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Cooper, Maxine

Born May 12, 1924;
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Died April 4, 2009;
Los Angeles, California, USA

Maverick Actor

Maxine Cooper moved from Chicago to California in the mid-1940s and began a theatrical career at the Pasadena Playhouse. In 1946, she traveled to Europe to entertain American troops and settled for a while in England, appearing on British stage and television. in the mid-1950s, she returned to Los Angeles and landed featured roles in American television. In 1955, she was cast in the classic noir film, "Kiss Me Deadly" to much acclaim. She slipped into relative obscurity afterwards, briefly continuing to appear in television productions, but soon retired to get married and raise a family. She became an advocate of civil rights and helped to form the Hollywood contingency in support of Martin Luther King. She later actively protested the Vietnam War and nuclear proliferation.[1]