Eunice Fay McKenzie, known popularly by her stage names of Fay McKenzie and Fay Shannon is a retired American film, television and Broadway actress who is best known for appearing in the Gene Aultry films during the early 1940’s. McKenzie’s romantic pairing with cowboy singer Autry resulted in five commercially successful films such as Down Mexico Way’, ‘Sierra Sue’, ‘Cowboy Serenade’, ‘Heart of the Rio Grande’, and ‘Home in Wyomin’.

McKenzie made her silver screen debut when she was just 10 weeks old, playing Gloria Swanson’s baby in the 1918 film ‘Station Content’. She also appeared in four silent movies as a child artiste. McKenzie also had a thriving career in Broadway and Television and appeared in popular series like ”The Millionaire’, ‘Mr. Lucky’, and ‘Bonanza’. She made her last screen appearance in the 1981 film ‘S.O.B.’

Early Life and Education

McKenzie was born on February 19, 1918, in Hollywood, California as one of the three daughters of Robert “Bob” McKenzie and his wife Eva Heazlitt. Both of McKenzie’s parents worked in the show business. Her father also owned the McKenzie Merry Makers stock company and worked as both actor and stage and film director. McKenzie’s siblings include sisters Ella and Mae McKenzie.

McKenzie made her screen debut when she was ten weeks old in the 1918 film ‘Station Content’ as the baby of Gloria Swanson. As a child artiste, McKenzie appeared in four silent films; ‘A Knight of the West’, ‘When Love Comes’, ‘The Judgment of the Storm’ and ‘The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln’. McKenzie took a decade-long break in the mid 1920’s to concentrate on her education and enrolled into the Beverly Hills High School. She resumed her acting career in 1934 with the films ‘Student Tour’ and ‘Sundown Trail’.

 Career Rise

Throughout the 1930’s McKenzie appeared in several cameos and uncredited film roles. As an adult, appeared as Sally Nolan in the 1934 film ‘The Boss Cowboy’ and as Linda Clayton in the 1937 film ‘Assassin of Youth’ which was an anti-cannabis propaganda film. McKenzie appeared in several Western films like ‘Ghost Town Riders’ in which she essayed the character of Molly Taylor and ‘When the Daltons Rode’, essaying the role of Hannah. She also appeared in the 1939 cult film ‘Gunga Din’. She made her Broadway debut with the 1940 play ‘Meet the People’.

McKenzie gained prominence in 1941 after being signed by Republic Pictures President Herbert Hayes, which led to her being cast in the lead role in several films featuring cowboy singer Gene Autry. She appeared as Maria Alvarado in the commercial hit ‘Down Mexico Way’ and became an overnight sensation. Her pairing with Gene Autry was revived in films like ‘Sierra Sue’, ‘Cowboy Serenade’, ‘Heart of the Rio Grande’, and ‘Home in Wyomin’. McKenzie and Autry sang duets in all the films in which they featured together. McKenzie’s later appearances include Broadway and theatre work such as ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, ‘Burlesque’ and toured the country to entertain the troops during World War II. After the war, McKenzie mostly kept to a television career appearing in shows like ‘The Millionaire’, ‘Mr. Lucky’, and ‘Bonanza’. She had acting roles in films like ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, ‘The Party’ and made her final appearance in the 1981 film ‘S.O.B’.

Fay McKenzie – Young Pictures

Husband

McKenzie has been married twice. She married American actor Steve Cochran in January 1946 in in Acapulco, Mexico but the marriage was short lived. McKenzie and Cochran separated within nine months and were legally divorced in 1948. It was speculated that McKenzie’s parents disapproved of their union which became the cause for their divorce.

McKenzie then married screenwriter Tom Waldman in 1948. The couple became parents to two children, a son named Tom Waldman Jr, also an actor and daughter Madora McKenzie, who is a writer. Mcknezie and Waldman lived together for 37 years until his death in July 1985.

Fay McKenzie – Net Worth

McKenzie has an estimated net worth of approximately $16 Million.