32 Facts About Marie McDonald

Marie McDonald reported being abducted by two men who demanded a ransom, but the police found inconsistencies in her story, leading to no conclusive evidence or charges.

Marie McDonald's three surviving children were raised by former husband Harry Karl and his wife Debbie Reynolds.

Marie McDonald continued modeling and continued to work for the owner of the Broadway theatre as a showgirl at his Sunset Boulevard nightclub.

Marie McDonald was eventually dropped by Universal and signed with Paramount Pictures, earning $100 per week.

Marie McDonald returned to Paramount where she appeared in supporting roles.

In 1944, Marie McDonald co-starred in Guest in the House, in which she received the first positive reviews in her career.

Marie McDonald's next starring role came when she worked for independent producer Edward Small as the title character in the 1945 screwball comedy Getting Gertie's Garter.

Marie McDonald and Kelly did not get along while shooting, and the film was a financial failure.

Marie McDonald bought out the rest of her contract at MGM and went to Columbia Pictures, where she appeared in a supporting role in Tell It to the Judge.

In 1950, Marie McDonald appeared in Once a Thief and Hit Parade of 1951, and she did not make a movie for the next eight years.

Marie McDonald toured the world in a successful nightclub act.

Marie McDonald returned to the screen in 1958 when she was cast as actress Lola Livingston in The Geisha Boy, a slapstick comedy with Jerry Lewis.

At the time of their separation, Marie McDonald was pregnant with the couple's first biological child.

On May 23,1959, Marie McDonald married television executive Louis Bass in Las Vegas.

Marie McDonald filed for divorce after ten months, charging Bass with "mental cruelty".

Callahan claimed that the two had only lived together for two days because Marie McDonald had no intention of making a home with him or having his children.

Marie McDonald claimed that Callahan had committed adultery and borrowed $2600 from her to finance their wedding and honeymoon which he did not repay.

Marie McDonald married for the seventh time in 1963 to her sixth and final husband, Donald Taylor.

On January 4,1957, Marie McDonald's mother contacted the police, reporting that a nervous-sounding man had claimed to have abducted her daughter from her Los Angeles home in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.

Marie McDonald's mother found a note in the mailbox of her daughter's house, instructing her not to involve the police.

Later, Marie McDonald's estranged husband, Harry Karl, received a call from a male who sounded "like a nervous young kid", warning against contacting the authorities if he wanted to see her alive.

Marie McDonald claimed that she had been taken to another location, where she managed to make three phone calls to her agent, Harold Plant, actor Michael Wilding, and columnist Harrison Carroll.

Marie McDonald then claimed to have been blindfolded before being loaded into a car which was then driven for some time.

Marie McDonald recounted to police that two abductors had brandished a sawed-off gun with threats to shoot her children, taken some jewelry, and discussed a $30,000 ransom.

Marie McDonald claimed they then forced her into their car, and she was blindfolded before being driven to a home.

At the home, Marie McDonald said the men forced her to swallow pills that made her drowsy before being able to make three phone calls when alone.

Marie McDonald agreed to a re-enactment, which was filmed by police.

Marie McDonald's estranged husband Harry Karl doubted the story and claimed McDonald was "not a well woman".

Marie McDonald accused Karl of orchestrating the abduction for publicity purposes, but later admitted that she fabricated his alleged involvement.

Marie McDonald testified that her story changed frequently because she was in shock when she gave her initial statement and had been taking sedatives when she gave other statements.

Marie McDonald's remains were interred in the Freedom Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.

Marie McDonald's three surviving children were raised by Harry Karl and his wife Debbie Reynolds.