, CA; spouse: Thomas A. Waldman.