Maila Nurmi

Known for

Acting

Born

December 11, 1922

Birthplace

Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA

Died

January 10, 2008 (aged 85)

Biography

Maila Elizabeth Syrjäniemi (December 11, 1922 – January 10, 2008), known professionally as Maila Nurmi, was an American actress best known for creating the camp 1950s character Vampira. She was of Finnish descent.

Best known work

Plan 9 from Outer Space

1957

The Magic Sword

1962

Romance on the High Seas

1948

I Woke Up Early the Day I Died

1998

Sex Kittens Go to College

1960

Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies

2001

The Beat Generation

1959

The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood, Jr.

1996

Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion

1992

The Big Operator

1959

Filmography

2022
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
as Self - (archive footage)
2013
Vampira and Me
as Self (archive footage)
2006
Vampira: The Movie
as Herself
2006
American Scary
as Herself / 'Vampira'
2004
Monsterama: A Tribute to Horror Hosts
as Self
2001
Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies
as Herself
2000
The Many Faces of Dracula
as Vampire Girl (archive footage)
1998
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died
as Woman in Hotel Lobby
1996
The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood, Jr.
as Herself
1996
Vampires: Thirst for the Truth
as Self
1995
Vampira: About Sex, Death and Taxes
as Self
1992
Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion
as Herself
1991
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
as Vampire Girl (archive footage)
1988
The Incredibly Strange Film ShowTV
as Self (1 episode)
1986
Population: 1
as Mother (uncredited)
1981
Bungalow Invader
as Vampira
1975
James Dean: The First American Teenager
as Self
1962
The Magic Sword
as The Hag / Sorceress
1960
Sex Kittens Go to College
as Etta Toodie
1960
I Passed for White
as Girl Poet (uncredited)
1959
The Big Operator
as Gina
1959
The Beat Generation
as Poetess
1957
The Jet-Propelled Couch
as Vampira
1957
Plan 9 from Outer Space
as Vampire Girl
1954
The Vampira ShowTV
as Vampira (1 episode)