Marion Shilling (December 3, 1910 – November 6, 2004) was an American film actress of the 1930s.Shilling was born as Marion Schilling in Denver, Colorado in 1910 as per the Social Security Death Index under the name COOK, MARION S., although some biographers had formerly cited 1911 or 1914. She started her acting career as a stage actress, starring in stage plays such as Miss Lulu Betts and Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch. In 1929 she received her first screen role in Wise Girls. After a couple of roles in other films, she starred opposite William Powell in the 1930 crime drama Shadow of the Law. That movie springboarded her into roles as a B-movie heroine.In 1931 she was one of thirteen girls selected as "WAMPAS Baby Stars", a list that included future Hollywood star Marian Marsh. From 1930 to 1936 she starred in forty two films, mostly westerns or mysteries. She often starred opposite Tom Keene and Guinn "Big Boy" Williams. In the 1934 film serial The Red Rider, she starred opposite early western film legend Buck Jones, with a supporting cast that included William Desmond and football legend Jim Thorpe.
Made an appearance at the 1985 Memphis Film Festival.
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When she first appeared in westerns, she was awkward on a horse but diligently practiced riding during breaks in filming. Western hero and frequent co-star Buck Jones went on to coach her until she became an accomplished horsewoman.
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Had two children: Edward ("Ned") born in February 1939 and Frances ("Fran"), who was born in March 1941 and died in 1995.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Cavalcade of the West
1936
Mary Christman
Romance Rides the Range
1936
Carol Marland
Idaho Kid
1936
Ruth Endicott
The Amazing Exploits of the Clutching Hand
1936/I
Verna Gironda
I'll Name the Murderer
1936
Smitty
Gun Play
1935
Madge Holt
Rio Rattler
1935
Mary Adams
The Keeper of the Bees
1935
Louise
Captured in Chinatown
1935
Ann Parker
Society Fever
1935
Victoria Vandergriff
Gun Smoke
1935
Jean Culverson (as Marian Shilling)
Stone of Silver Creek
1935
Martha Mason
A Shot in the Dark
1935
Jean Coates
Blazing Guns
1935
Betty Lou Rickard (as Marian Shilling)
The Westerner
1934
Juanita Barnes
Elinor Norton
1934
Publisher's Staff (uncredited)
Thunder Over Texas
1934
Helen Mason
Inside Information
1934
Anne Seton
The Red Rider
1934
Marie Maxwell
Fighting to Live
1934
Mary Carson
Curtain at Eight
1933
Anice Cresmer
The Heart Punch
1932
Kitty Doyle
A Parisian Romance
1932
Claudette
Niagara Falls
1932
Short
A Man's Land
1932
Peggy Turner
Gigolettes
1932
Short
Marion
Rule 'Em and Weep
1932
Short
Ramona
The County Fair
1932
Alice Ainsworth
Shop Angel
1932
Dorothy Hayes
Only Men Wanted
1932
Short
Easy to Get
1931
Short
Marion
Forgotten Women
1931
Patricia Young
Take 'em and Shake 'em
1931
Short
Sundown Trail
1931
Dorothy 'Dottie' Beals
June First
1931
Short
Marion
The Common Law
1931
Stephanie Brown
Young Donovan's Kid
1931
Kitty Costello
Beyond Victory
1931
Ina
On Your Back
1930
Jeanne Burke
Shadow of the Law
1930
Edith Wentworth
The Swellhead
1930
Mamie Judd
Lord Byron of Broadway
1930
Nancy
Wise Girls
1929
Ruth Bence
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Free and Easy
1930
performer: "The Free And Easy" 1930, "Snake Charmer" - uncredited
Lord Byron of Broadway
1930
performer: "A Bundle of Love Letters" 1930, "Only Love Is Real" 1930 - uncredited