Mary Murphy - Actor Profile

Mary Murphy

Acting
Freshness: Jan 20, 2026
32Total Films
7.0 Highest Rated
Born: Jan 26, 1931
Birth Place: Washington, District of Columbia, USA

About Mary Murphy

Mary Murphy (January 26, 1931 – May 4, 2011) was an American film actress of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. She was born in Washington, D.C., before moving to Los Angeles. Shortly out of high school she was signed to appear in films for Paramount Pictures in the late 1940s. Murphy first gained attention in 1953, when she played a good-hearted girl who tries to reform Marlon Brando in The Wild One. The following year, she appeared opposite Tony Curtis in Beachhead, and the year after that as Fredric March's daughter in the thriller The Desperate Hours, which also starred Humphrey Bogart. She co-starred with actor-director Ray Milland in his Western A Man Alone, and appeared in dozens of television series including Perry Mason, I Spy and Ironside. She was long absent from the big screen before acting in 1972 with Steve McQueen in the Sam Peckinpah film Junior Bonner. She had retired from acting by the 1980s. Murphy died from heart disease complications on May 4, 2011; she was 80 years old. Description above from the Wikipedia article Mary Murphy (actress), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Mary Murphy reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 32 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Mary Murphy's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 19% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Mary Murphy remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Desperate Hours, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Mary Murphy Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Mary Murphy's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Mary Murphy.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
1976 Born Innocent Miss Murphy Average Similar →
1975 Katherine Miss Collins Average Similar →
1974 The Stranger Who Looks Like Me Mrs. Quayle Average Similar →
1974 I Love You...Good-bye Pam Parks Flop Similar →
1972 Footsteps Martha Hagger Flop Similar →
1972 Junior Bonner Ruth Bonner Average Similar →
1965 Harlow Sally Doane Flop Similar →
1962 40 Pounds of Trouble Liz McCluskey Flop Similar →
1962 Two Before Zero - Flop Similar →
1959 Crime and Punishment USA Sally Marmon Flop Similar →
1958 Live Fast, Die Young Kim Winters / Narrator Average Similar →
1958 Escapement Ruth Vance Flop Similar →
1956 The Intimate Stranger Evelyn Stewart Average Similar →
1956 The Maverick Queen Lucy Lee Average Similar →
1955 A Man Alone Nadine Corrigan Average Similar →
1955 The Desperate Hours Cynthia 'Cindy' Hilliard Hit Similar →
1955 Hell's Island Janet Martin Flop Similar →
1954 Sitting Bull Kathy Howell Flop Similar →
1954 The Mad Magician Karen Lee Hit Similar →
1954 Make Haste to Live Randy Benson Average Similar →
1954 Beachhead Nina Bouchard Average Similar →
1953 The Wild One Kathie Bleeker Hit Similar →
1953 Main Street to Broadway Mary Craig Hit Similar →
1952 Off Limits WAC Average Similar →
1952 Carrie Jessica Hurstwood Average Similar →
1952 The Turning Point Secretary (uncredited) Average Similar →
1952 The Atomic City Young Woman Buying Stamps Flop Similar →
1952 Sailor Beware Girl (uncredited) Average Similar →
1951 Westward the Women Pioneer Woman (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1951 When Worlds Collide Student Average Similar →
1951 Darling, How Could You! Sylvia Average Similar →
1951 The Lemon Drop Kid Girl (uncredited) Hit Similar →

Mary Murphy - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Mary Murphy?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Mary Murphy is "The Desperate Hours" with a rating of 7.0/10.

How many movies has Mary Murphy acted in?

Mary Murphy has been featured in at least 32 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Mary Murphy?

Other notable films include "Westward the Women", "The Mad Magician", and "The Wild One".