Una Merkel

'Una Merkel' (qv) began her movie career as stand-in for 'Lillian Gish' (qv) in the movie _The Wind (1928)_ (qv). After that, she performed on Broadway before she returned to movies for the 'D.W. Griffith' (qv) film _Abraham Lincoln (1930)_ (qv). In her early years, before gaining a few pounds, she looked like 'Lillian Gish' (qv), but after _Abraham Lincoln (1930)_ (qv) her comic potential was discovered. She mostly played supporting roles as the heroine's no-nonsense friend, but with her broad Southern accent and her peroxide blond hair, she gave one of her best performances as a wisecracking but not-so-bright chorus girl in _42nd Street (1933)_ (qv). Perhaps she is best remembered for her hair-pulling fight with 'Marlene Dietrich' (qv) in _Destry Rides Again (1939)_ (qv). In 1962, she was nominated for the Academy Award as best supporting actress in _Summer and Smoke (1961)_ (qv).::[email protected]