Virginia Mayo

Virginia Mayo (born Virginia Clara Jones; November 30, 1920 – January 17, 2005) was an American actress and dancer whose career spanned six decades. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, she grew up in a family with deep local roots—her great‑great‑great grandfather founded East St. Louis, Illinois, in 1797. An early exposure to performance came from an aunt who ran an acting school, where young Virginia began lessons at age six. After graduating from Soldan High School at sixteen, she entered the St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre and quickly moved into vaudeville, touring with Andy Mayo’s “Morton and Mayo” act and becoming a ringmaster for the comic horse routine. Her Broadway break arrived in 1941 when she appeared beside Eddie Cantor in Banjo Eyes, catching the eye of Samuel Goldwyn, who signed her to a contract that launched her Hollywood career.

Mayo’s film debut led to a string of memorable roles: she co‑starred with Bob Hope in The Princess and the Pirate (1944) and became Danny Kaye’s leading lady in Wonder Man (1945) and The Kid from Brooklyn (1946). Her dramatic turn as the gold‑digging Marie Derry in William Wyler’s Oscar‑winning The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) earned critical praise and cemented her status as Warner Bros.’ biggest box‑office draw of the late 1940s. Throughout the 1950s she alternated between film noir (Flaxy Martin, Backfire), Westerns (Colorado Territory), and Technicolor musicals, often showcasing her dance training even when her singing was dubbed. After her screen appearances tapered, Mayo embraced stage work, television guest spots, and even authored a children’s book. She remained married to actor Michael O'Shea until his death in 1973, raising their daughter Mary Catherine and later enjoying painting and family life until her own death in 2005.