Maria Tsien obit

Maria McClay Memoriam

 

She was not on the list.

February 4, 1925 - November 2, 2020 Maria was born in the Philippines to Tiaw Ping Lim and Siu Ngo Teh. She was the oldest of eight children. In the 1930s, the family moved to Shanghai, where Maria would study at St. John's University. Later, she attended Columbia University in New York. In the 1950s and 1960s, Maria worked as a film and television actress. Among her most memorable roles was as a royal wife in the film "The King and I," starring Yul Brynner. During her years in the entertainment industry, Maria met Booker McClay, who became the love of her life. Together, they enjoyed watching films and traveling around the world.Maria was known for her vivacious personality. She was a generous benefactor of many charitable organizations, including Saint John's Health Center Foundation in Santa Monica and the USC Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena.Maria passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her son, Lawrence, and his wife, Beverly; her siblings, William, Robert, Virginia and Lily; her siblings-in-law; and her nephews and nieces. She will be laid to rest together with Booker, who passed away in 2009, at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park.

She was known professionally as Maria Tsien (sometimes also credited as Marie Tsien and Maria Tsien McClay) was an American film and television actress in the 1950s and 1960s. She was often cast in productions that were set in Asia, to fill out non-Asian casts.

 

Actress

Burke's Law (1963)

Burke's Law

7.3

TV Series

Japanese Girl (as Maria Tsien McClay)

1964

1 episode

 

87th Precinct (1961)

87th Precinct

8.1

TV Series

Mary (as Marie Tsien McClary)

1962

1 episode

 

Bachelor Father (1957)

Bachelor Father

7.2

TV Series

Lin Sing (as Marie Tsien McClay)

1962

1 episode

 

Marlon Brando in One-Eyed Jacks (1961)

One-Eyed Jacks

7.1

Townswoman (uncredited)

1961

 

Rod Taylor in Hong Kong (1960)

Hong Kong

8.1

TV Series

Sou Mei

1961

1 episode

 

All the Young Men (1960)

All the Young Men

6.1

Korean Woman (as Marie Tsien)

1960

 

Robert Conrad, Anthony Eisley, Poncie Ponce, and Connie Stevens in Hawaiian Eye (1959)

Hawaiian Eye

7.7

TV Series

Su Ling (as Maria Tsien)

1960

1 episode

 

Never So Few (1959)

Never So Few

5.8

Eurasian Girl (uncredited)

1959

 

Not for Hire (1959)

Not for Hire

8.1

TV Series

Lilly (as Marie Tsien)

1959

1 episode

 

Bat Masterson (1958)

Bat Masterson

7.3

TV Series

Dealer (as Marie Tsien)

1959

1 episode

 

Man Without a Gun (1957)

Man Without a Gun

7.6

TV Series

Chi Ying (as Marie Tsien)

1959

1 episode

 

Rex Allen in Frontier Doctor (1956)

Frontier Doctor

8.1

TV Series

Mei Ling (as Maria Tsien)

1959

1 episode

 

December Bride (1954)

December Bride

8.0

TV Series

(as Maria Tsien)

1958

1 episode

 

Harriet Nelson, David Nelson, Ozzie Nelson, and Ricky Nelson in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952)

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

7.4

TV Series

Japanese Girl (as Marie Tsien)

1958

1 episode

 

Richard Coogan in The Californians (1957)

The Californians

6.6

TV Series

Mei Soong (as Marie Tsien)

1958

1 episode

 

Debra Paget and Cornel Wilde in Omar Khayyam (1957)

Omar Khayyam

5.9

Chinese Girl (uncredited)

1957

 

The 27th Day (1957)

The 27th Day

6.1

Su Tan (uncredited)

1957

 

Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner in The King and I (1956)

The King and I

7.4

Royal Wife (uncredited)

1956

 

Crusader (1955)

Crusader

7.7

TV Series

Mrs. Chen (as Marie Tsien)

1956

1 episode

 

Ann Blyth, Vic Damone, Dolores Gray, and Howard Keel in Kismet (1955)

Kismet

6.3

Harem Showgirl (uncredited)

1955

 

Humphrey Bogart and Gene Tierney in The Left Hand of God (1955)

The Left Hand of God

6.4

Woman in Kimono (uncredited)

1955

 

Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955)

Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing

6.4

Rosie Wu (uncredited)

1955

 

The New Adventures of China Smith

7.1

TV Series

Jade Flower

Miss Giong (as Maria Tsien)

1954

2 episodes