Marian Winters
Marian Winters (April 19, 1920 – November 3, 1978) was an American dramatist and actress of stage, film, and television. Biography. Marian Winters was born Marian Weinstein, the eldest of four sisters born to Morris and Sophie Weinstein. Her three sisters, Shirley Zeisel (died 2010), Elaine Singer (died 2014), and Annette Laster (died 2019), long outlived her. She was raised in New York City. She made her debut in summer stock in her teens. She began her career on Broadway understudying Frances Dee in "The Secret Room" (1945). She also played Lady Constance in King John, and toured in  such plays as "Detective Story", "The Heiress" and "Dream Girl". Winters achieved fame for her role in "I Am a Camera" as Natalia Landauer. For this performance she was awarded various acting honors including the 1952 Tony Award as a Best Supporting or Featured Actress. In 1955, she played Gelda in the American production of "The Dark is Light Enough", a verse drama by Christopher Fry, which starred Katharine Cornell and Tyrone Power. Her last role was in "Deathtrap". Writing. In 1967, Winters won an Emmy for her television adaptation of Animal Keepers, one of the three one-act plays  comprising "A is for All". Death. Her tenure in "Deathtrap" was cut short due to cancer, which claimed her life on November 3, 1978. She was succeeded in her role (Helga Ten Dorp) by Elizabeth Parrish. The role was played by Irene Worth in the film version. Personal life. Winters was married to NBC executive Jerome H. "Jay" Smolin (November 29, 1919 – October 21, 2010) from circa 1946/1947 until her death in 1978. The couple had no children.