Marion Shilling, a captivating brunette with a radiant complexion, was an oft-overlooked yet talented actress of the 1930s. Born in 1910 in Denver, Colorado, she began her promising career with a notable role in MGM's Wise Girls (1929). Subsequently, she transitioned to leading and second lead status, starring alongside notable actors such as William Powell in Shadow of the Law (1930) and Constance Bennett in The Common Law (1931).
Shilling's early success continued with top-billed roles in films like Forgotten Women (1931) and Shop Angel (1932),which solidified her status as a charming addition to any cinematic production. Despite her early promise, her career began to wane within a few years, and she eventually found herself relegated to love interest roles in lower-budget films.
However, Shilling's career experienced a resurgence when she began to focus on westerns, starring in serials like The Red Rider (1934) and Stone of Silver Creek (1935) opposite Buck Jones, and The Westerner (1934) and Idaho Kid (1936) alongside Tim McCoy and Rex Bell, respectively. She eventually retired from films at the age of 25 after co-starring with Hoot Gibson and Rex Lease in Cavalcade of the West (1936).
Shilling's personal life was marked by a long and enduring marriage to a real estate mogul, which lasted over 50 years. Although she was largely absent from the public eye for many years, she received a Golden Boot Award in 2002 from the Motion Picture and Television Fund in recognition of her significant contributions to the western genre.
Tragically, Marion Shilling passed away at the age of 93 due to natural causes in Torrance, California.
