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Maila Elizabeth Syrjäniemi (December 11, 1922 – January 10, 2008), [1] known professionally as Maila Nurmi, was an American-Finn [2] actress who created the campy 1950s character Vampira.
Many actors spend decades building impressive careers, but all Maila Nurmi needed was one night to create a legend. Most famous as the woman behind Vampira, television’s first horror host, Nurmi's life was like one long Halloween party—in the best and worst ways.
Maila Nurmi. Actress: Vampira Returns. The original glamour ghoul herself, "Vampira", of late night 1950s television, was actually born Maila Syrjäniemi (later changed to the easier surname Nurmi) on December 11, 1922 in Gloucester, Massachusetts (not Finland as she often claimed). Her uncle was the multiple Olympic medal runner Paavo Nurmi.
Oct 11, 2023 · However, Maila Nurmi, the quick-witted woman in the skin-tight black dress, remained a mystery. As Vampira's creator, Nurmi was consumed by the role, rarely appearing in public out of character. In the years after Vampira's initial fame, Nurmi came to regard her alter ego as a blessing and a curse.
Jan 12, 2021 · Finnish-born actress and TV hostess Maila Nurmi, a.k.a. Vampira, fools around with Elvis Presley in 1956 in Los Angeles.
Maila Nurmi. Actress: Vampira Returns. The original glamour ghoul herself, "Vampira", of late night 1950s television, was actually born Maila Syrjäniemi (later changed to the easier surname Nurmi) on December 11, 1922 in Gloucester, Massachusetts (not Finland as she often claimed). Her uncle was the multiple Olympic medal runner Paavo Nurmi.
Jan 16, 2008 · Maila Nurmi, whose “Vampira” TV persona pioneered the spooky-yet-sexy Goth aesthetic, has died, coroner’s officials said. She was 85.
