Shirley O'Hara

Shirley O'Hara (born Shirley Har; August 15, 1924 – December 13, 2002) was an American actress. She appeared in numerous films from the 1940s to the 1980s. O'Hara was born in Rochester, Minnesota in 1924 and graduated from Rochester High School in 1942. As a high school senior, she worked at three film theaters in downtown Rochester.After graduation, O'Hara moved to Hollywood. Her job as an elevator operator at Saks Fifth Avenue brought her in contact with people who worked with films, and she signed with RKO Studios when she was 18 years old. She began her acting career in 1943. Her film debut was in the Kay Kyser musical Around the World (1943). Other films in which she appeared included Tarzan and the Amazons, The Chase, Higher and Higher and Ghost Ship (1952).O'Hara's figure led to her role in Ghost Ship, as the result of a process that was featured in the September 13, 1943, issue of Life. RKO held a competition to find the "shapeliest 'shadow girl'" for the role, because the leading lady in the film was seen only in silhouette.During World War II, she received the Support for America award, acknowledging her wartime efforts with the Hollywood Canteen.She also appeared in several TV series during the 1950s, including Fireside Theatre, Gunsmoke, The Millionaire, Racket Squad and Dragnet. In 1970, O'Hara appeared as Mrs. Drew on the TV western The Virginian in the episode "The Mysterious Mr. Tate."

During the early 1970s, she was appointed director of public relations for The Burbank Studios. In 1973, she played Mrs. Malone, a night school teacher, on the season four episode "Two Wrongs Don't Make a Writer" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She appeared on three episodes of the Bob Newhart Show as ditzy temporary secretary, Debbie Flett. She appeared in the films Duel (1971) and Rocky (1976). A member of the Publicists Guild, she retired in 1995.