Mari Aldon (born Marija Aldona Pauliutė; 17 November 1925 – 31 October 2004) was a Lithuanian-born American actress.
Early life Mari Aldon was born in Tauragė, Lithuania. Her father Antanas Paulius was a policeman, mother Antanina (Antosė) Paulienė was a nurse. Father moved to America looking for a job. Soon after, when Mari was three years old, her mother also moved to Toronto, Canada with her daughter. There, she attended Givens Public School and Central High School. She studied ballet, drama, piano, and singing. Her early performances were noticed in Lithuanian newspapers of America. She had a sister.
Career Before Aldon began working in films, she acted for 11 months in a road company of A Streetcar Named Desire and danced with the Canadian Ballet. She also appeared on radio with Alan Young and on The Harold Peary Show.
After making her screen debut in a minor role in The Locket (1946) she gradually evolved to playing supporting or lead roles. Her most notable performance was starring opposite Gary Cooper in the 1951 Western Distant Drums. By the mid-1950s she was appearing either in B Pictures like the British thriller Mask of Dust (1954) or in supporting roles in more expensive films such as David Lean's Summertime (1955).
After this point she worked largely in television, such as on the TV Western Wagon Train in 1959 as Freda Johnson in "The Vivian Carter Story" (S2E23) and in 1960 as Hester Millikan in "The Jeremy Dow Story" (S4E14). She guest-starred in a 1958 episode of Colgate TheatreColgate Theatre, Classic TV Archive Accessed June 18, 2024. and in a 1961 episode of Ichabod and Me.Ichabod and Me, Classic TV Archive Accessed March 8, 2022. and as Ruby Kelley in a 1966 episode of Bonanza S7E30
Personal life Aldon married Tay Garnett in London, England on 13 August 1953.Aaker p. 85 Their daughter, Tiela Aldon Garnett (later Daniels), was born in Los Angeles, California on 25 October 1955. "Movie Director Tay Garnett and his Canadian-born actress wife. Mari Aldon, last night became parents of a baby girl", newspapers.com; accessed 21 October 2021.
On 17 January 1958, Aldon became a US citizen. In August 1970, Aldon filed for divorce from Garnett in Los Angeles, she was widowed seven years later. Aldon and Garnett had a ranch, near King Vidor in Paso Robles, California. Close relatives still live in her hometown of Tauragė, Lithuania, with whom she kept in touch.
Death Aldon died on 31 October 2004 in Las Vegas, aged 78, of cancer.Biodata, cineartistes.com; accessed 21 October 2021.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1946 The Locket Mary Uncredited1947 Forever Amber Bess Scenes deleted1948 A Woman's Vengeance Girl Uncredited1951 Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison Mrs. Daniels Uncredited1951 Tomorrow Is Another Day Dance Hall Hostess Uncredited1951 The Tanks Are Coming Patricia Kane 1951 Distant Drums Judy Beckett 1952 This Woman Is Dangerous Ann Jackson 1953 Tangier Incident Millicent 1954 The Barefoot Contessa Myrna 1954 Mask of Dust Patricia Wells 1955 Summertime Phyl Yaeger1968 Live a Little, Love a Little Minor Role Uncredited, (final film role)
References
Bibliography Aaker, Everett. George Raft: The Films. McFarland, 2013.
External links
Mari Aldon at Rotten Tomatoes