Maxine Cooper Gomberg

Gladys Maxine Cooper (May 12, 1924 – April 4, 2009) was an American actress, activist, and photographer. She was perhaps best known for her role as private detective Mike Hammer's secretary Velda in the 1955 film Kiss Me Deadly, which the Los Angeles Times called a "film noir classic." Early life Gladys Maxine Cooper was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1924 to Richard and Gladys Cooper. Her father was employed as a General Electric distributor. She first became interested in the theater and acting while she was enrolled as a student at Bennington College in Vermont. Cooper transferred to the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California, where she completed her education in drama. Early career Cooper travelled to Europe in 1946 to perform for United States military troops stationed on the continent, following the end of World War II as part of the United Services Organization (USO). She travelled throughout post-war Europe, entertaining the troops with an ensemble of other actors, including Veda Ann Borg, Rose Hobart, and Ellen Corby. She remained in Europe for more than five years, performing in both theatrical productions and television shows for the BBC. Her BBC television play credits included I Killed the Count in 1948, and You Can't Take It with You in 1947, which co-starred Finlay Currie. She often performed at the Café de Paris in London.