RIP: "Vampira," Maila Nurmi.

Over at Blogging.la, Ruth Waytz writes:

With a heavy heart I deliver the sad news that our friend Maila Nurmi, famous for her portrayal of Vampira, has passed at age 86. Maila passed away peacefully in her sleep at home. Funeral arrangements are pending legal steps as Maila had no relatives. Her friends are trying to get her a spot at Hollywood Forever Cemetery and will likely plan some sort of hearse procession for her.

Link.

[#1 posted by RamonaLittle , January 12, 2008 9:15 PM]

This is on lots of blogs, but I'm puzzled why it's not on any of the major news sites, and very few of the blogs say where they got this info. So I'm still treating this as an unconfirmed rumor.

Very sad if it's true.

In any case, there's a very interesting recent documentary about her called "Vampira: The Movie" with new interview footage of her and other classic horror hosts (including Zacherley, Svengoolie and Elvira).

[#2 posted by antipax , January 12, 2008 9:34 PM]

Shucks... the world is becoming a really dull place.

[#3 posted by Stefan Jones , January 12, 2008 9:37 PM]

So Vampira was inspired by the Chas Addams character who was later named "Morticia Addams!"

[#4 posted by Crawford Tillinghast , January 12, 2008 10:04 PM]

The morbid part of me's been wondering if they'll take a chance and bury her right next to Tor Johnson.

[#5 posted by Spikeles , January 12, 2008 10:23 PM]

A little more info here: http://www.vampirasattic.com/

[#6 posted by Takuan , January 12, 2008 10:46 PM]

@4
ever seen it in a theatre?
http://www.moviemonstermuseum.com/htimages/plan9.jpg

[#7 posted by agnot , January 13, 2008 12:15 AM]

I am surprised at my own grief. I had no idea she was in her 50's when she was acting like a 30 year-old acting like a 20 year-old. I am glad she made a nitch for herself as she got older.

I scoffed at her in my 20's. I haven't seen her for decades, but I am sorry she is gone.

[#8 posted by Stakker , January 13, 2008 2:38 AM]

The news has been mentioned in Finnish media, including the largest daily newspaper. (She was born in Finland.)

[#9 posted by License Farm , January 13, 2008 7:59 AM]

[does Bela Lugosi hand gesture]

Come back to us, Vampira... hear me...

One less lovely, offbeat Finn in the world. I loves 'em. A current character on the convention circuit, Captain Schoolgirl aka Satu, is also of Finnish stock, and is in the same vein of beauty.

[#10 posted by simplehuman , January 13, 2008 12:25 PM]

Her Wiki is full of amazing trivia. Dated Orson Welles, hung out with James Dean, costumed Grace Slick? That's a hell of a life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maila_Nurmi

[#11 posted by OM , January 13, 2008 1:04 PM]

...Hey, why is everyone so down? Like Vincent Price and Bela Lugosi, she'll eventually return from the grave!

[#12 posted by Santa's Knee , January 13, 2008 2:20 PM]

"...Hey, why is everyone so down? Like Vincent Price and Bela Lugosi, she'll eventually return from the grave!"

Unfortunately, as a licensed PepsiCo product... :(

[#13 posted by ill lich , January 13, 2008 6:44 PM]

Probably succumbed to her deadly garlic allergy.

[#14 posted by mesmerelda , January 16, 2008 5:05 PM]

I found Maila two years ago and wrote her several letters and a couples of small gifts, but she never replied. Of course, my letters were never returned either, so hopefully she read them. I went to LA to visit her back in May of 2005 and although she declined to visit w/ me I did see her and speak to her briefly. I just hope Maila gets the respect she deserves in death that she never really saw during her life. She has affected pop culture so much w/ her Vampira image, even if people aren't really aware of it on a concious level.