Susan Perry(1925-2005)
- Actress
Born in Vienna, Missouri, Candy Toxton moved with her family to East
St. Louis, Illinois, when she was young. She attended St. Teresa High
School and, after graduation, became a model in St. Louis. She went to
Chicago for greater opportunities and dated band leader
Tommy Dorsey.
Seeking greener pastures, she left for New York and dated both Frank Sinatra and Mel Tormé. While on a date with Sinatra at the El Morocco Club, an agent from the Charles K. Feldman agency spotted her and convinced her to take acting lessons. The agent got her bit parts in six movies and was signed to a contract by Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures. Cohn changed her stage name to "Susan Perry".
Cohn didn't want her dating Tormé because Cohn thought Mel wasn't a big enough star. However, Candy and Mel married in Mel's hometown of Chicago in February of 1949. Nat 'King' Cole, Peggy Lee and Dorothy Kilgallen were at the wedding. The couple moved to Bel-Air and had two children, a son, Steve March, and a daughter, Melissa Torme-March.
Candy and Mel divorced in 1955 and she soon after married his friend, Hal March, host of television's popular game show, The $64, 000 Question (1955). They had three children: Peter, Jeffrey and Victoria. After March's death in 1970, Candy resided in Rancho Mirage, California until her death on December 28, 2005.
Seeking greener pastures, she left for New York and dated both Frank Sinatra and Mel Tormé. While on a date with Sinatra at the El Morocco Club, an agent from the Charles K. Feldman agency spotted her and convinced her to take acting lessons. The agent got her bit parts in six movies and was signed to a contract by Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures. Cohn changed her stage name to "Susan Perry".
Cohn didn't want her dating Tormé because Cohn thought Mel wasn't a big enough star. However, Candy and Mel married in Mel's hometown of Chicago in February of 1949. Nat 'King' Cole, Peggy Lee and Dorothy Kilgallen were at the wedding. The couple moved to Bel-Air and had two children, a son, Steve March, and a daughter, Melissa Torme-March.
Candy and Mel divorced in 1955 and she soon after married his friend, Hal March, host of television's popular game show, The $64, 000 Question (1955). They had three children: Peter, Jeffrey and Victoria. After March's death in 1970, Candy resided in Rancho Mirage, California until her death on December 28, 2005.
