LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16 Actress Maila Nurmi, known for her glamorous, ghoulish television persona Vampira, was reportedly found dead in her Hollywood home.
She was believed to be 85, however, various sources give conflicting dates of birth for her.
The cause of her death is still being investigated, Lt. Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County coroner's office told the Los Angeles Times.
Nurmi, who appeared in director Edward D. Wood Jr.'s notoriously bad 1959 film "Plan 9 From Outer Space," was born in Finland and moved to the United States when she was a toddler.
In addition to acting, Nurmi presided over late-night fright fests on television.
When her career faltered, she went to work as a house cleaner and laid linoleum to make ends meet, the Times said.
In the late 1980s, Nurmi sued Cassandra Peterson for allegedly basing her character Elvira on Vampira; however, the case was dismissed.
Nurmi was divorced and had no children.
A memorial service was being planned.
Copyright 2008 by UPI
