Marguerite Chapman (March 9, 1918 – August 31, 1999) was an American film and television actress. Beginning her career as a model, she moved to Hollywood and appeared in film and television from 1940 to 1977.
During a year of modeling Chapman was made aware that producer Howard Hughes was in New York screening for a new movie he planned to make. Unannounced, she went to Hughes and asked for a chance to be in his picture. He gave her a screen test, which went well. Though Hughes never did film the movie, he showed the screen test to a number of Hollywood studio executives.[1]
She signed with 20th Century Fox and moved to Hollywood in late 1939. She went on to be placed under contract with Warner Brothers in 1941, and then with Columbia from 1942 to 1948.[2]
She made her film debut in 1940, working for the next two years in small roles. In 1942, her big break came with Republic Pictures when she was cast in the leading female role in the twelve-part adventure filmserialSpy Smasher, a production that has been ranked among the best serials ever made.[3]
Chapman was reportedly asked to audition for the role of "Old Rose" Dawson-Calvert in the 1997 James Cameron epic Titanic but was prevented by poor health.[4]
For her contribution on television, Marguerite Chapman has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6284 Hollywood Boulevard.[6]
Marguerite Chapman died August 31, 1999, aged 81, and was interred in Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California.[7] Her funeral was held on September 4, 1999, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in North Hollywood, California, where she was a parishioner.[4]
