Marilyn Henry
Artist Bio:
Marilyn Henry specialized in bringing beauty, elegance, and old Hollywood glamour to the world of paper dolls. More than any other contemporary paper doll artist, her work captured the look and spirit of the glamorous movie-star paper doll books of the 1940s and 1950s.
Marilyn’s love affair with paper dolls began in childhood. Along with her best friend, Margie, she created an elaborate make-believe Hollywood called “Twinkletown,” where glamorous paper doll stars appeared in imaginary movies and wore fashions designed by the two girls. Marilyn even published her own handmade movie magazine, Screen Fiction, devoted to the adventures of her paper doll celebrities. What began as childhood play would eventually shape the course of her life.
After studying art, Marilyn built a successful career as a fashion illustrator, designer, writer, and college art instructor. Her professional artwork appeared in newspaper advertising, catalogs, and promotional materials, while her lifelong passion for movies led her into writing and broadcasting. During the 1970s she introduced and discussed classic films on the public television program Superstar Movies in Evansville, Indiana. Her love of old Hollywood also resulted in her book The Films of Alan Ladd, published by Citadel Press in 1981. Later, she interviewed actors and personalities from daytime television for several soap opera magazines.
Paper dolls remained close to Marilyn’s heart throughout her life. Her first published paper doll book, Vivien Leigh, appeared in 1979 from Merrill Publishing. Over the following decades she created numerous paper doll books, convention souvenirs, and magazine features celebrating the stars, fashions, and personalities she admired. During the 1990s she illustrated a popular series of Hollywood star paper dolls for B. Shackman & Co., and later she became closely associated with Paper Studio Press, where her Classic Hollywood paper dolls depicted a dazzling lineup of classic film legends, reflecting her deep love of old Hollywood glamour.
Marilyn’s distinctive artistic style combined careful historical research, exceptional portrait likenesses, and a designer’s eye for beauty and detail. Whether illustrating a Hollywood legend, a fashion plate, or a contemporary figure, she approached every project with the same enthusiasm and commitment to excellence. Collectors especially admired her ability to capture not only a star’s appearance, but also the glamour and personality that made them memorable.
Her long association with Paperdoll Review magazine became one of the defining chapters of her career. As editor, art director, writer, and artist, Marilyn helped shape the magazine’s visual identity and editorial direction for nearly thirty years. Her heart, talent, and love of paper dolls touched every issue.
Marilyn Henry passed away in 2020, but her artistic legacy lives on in the books, illustrations, and magazines through which she celebrated the people and subjects she loved. Her work remains a lasting tribute to the glamour, artistry, and imagination that began in Twinkletown and continued to shape her work throughout her life.
Marilyn Henry was the featured artist in OPDAG News magazine, issue 32 (1992).
This artist entry is part of the OPDAG Paper Doll Artists Index, an ongoing research project. Entries are updated as new information is confirmed. We welcome corrections, additions, publication information, images, and other materials that help preserve and document the work of paper doll artists. Please contact Jenny Taliadoros at info@opdag.com if you have information to share.
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Selected Titles:
Merrill Publishing
Vivien Leigh Dolls & Costumes (1980)
Shackman Publishing
Claudette Colbert Paper Dolls (1994)
Myrna Loy Paper Dolls (1995)
Barbara Stanwyck Paper Dolls (1995)
Joan Crawford Paper Dolls (1996)
Carmen Miranda Singing Star Paper Dolls (1998)
Lana Turner Paper Dolls (2000)
Mel Odom’s Gene Paper Dolls (2002)
Paper Studio Press
Marilyn Monroe Paper Dolls (2007)
Ginger Rogers (2008)
Esther Williams (2009)
Leslie Caron (2010)
Jane Powell (2009)
Loretta Young (2012)
Joan Fontaine (2013)
Gene Tierney (2016)
Paperdoll Review
Reproductions of Marilyn's self-published titles:
Merle Oberon (2019)
Since You Went Away (2019)
Ingrid Bergman (2020)
Jeanette MacDonald (2020)
Judy Garland (2020)
Maureen O'Hara (2020)
The Champions (2020)
Honeymoon in Paris (2021)
Storybook Shirley (2021)
Lady Georgiana (2022)
Sophia Loren (2022)
Betty Garrett (2023)
Kathryn Grayson (2024)
Lauren Bacall (2024)
Reproduction of Marilyn's Shackman title:
Barbara Stanwyck (2024)
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