Marika Aba
Marika Aba (November 12, 1929 — November 12, 1972) was a dancer and journalist born in Budapest, Hungary. After World War II, she and her mother, Georgina Maros, escaped to Austria, where she trained as a ballerina. She was a prima ballerina in Rome when she landed the role of the Assyrian Dancer at Nero's banquet in the 1951 movie Quo Vadis[1], after which she moved her residence to Sherman Oaks, California. In 1952 she appeared as the flower girl in the MGM musical film Lovely to Look At. In 1961 she appeared as a contestant on the TV quiz show, You Bet Your Life, hosted by Groucho Marx. She was escorted on stage by Harpo Marx.[2][3]
After her brief film career she became a journalist, writing for the Los Angeles Times about the arts.[4] She returned to Italy and focused her reporting on the Italian movie industry. Film critic Charles Champlin noted the "ebullience and wit" of her writing.[5]
At the time of her death Aba was publicity director for Verona Film, and production and publicity liaison for Paramount Pictures and Cinema International Corporation. She died in Paris, France.[6] Her funeral and burial were in Rome.
Aba was the second wife of Norman Nathan Semler.[7] The couple had one child, a son named Gary.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1951 | Quo Vadis | Assyrian Dancer at Nero's Banquet | Uncredited |
1952 | Lovely to Look At | Flower Girl | Uncredited, (final film role) |
References
- Richard Lindsay. "Hollywood Biblical Epics: Camp Spectacle and Queer Style from the Silent Era to the Modern Day: Camp Spectacle and Queer Style from the Silent Era to the Modern Day". Praeger. p. 74. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- "Marika Aba". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- "Harpo meets Groucho on "You Bet Your Life"". Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- Axel Madsen. "John Houston: A Biography". Open Road Media. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- Charles Champlin (November 14, 1972). "Marika Aba Dies After Long Illness". newspapers.com. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- "Marika Aba Dies". Motion Picture Daily. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- "Norman Nathan Semler". Geni. Retrieved 21 April 2019.