Mara Corday

Mara Corday, an actress best known for appearing in a slew of science fiction, horror, and western films throughout the 1950s, died February 9, 2025, of cardiovascular disease in Valencia, California at the age of 95.?

Born Marilyn Joan Watts and discovered while working as a teen showgirl and dancer, Corday signed with Universal-International Pictures (UI) as a contract player in the 1950s, leading to a string of roles that made her one of the era's most frequently seen scream queens, as well as to a career as a pinup model. She appeared in genre fare such as "Tarantula," "The Giant Claw," "The Black Scorpion," and many others. Corday was also the October 1958 Playboy pinup. Later in her career, Clint Eastwood, who had a bit part in "Tarantula," began using her in his films. For modern audiences, she is perhaps best known as the sugar-pouring waitress from the legendary "Go ahead, make my day" scene in "Sudden Impact." She also appeared with Eastwood in "The Gauntlet," "Pink Cadillac," and "The Rookie."

A Facebook page devoted to collecting historical photos, Old Historical Photos 2.0, praised Corday for "always bringing elegance to the wildest sci-fi plots. A Playboy model, yes, but also a woman who stepped back from stardom to raise a family, only to return decades later thanks to her lifelong friend Clint Eastwood. She wasn't just seen - she stood out. A symbol of grit, grace, and golden-age resilience. Still captivating. Still unforgettable."

By Eric San Juan

(Image: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)