Maxine Cooper Gomberg

Gladys Maxine Cooper (May 12, 1924 – April 4, 2009) was an American actress, activist, and photographer. She was perhaps best known for her role as private detective Mike Hammer's secretary Velda in the 1955 film Kiss Me Deadly, which the Los Angeles Times called a "film noir classic."

Early life Gladys Maxine Cooper was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1924 to Richard and Gladys Cooper. Her father was employed as a General Electric distributor. She first became interested in the theater and acting while she was enrolled as a student at Bennington College in Vermont. She made a cameo appearance as herself in the 1975 television series Fear on Trial, which starred George C. Scott as John Henry Faulk, a blacklisted 1950s television and radio host.

Gomberg became a photographer during her later life. Her photographs were used to illustrate a book by Howard Fast entitled The Art of Zen Meditation. The Los Angeles Times referred to the book as "beautiful" in a 1977 book review when referring to her photographs.

Death Maxine and Sy Gomberg remained married until his death in 2001, aged 82. She died on April 4, 2009, from natural causes at her home in Los Angeles, aged 84.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1955 Kiss Me Deadly Velda Wickman Alternative title: Mickey Spillane's Kiss Me Deadly 1956 Autumn Leaves Nurse Evans 1957 Zero Hour! Sick Woman on Plane 1962 What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Bank teller Television Year Title Role Notes 1948 The Front Page Peggy Grant Television movie 1954 The New Adventures of China Smith 1 episode 1954–1956 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Various roles 5 episodes1955 The Star and the Story Mary Rainey 1 episode Alfred Hitchcock Presents Mary Season 1 Episode 6: "Salvage" Studio 57 1 episode The Millionaire Virginia Hewett 1 episode You Are There 1 episode1956 Chevron Hall of Stars Rob 1 episode Matinee Theatre 1 episode Four Star Playhouse Millie BarrCarol 2 episodes Wire Service 1 episode Dragnet 3 episodes The Count of Monte Cristo Susan 1 episode State Trooper Mary Herndon 1 episode General Electric Theater Helen 1 episode1957 Soldiers of Fortune Diane Graham 1 episodeMr. Adams and Eve"Adult Western" Maverick Donna Seely 1 episode 1958–1959 Perry Mason Gladys StromeEdith Devoe "The Case of the Fugitive Nurse""The Case of the Caretaker's Cat"1959 Peter Gunn Maria Matzi 1 episode The D.A.'s Man Ina 1 episode Richard Diamond, Private Detective Edith Beldon 1 episode The Twilight Zone Amy "And When the Sky Was Opened"1960 Philip Marlowe Janet 1 episode Wanted: Dead or Alive Constance Howard Episode "The Inheritance" 1975 Fear on TrialHerself Television movie 1980 High Ice Peggy Television movie, (final appearance)