Margaret Hayes was an American actress who is best known for her roles in Blackboard Jungle, Girls Town, and Sullivan’s Travels. Born Florette Regina Ottenheimer in Baltimore, Maryland, she would go on to have a diverse career in film and television.
Personal and Family Life
Margaret Hayes was born on December 5, 1916, to Jacob ‘Jack’ Louis Ottenheimer and Clara Bussy. She had three marriages throughout her life, with her second husband being actor Leif Erickson and her third husband, producer Herbert B. Swope Jr. She had three children: Tracy Brooks Swope, Rusty Swope, and Nan Debuskey. While juggling her family life, she also worked as a fashion designer and model.
Career Overview
Margaret started acting while still in high school and later trained at Johns Hopkins University. She joined The Barnstormers troupe, which was her first performance group. After some initial modeling and unsuccessful auditions, she changed her name to Maggie Hayes and began appearing in Broadway productions. Despite often playing supporting roles, she continued to expand her career into fashion and public relations, even becoming a fashion editor for Life Magazine.
Death and Legacy
Margaret Hayes passed away on January 26, 1977, in Miami Beach, Florida, from cancer and hepatitis. She left behind a lasting legacy in American cinema and fashion, remembered for her roles and contributions to the industry. Margaret is also noted for her versatile career beyond acting, influencing fashion and design long after her retirement.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Blackboard Jungle | 1955-03-25 | Lois Judby Hammond |
| The Beat Generation | 1959-07-03 | Joyce Freenfield |
| Girls Town | 1959-10-05 | Mother Veronica (as Maggie Hayes) |
| Good Day for a Hanging | 1959-01-01 | Ruth Granger |
| The Case Against Brooklyn | 1958-06-01 | Lil Polombo nee Alexander |
| Sullivan’s Travels | 1941-11-30 | Secretary |
| The Glass Key | 1942-09-08 | Eloise Matthews |
| Violent Saturday | 1955-04-01 | Mrs. Emily Fairchild |
| In Old Colorado | 1941-03-14 | Myra Woods |
| The Night of January 16th | 1941-11-28 | Nancy Wakefield |
| The Lady Has Plans | 1942-01-20 | Rita Lenox |
| Damn Citizen | 1958-03-01 | Dorothy Grevemberg (as Maggie Hayes) |
| The Bottom of the Bottle | 1956-02-01 | Lil Breckinridge |
| One Dangerous Night | 1943-01-22 | Patricia Blake (Shaw) |
| House of Women | 1962-04-11 | Zoe Stoughton |
| Omar Khayyam | 1957-08-23 | Queen Zarada |
| Fräulein | 1958-06-08 | Lt. Berdie Dubbin |
| Fashion Horizons | 1940-08-03 | |
| Just a Cute Kid | 1940-10-05 | Hortense |
| City for Conquest | 1940-09-21 | Sally – Irene’s Friend (uncredited) |
| The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp | 1955-09-06 | Dora Hand |
| Perry Mason | 1957-09-21 | Sylvia Granger |