Marguerite Louise Skliris was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Evangelis Skliris, a lawyer, and his wife, who had studied in Paris. Her family emigrated from Athens to the United States in 1913, first settling in Chicago before relocating to San Francisco while she was still young. Her lineage included prominent figures in Greek political and industrial life, including ancestors who held significant influence in Greece prior to the family’s emigration.
She began acting at the age of seven, appearing in numerous stage productions as a child performer. Her early talent was recognized when she won the Women’s National Shakespeare Contest for her portrayal of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. In her teenage years, she also pursued modeling and pageantry, earning the titles of Miss San Francisco and Miss California in 1939. That same year, she placed among the top finalists in the Miss America competition.
Theatre Career
Although advised that she could pursue a Broadway career if she remained in New York, Dean returned to San Francisco to complete her education. She nonetheless continued working in theater, performing with the Geary and Curran Theatres in San Francisco and later with the Biltmore Theatre in Los Angeles. These stage experiences helped establish her presence as a versatile performer prior to her transition into film.
Film Career
Dean made her feature film debut in Casanova in Burlesque (1944), adopting the stage name Margia Dean. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she was never under long-term contract to a single studio, instead working freelance for companies including Republic Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and 20th Century Fox.
Her most enduring association was with producer Robert L. Lippert, for whose Lippert Pictures she appeared in approximately sixteen films. This collaboration earned her the nickname “Queen of Lippert.” Her first leading role came in Shep Comes Home (1948), followed by a steady stream of starring roles in crime films, westerns, and adventure pictures.
Notable films from this period include Red Desert, FBI Girl, The Lonesome Trail, Villa!!, and Seven Women from Hell. She appeared opposite a young Clint Eastwood in the western Ambush at Cimarron Pass and played a trapeze artist in the circus drama The Big Show, which featured an ensemble cast including Esther Williams and Robert Vaughn.
Dean also appeared in The Quatermass Xperiment (1955), the first Hammer horror film, which later gained classic status within the science fiction and horror genres.
Despite her consistent employment, Dean became frustrated by being largely confined to B-movie roles. After marrying her second husband, architect Felipe Alvarez, in 1965, she retired from acting. Her final screen appearance was in Moro Witch Doctor. She briefly explored film production, forming Margo Productions and producing The Long Rope (1961), as well as developing several television pilots.
Later Life and Death
After leaving the film industry, Dean worked as a vice president at a real estate firm and later pursued careers in costume design and interior decoration. She lived a long and active life, remaining engaged with creative pursuits well into her later years.
Margia Dean died on June 23, 2023, at her apartment in Rancho Cucamonga, California, at the age of 101.
Selected Filmography
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Casanova in Burlesque (1944)
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Call of the South Seas (1944)
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Take It Big (1944)
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The Desert Hawk (1944)
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Accent on Crime (1944)
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Minstrel Man (1944)
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Earl Carroll Vanities (1945)
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The Power of the Whistler (1945)
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Crime Doctor’s Warning (1945)
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Living in a Big Way (1947)
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Shep Comes Home (1948)
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I Shot Jesse James (1949)
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Rimfire (1949)
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Red Desert (1949)
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The Baron of Arizona (1950)
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Bandit Queen (1950)
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FBI Girl (1951)
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Superman and the Mole-Men (1951)
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Loan Shark (1952)
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Mesa of Lost Women (1953)
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The Lonesome Trail (1955)
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The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)
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Last of the Desperados (1955)
