Actress. Born Vivian Firko, (some sources state she was born in New York City and her year of birth is 1921), she chose to pursue a career as a performer and was the winner of the John Golden auditions for new talent. This led to her Broadway debut in the production “Montserrat” (1949) which she followed with her origination of the part of ‘Violetta’ in Tennessee Williams’ “The Rose Tattoo” (1951). In 1953, she was cast in the stage production “Camino Real” (also a work of Tennessee Williams) and played the ‘Chairwoman’ in the stage Drama “Anastasia’ (1954 to 1955). During the 1950s, she began to appear regularly on television and made her motion picture debut in the Clark Gable, Doris Day film “Teacher’s Pet” (1958). She had a memorable role playing ‘Mrs. Escalante’ in the Burt Lancaster picture “The Young Savages” (1961), directed by John Frankenheimer and co-starred with Tony Curtis in the film “The Outsider” (1961). Her last appearance on Broadway was in the play “Golda” (1977 to 1978). (bio by: C.S.)  Family links:  Spouse:  Nathan Schwalb (____ – 2000)