Marion Zinser

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, local actor, director, and College Professor, Leo Casey Zinser whom she married in 1959, and by her parents, Ella Marie Murphy and Joseph Norbert Schexnaydre as well as her brother, Lynn Norbert Schexnaydre. During her long theatrical career, Mrs. Zinser appeared in numerous stage productions, television shows and commercials as well as major motion pictures. Among the latter were principal roles in Skeleton Key starring Kate Hudson and Gena Rowlands and The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. On prime time television, she portrayed Elvis Presley's grandmother in a three part series on the singer's life. Among her many TV commercials, she was a principal performer in major national commercials such as for State Farm Insurance. Renowned for her leading roles in area stage productions such as The Lion in winter, Separate Tables and Anastasia at Le Petit Theater and A Room Full of Roses and The Heiress at the Gallery Circle Theater, she also appeared at other venues such as Tulane's Shakespeare Festival. In addition, she was a director and actress in many productions of Les Comedians Francais, the French language theater.

In 1996, she received The Big Easy's Life Time Achievement Award. Mrs. Zinser was a lifelong member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of TV and Radio Artists.

Published in TheNewOrleansAdvocate from Jan. 13 to Jan. 19, 2018: Prominent New Orleans actress Marion Zinser made her final exit on Monday, January 8, 2018. She was 92 years old. Mrs. Zinser was a native and lifelong resident of the city.