MARY WALTER

Expressweek, December 20, 1979
Article written by Visitacion de la Torre

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Mary Walter's Biography
Source: Wikipedia

Mary Walter (September 10, 1912-February 25, 1993) was a Filipino actress whose 8 decade-long film acting career saw her transformation from a romantic lead in the silent film era into a wizenend fixture in horror movies in the late 1980s and early 1990s. For her body of work accomplished in an especially long career, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from both the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences and the Gawad Urian.

Walter was born to an German father in what is now Sorsogon, Sorsogon. As a teen, Walter appeared on the Manila bodabil circuit as a chorus girl in the stage shows of Katy de la Cruz. She began her film career as a bit player . Walter first came into fame in 1927, when she starred in Ang Lumang Simbahan, staged from the popular novel by Florentino Collantes. Her leading man in that film was Gregorio Fernandez with whom she would be romantically paired in a succession of silent films, constituting perhaps the first "love-team" in Filipino cinema.

After appearing in many silent films, Walter easily made the transition when sound films emerged in the Philippines in the mid-1930s. She was among the stars who appeared in the 1942 LVN film Prinsipe Teñoso, the only film produced by a Filipino film studio during the Japanese Occupation.

In 1948, after a 21-year film career, Walter retired to her hometown in Sorsogon. Ten years later, she was induced to act again, and she appeared in LVN's Kastilaloy. Now in her forties, she was cast as matrons or mothers. As she further aged, Walter became one of the most identifiable character actresses in Philippine cinema. Fair, petite and gaunt, she became inalienably identified in grandmother roles. A chain smoker, her gravelly voice made her ideally cast in villainous roles, most prominently in the 1974 Lino Brocka film Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa. By the 1980s, she was a memorable presence in popular horror films such as Shake, Rattle and Roll (1984) and Tiyanak (1988).

In 1980, Walter received the FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award. A similar award, this time from the Gawad Urian, was given to Walter in 1992.

Contrary to what is published in her IMDB biography, Walter was not the actress engaged in the first kissing scene in Philippine cinema (that distinction falls to Dimples Cooper). Walter never retired again after returning to film in 1958. She died on February 25, 1993.

Selected Filmography
Source: The Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB)

Sa Lumang Simbahan (1932)
Ang Aswang (1933)
X3X (1934)
Hinagpis Ng Magulang (1934)
Kuwintas Ng Himutok (1935)
Himala Ni Bathala (1935)
Ang Gulong Ng Buhay (1935)
Buhok Ni Ester (1936)
Ang Birheng Walang Dambana (1936)
Ang Pagbabalik (1937)
Ang Batang Tulisan (1938)
Wala Na Akong Iluluha (1948)
Maliit Lamang Ang Daigdig (1948)
Labi Ng Bataan (1948)
Itanong Mo Sa Bulaklak (1948)
Isang Dakot Na Bigas (1948)
Halik Sa Bandila (1949)
Wanted: Husband (1958)
Ang Nobya Kong Igorota (1958)
Casa Grande (1958)
Ang Kanyang Kamahalan (1959)
Krus Na Daan (1960)
Basta Pinoy (1960)
I Believe (1961)
The Flash Elorde Story (1961)
Alaala Kita (1961)
Mga Tigreng Taga-Bukid (1962)
Markang Rehas (1962)
Magandang Bituin (1963)
Kung Gabi Sa Maynila (1963)
God Knows (Batid Ng Diyos) (1963)
Alias Golden Boy (1963)
Isinusumpa Ko! (1963)
Maria Dolores (1963)
Carioca (1963)
Kulay Dugo Ang Gabi (1964)
Ginintuang Ani (1964)
3 Musketeras (1964)
Pilipinas Kong Mahal (1965)
Hanapin Si Leo Baron (1965)
Big Boss (1965)
Alyas Batman At Robin (1965)
Ana-Roberta (1965)
Sapagkat Ikaw Ay Akin (1965)
Operation Butterball (1966)
Ibulong Mo Sa Hangin (1966)
Hindi Nahahati Ang Langit (1966)
Itinakwil Man Kita (1966)
Napoleon Doble and the Sexy Six (1966)
Kwatang (1967)
Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak (1967)
Baril At Rosaryo (1967)
Mga Alabok Sa Lupa (1967)
Maruja (1967)
To Susan With Love (1968)
Sideshow ’69 (1968)
Salamisim (1968)
Psycho Maniac (1968)
The More I See You (1968)
Lumuhod Ka O Lumaban (1968)
Jingy (1968)
Bang-Shang-A-Lang (1968)
Bandana (1968)
Ayos Na, Darling (1968)
Rowena (1969)
Patria Adorada (Dugo Ng Bayani) (1969)
My Darling Eddie (1969)
Pagkakamali Ba? (1970)
Nora, Mahal Kita (1970)
Kampon Ni Satanas (1970)
Haydee (1970)
Pipo (1970)
Wanted: Perfect Mother (1970
Divina Gracia (1970)
Santiago (1970)
Sino…? (1971)
Living Doll (1971)
Kay Ganda Ng Daigdig (1971)
Lumuha Pati Mga Anghel (1971)
Cadena de Amor (1971)
I Do Love You (1972)
Edgar Loves Vilma (1972)
Babae…Ikaw Ang Dahilan (1972)
Anghel Ng Pag-ibig (1972)
Lipad, Darna, Lipad! (1973)
Sumigaw Ka Hanggang ibig Mo! (1974)
Patayin Mo Sa Sindak Si Barbara (1974)
Daigdig Ng Sindak At Lagim (1974)
Black Mamba (1974)
Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa (1974)
Ang Nobya Kong Sexy (1975)
Dugo At Pag-ibig Sa Kapirasong Lupa (1975)
Wanted…Ded or Alayb (Agad-Agad) (1976)
Electrika Kasi, Eh! (1977)
Maligno (1977)
Dalawang Pugad, Isang Ibon (1977)
Gumising Ka, Maruja (1978)
Si Malakas, Si Maganda at Si Mahinhin (1980)
Kalibre .45 (1980)
Summer Holiday (1982)
Oro, Plata, Mata (1982)
Good Morning, Professor (1982)
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (1982)
To Mama With Love (1983)
Shake, Rattle & Roll (1984)
Till We Meet Again (1985)
Jailbreak 1958 (1986)
Halimaw (Halimaw Sa Banga) (1986)
Boy Negro (1988)
Tiyanak (1988)
Here Comes The Bride (1989)
Markang Bungo: the Bobby Ortega Story (1991)
McBain (1991)
Takbo…Talon…Tili! (1992)
Aswang (1992)
Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal (1992)
Gwaping Dos (1993)

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