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Sheila Darcy

Sheila Darcy (August 8, 1914 – February 24, 2004), also known as "Rebecca Wassem", was an American film actress of the 1930s and the 1940s. Born as Rebecca Benedict Heffener in York, Pennsylvania, moved to Hollywood when she was 18 to pursue a career in acting. She began her career using the name Rebecca Wassem, and received her first role, uncredited, in the 1932 film Jewel Robbery. It wasn't until two years later, in 1934, that she received more roles, starring in two films that year. By 1935 her career had taken off, and from 1935 until 1941 she had roles in forty one films. Most of her early films had her playing the heroine role in B-movies, often westerns. Her best known roles was as the female lead in cliffhanger films, such as the 1939 film Zorro's Fighting Legion, in which she played opposite Reed Hadley. She also played the lead role in the cliffhanger Terry and the Pirates, released in 1940. In her western films, she often played opposite popular western actors Ray "Crash" Corrigan and Max Terhune. In 1941 she starred in six films, and had another two films that were uncredited. By the end of that year, her career was all but over. Her last credited role was in Jungle Man (1941). In 1946 she married actor Preston Foster, and they remained together until his death in 1970. In 1951 she had a small bit role in the film Tomahawk, after which she left acting completely. She died on February 24, 2004, in Kearny Mesa, California at age 89.