Marilyn Maxwell (b. August 3, 1921, Clarinda, Iowa; d. March 20, 1972, Beverly Hills, California), born Marvel Marilyn Maxwell, was a platinum blonde, curvaceous movie actress and entertainer who, in addition to appearing in many films, also entertained the troops during World War II and the Korean War on USO tours with Bob Hope. She also appeared in a number of Hope's shows as a sexy but comic foil. She started her professional entertaining career as a radio singer while still a teenager before signing with MGM in 1942 as a contract player. The head of MGM, Louis B. Mayer, insisted she change the "Marvel" part of her real name. She dropped her first name and kept the middle. Some of her memorable film roles included Champion (1949) and The Lemon Drop Kid (1951).