Wanda McKay

Biography

Wanda McKay was an American actress and model. Born Dorothy Quackenbush in Portland, Oregon, she later moved to Fort Worth, Texas, and then to New York, where she worked as a model and appeared in advertising for Chesterfield cigarettes. In 1938, while employed as a hostess for Trans World Airlines, she entered a beauty contest at the Birmingham Air Show and won the title Miss American Aviation. Paramount Pictures signed her in 1939, and she began with small uncredited parts before becoming a leading lady in many B movies of the 1940s, especially for PRC and Monogram Pictures. In the 1950s her film opportunities decreased. She did television work, including a 1951 episode of The Lone Ranger called Trouble at Black Rock, and had a small part in The Merry Widow (1952). Her final film appearance was an uncredited bit in Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957). She died in 1996.

80years old at death

Born June 22, 1915Portland
Died April 11, 1996Rancho Mirage
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22

Movie Career

Films: 3
Career span: 2 years1942 to 1944

Every film, newest first

1944Voodoo ManIMDb rating 5.3
1943The Black RavenIMDb rating 5.5
1942Bowery at MidnightIMDb rating 5.3

Genres

Photos

Did you know?!

A change of course
In 1938, McKay was a hostess for Trans World Airlines. She entered a beauty contest at the Birmingham Air Show for the airline and won, voted "Miss American Aviation".
Big break
McKay moved into films by 1939 after Paramount Pictures gave her a contract, starting with small uncredited appearances before becoming a leading lady in many B movies of the 1940s.

Wanda McKay movies on Netflix

Voodoo Man1944IMDb rating 5.3as Betty Benton
The Black Raven1943IMDb rating 5.5as Lee Winfield
Bowery at Midnight1942IMDb rating 5.3as Judy Malvern

Worked with

Wanda McKay shares two films with Bela Lugosi, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Bela Lugosi

George Zucco

John Carradine

Byron Foulger

J. Farrell MacDonald

Vince BarnettWallace FoxDirector, 1 film William BeaudineDirector, 1 film Sam NewfieldDirector, 1 film

Films together

Bela Lugosi2 films together, 1942 to 1944
Bela Lugosi's page
- Voodoo Man1944IMDb rating 5.3McKay as Betty BentonLugosi as Dr. Richard Marlowe
- Bowery at Midnight1942IMDb rating 5.3McKay as Judy MalvernLugosi as Prof. Brenner aka Karl Wagner
George Zucco2 films together, 1943 to 1944
George Zucco's page
- Voodoo Man1944IMDb rating 5.3McKay as Betty BentonZucco as Nicholas
- The Black Raven1943IMDb rating 5.5McKay as Lee WinfieldZucco as Amos Bradford - aka The Raven
John Carradine1 film together, 1944
John Carradine's page
- Voodoo Man1944IMDb rating 5.3McKay as Betty BentonCarradine as Toby
Byron Foulger1 film together, 1943
Byron Foulger's page
- The Black Raven1943IMDb rating 5.5McKay as Lee WinfieldFoulger as Horace Weatherby
J. Farrell MacDonald1 film together, 1942
J. Farrell MacDonald's page
- Bowery at Midnight1942IMDb rating 5.3McKay as Judy MalvernMacDonald as Capt. Mitchell
Vince Barnett1 film together, 1942
Vince Barnett's page
- Bowery at Midnight1942IMDb rating 5.3McKay as Judy MalvernBarnett as Charley
Wallace FoxDirector, 1 film, 1942
All films by Wallace Fox
- Bowery at Midnight1942IMDb rating 5.3McKay as Judy Malvern
William BeaudineDirector, 1 film, 1944
All films by William Beaudine
- Voodoo Man1944IMDb rating 5.3McKay as Betty Benton
Sam NewfieldDirector, 1 film, 1943
All films by Sam Newfield
- The Black Raven1943IMDb rating 5.5McKay as Lee Winfield

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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