Marcia Anne Henderson Prestlien (Marcia Prestlien)

Marcia Anne Henderson Prestlien

Actress.  Born in Andover, Massachusetts to John Day Henderson and Dorothy Crofts Henderson. She made her first public appearance at the age of 5 in an Easter service at the Congregational Church at Hampden, Connecticut. Acting was her passion while attending public schools. Marcia  began to act on a regular basis with local drama groups while attending Williamstown High School. She traveled to New York City to begin studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she graduated in 1947. Marcia attended the Stockbridge School of the Theater. In the summer of 1948, she became a leading player with the Galeway Stock Company in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. In 1950, she was Theatre World Award winner, for her performance as Wendy in the 1950 Broadway revival of “Peter Pan”.  Marcia was spotted by a Universal talent scout during a Washington D.C. performance of “The Moon is Blue” with the National Theatre Company in late 1951. She would marry for the first time to Robert Brodsky, they would divorce in 1953. Her second husband was Robert Ivers, they would marry in 1961 and together they had two daughters. Early in 1953, Henderson completed her first film playing a major role in the James Stewart movie, “Thunder Bay.”  She would be co-starring as Rock Hudson’s wife in “Back to God’s Country.” In 1953, she also played Barbara Stanwyck’s sister in “All I Desire” and John Forsythe’s wife in “The Glass Web.” In 1957, she received the lead role in the B-movie “The Wayward Girl.” Marcia was also diagnosed as suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. She tried to conceal it so that she could continue acting, but because of her condition, Marcia needed to limit herself to television appearances. She died from effects of lupus, which had caused multiple organ failure in Yakima, Washington. She was 58 years old. (bio by: Shock)  Family links:  Spouse:  Robert LaVern Prestlien (1934 – 2003)*  Children:  Mallory Anne Prestlien Cangialosi (1962 – 2005)* *Calculated relationship

Born

  • July, 22, 1929
  • USA

Died

  • November, 11, 1987
  • USA

Cemetery

  • Clarksburg Cemetery
  • Massachusetts
  • USA

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