John Wayne’s Iwo Jima leading lady dies at 87

The actress died of natural causes at her home in Pacific Palisades, California on Friday (07May10).

Born in Michigan, she started out as a dancer and was discovered by bandleader Xavier Cugat and toured with him.

Upon arriving in Los Angeles at the beginning of the 1940s, Mara quickly became a regular face on the big and small screen.

As well as John Wayne’s 1949 movie, her credits include Angel in Exile and her late husband Roy Huggins’ TV shows 77 Sunset Strip and Maverick.