You might think that some of the celebrities that I ‘encounter’ are obscure, but this one teeters on being a bit laughable. Unless, of course, you are a fan of the Master of Suspense Alfred Hitchcock. Then you will know that the shower scene from Psycho is perhaps the most memorable sequence ever committed to film. For nearly as long as that scene has been legendary, there have been rumors about who was there and who wasn’t. Was it really Anthony Perkins? Was it really Janet Leigh? Was Hitchcock even present? Now that all three of the principles are dead and buried, there aren’t really many people left who can still answer that question.
But Marli Renfro can. She was the body double for Janet Leigh, who was never nude during the filming. Even her scenes are subject to debate, but for the most part, anytime you’re not clearly seeing Janet Leigh’s face, you’re seeing Marli Renfro, who was a model, actress, and showgirl. She also appeared on the cover of the September 1960 issue of Playboy.
Because of my love for Hitchcock and Psycho, I simply had to purchase an autograph when she made an appearance at the Hollywood Show on October 8, 2011. She was a nice lady and had been the subject of the book The Girl in Alfred Hitchcock’s Shower. I opted not to purchase this but a pseudo-lobby card from the film, showcasing the famous knife going into the famous belly.
Although she suggested writing the title of the book instead, I had her inscribe the photo with “Marion Crane’s belly”.
Celebrity encounters of the Fall 2011 Hollywood Show will continue…
Leave a Reply