Actress Margaret “Maggie” Blye passed away peacefully on March 24, 2016 in West Hollywood, California after a two year battle with cancer with her brother and sister by her side. Born in Houston, Maggie began her studies at the University of Texas then transferred to UCLA for her senior year.
In Los Angeles, Maggie was quickly spotted by an agent and her first audition was for the role of “Dusty” in the Oscar nominated film Summer and Smoke starring Laurence Harvey and Geraldine Page. She got the part and at a luncheon for the actors, she asked Geraldine, “What part are you playing?” The star answered politely, “I play the part of Alma” then took a young Maggie under her wing and advised her that “If she wanted to be an actress, she needed to study, study, study.” And study, Maggie did.
Maggie went on to star in many films and worked with some of the best of Hollywood: Hombre with Paul Newman, Diane Cilento, Barbara Rush, and Richard Boone; Hard Times with Charles Bronson and James Coburn; Waterhole #3 with Carroll O’Connor and James Coburn; Diamonds for Breakfast with Marcello Mastroianni; and Ash Wednesday where she portrayed “Kate Sawyer,” the daughter of “Barbara Sawyer” played by Elizabeth Taylor.
In 1969, Maggie starred as “Lorna” with Michael Caine and Noel Coward in the original The Italian Job. Subsequent film roles included The Sporting Club; The Final Chapter: Walking Tall; Little Darlings with Tatum O’Neal, Kristy McNichol, Armand Assante and Matt Dillon; The Entity with Ron Silver; The Last Goodbye with Faye Dunaway; The Gingerdead Man; and Man in the Chair with Christopher Plummer.
Maggie’s television roles included Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Ben Casey, The Rockford Files, Hart to Hart, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. She also appeared in the pilot and multiple episodes of In the Heat of the Night with Carroll O’Connor.
Maggie joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1968 and was active in the organization where she diligently voted in The Academy Awards each year for all categories, including Foreign Films and Documentaries. She selflessly gave her time and expertise to help young actors learn their craft.
Maggie was all about love, giving so much to her family and friends, especially young children. She will be missed by all of her friends and family. She is survived by her sister, veteran casting director, Judy Blye Wilson; her brother, Richard Blye; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The American Cancer Society. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 30 in Houston, Texas at the Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home. A memorial to celebrate Maggie’s life will be held in Los Angeles at a later date.
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