Marilyn Adele Dunlap, better known by her stage name Myrna Dell, was born on March 5, 1924, and would later adopt a unique moniker by combining her nickname, Myrna, with her middle name, Adele, to create her stage last name, Dell.
Dell began her career as a showgirl in the renowned Earl Carroll Revue in New York, making her film debut in A Night at Earl Carroll's in 1940. She was subsequently signed by MGM and appeared in the 1941 film Ziegfeld Girl, although the studio failed to exercise her option and she returned to Earl Carroll's.
Dell's next move was to the Billy Rose Nightclub, followed by a season in the "George White's Scandals" revue. Despite her success on stage, the allure of Hollywood never faded, and she returned in 1943 to appear in a string of westerns alongside cowboy icons such as Bob Steele and Hoot Gibson.
Dell's filmography continued to grow, with a small but notable role in the 1944 classic Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, followed by a contract with RKO Pictures in the same year. Over the next few years, RKO kept her busy, casting her in more than 20 films, including the 1949 comedy The Girl from Jones Beach, in which she co-starred with future US President Ronald Reagan.
In 1951, Dell gave a standout performance in an unconventional role as the ambitious and murderous daughter of a powerful rancher in the offbeat western The Bushwhackers. She continued to work steadily throughout the years, not only in films but also on television, earning a recurring role in the Dan Duryea adventure series China Smith in 1952.
In addition to her acting career, Dell also ventured into journalism, writing a gossip column titled "Hollywood: Then and Now".
