Fay Wray

 

"Every time I'm in New York, I say a little prayer when passing the Empire State Building.  A good friend of mine died up there."

Vina Fay Wray was born in Alberta, Canada on September 15, 1907.  She was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was the granddaughter of church pioneer Daniel Webster Jones.  The family lived in Salt Lake City for much of her youth before moving to Hollywood in the 1920s.

She began her acting career while still a teenager, appearing in the 1925 silent picture The Coast Patrol.  It led to a contract with Paramount Pictures and her first leading role in the 1929 Erich von Stroheim film The Wedding March.  She'd leave Paramount one year later, signing with rival studio RKO.

In 1933, she starred in the film that would define her career - King Kong.  Not only did the film launch Wray to super stardom, it also saved the studio itself, which was on the brink of bankruptcy.  Her film career spanned more than twenty years, and by the 1950s, she found steady work on television, putting in memorable guest appearances on such series as Perry Mason, 77 Sunset Strip, and The Real McCoys.  Her last credited role was the 1980 made-for-TV movie Gideon's Trumpet.

Fay Wray died in her sleep on August 8, 2004.  She was 96 years old. Two days later, the Empire State Building dimmed its lights for 15 minutes in honor of her memory.  She was laid to rest in a modest grave at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Location: Section #8 (Garden of Legends), Lot #2300, Grave #7

Rest in peace.

Trivia

• If you want to learn more about Fay Wray, take a voyage to your public library or Amazon.  It's all in books.
  
  
• While there is no dedicated Fay Wray museum, there is a memorial fountain in her hometown of Alberta, as well as local history displays.  You'll find them at the Courthouse and Heritage Museum.
  
  
• In 1997, Wray, was offered the role of adult Rose in James Cameron's Titanic, later saying "I think to have done Titanic would have been a tortuous experience altogether."  The part eventually went to actress Gloria Stuart.
  
  
• During the 1998 Oscar awards telecast, host Billy Crystal ambushed Wray on live television declaring her the "beauty who charmed the beast."  Wray was caught completely off guard and seemed uncomfortable with the recognition.  Curious?  Check out this clip on YouTube.
  
  
• In 1993, Type O Negative released a tribute song entitled Fay Wray Come Out and Play.  Check it out on YouTube.