Ziegfeld Girl Marion Benda

Update: Thanks to the kindness of Ziegfeld Fans, the grave of Marian Benda will now be marked after 60 years. Woodlawn Cemetary has allowed a non family member to purchase a grave marker for this beautiful girl who's final resting place will now have a marker with her name.

Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery Santa MonicaLos Angeles County California Plot: Grave 180, Block 4, Aisle B

Dancer. Marion Benda appeared in several Ziegfeld productions during the 1920's including the Ziegfeld Revue No Foolin' (1926), Rio Rita (1927), and Rosalie (1928). She was the last paramour of the silent film actor, Rudolph Valentino, and was in his company at a party given by Barclay Warburon, Jr. when the actor became ill on August 14, 1926.

Cause of death: Overdose of barbituates

{Time Magazine U.S Date for the "Milestones" deaths} Printed on Monday, Dec. 10, 1951
Died. Marion Benda, Ziegfeld Follies girl of the '20s, long rumored to be the mysterious Woman in Black who made a pilgrimage to the tomb of Screen Lover Rudolph Valentino each year on the anniversary of his death; by her own hand (sleeping pills, on her seventh attempt); in Hollywood. She claimed to have gone dancing with Valentino the night he was fatally stricken with an attack of peritonitis and gastric ulcers, afterwards made the headlines by announcing that they had been married and were the parents of a baby girl. (Years later claimed this same girl was 19 years old and living in London) Later she did marry 1) a Hollywood golf writer (it lasted a day), 2) a wealthy baron, 3) a doctor. Of her tendency to swallow overdoses of sleeping pills, she declared: "He [Valentino] always said I was too beautiful to live." http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,815746,00.html

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[Travis25601]

Although this may sound strange and ridiculous; if you could get a message and details of this cause regarding this situation to Streisand, I believe she would assist.

[staclynn72]

@Travis25601 I updated under the video that we have a marker , it will be put in in December. I actually got a call from the family. Very nice, but the cemetery ok'd the stone without a family member, so everything went well! Thanks for the suggestion.. ;)

[GraefinVonSalamanca]

thank you so much for this interesting and wonderful video! 5* hugs!

[staclynn72]

@GraefinVonSalamanca Thanks, we are working hard to get this thing to happen.

[VictoriasRoses]

She had a very pretty face!! Lovely video!! I hope you find family members soon. X