Una Merkel

Una Merkel carved a memorable niche in Hollywood as a versatile supporting player, often embodying the spirited, no-nonsense confidante. Her early career included a notable turn as a stand-in for Lillian Gish, but it was her discovery of comic potential that defined her filmography. Merkel excelled in roles that leveraged her distinctive Southern charm and sharp wit, perhaps most famously as a wis... moreecracking chorus girl in "42nd Street" and in a memorable, hair-pulling scene with Marlene Dietrich in "Destry Rides Again." Her career was capped with an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in "Summer and Smoke." less