Let me tell you a story about Fay Wray, the legendary actress who became immortalized in film history as the damsel in distress in the 1933 classic, King Kong. In her memoir, Fay included a heartfelt letter to the giant ape himself. Her daughter, Victoria Riskin, shares with Closer that the letter read, “I want to tell you how much you’ve meant to me and all these wonderful opportunities that have come my way because of our film together.” It’s a touching moment that reveals just how much the role meant to Fay, even decades later.
Fay Wray: More Than Just a Hollywood Icon
While fans of King Kong followed Fay Wray throughout her life, her daughter Victoria assures us that her mother’s fame never overshadowed her family life. “She was an incredible mom who was always there for us,” Victoria fondly recalls. Even amidst the spotlight, Fay managed to maintain a balanced home life, ensuring her family remained her top priority.
A Courageous Spirit and a Steady Career
Victoria, now 76, remembers her mother not only as a loving parent but also as a fiercely independent woman. “She was incredibly brave,” Victoria says. “In the 1950s and 1960s, after my father passed away, she returned to work to support our family. She worked tirelessly in television, proving that she could handle anything life threw at her.” In her book, Fay Wray and Robert Riskin: A Hollywood Memoir, Victoria paints a vivid picture of her mother’s adventurous spirit and unyielding sense of humor.
Read also:Colter Shaws Next Big Case In Tracker Season 2 Episode 12 A Mothers Disappearance
Fun and Imagination at Home
“Mom had this incredible imagination,” Victoria reminisces. “We’d play a game we called ‘Let’s Get Lost,’ where we’d drive around the neighborhood with no destination in mind. It was all about the journey and the joy of discovery. We’d also pretend to speak foreign languages, making up words and laughing until we cried. Those were the moments that made her shine the brightest.”
For Victoria’s brother Robert, Fay was more than just a mom; she was also his Boy Scout troop leader. “She was always thinking about what we liked and what would bring us joy,” Victoria explains. This dedication to her children’s happiness speaks volumes about Fay’s character.
While the only movie memorabilia displayed in Victoria’s childhood home was the Academy Award her father, Robert Riskin, won for writing 1934’s It Happened One Night, Fay carried an undeniable star quality with her wherever she went. “When she entered a room, she owned it, even if people didn’t recognize her as a famous actress,” Victoria says. “She had this way of making instant connections, truly listening, and showing genuine interest in others.”
Fay didn’t need a giant ape to make her a star, but she was forever grateful for the opportunities King Kong brought her way. “I think she wished people knew about some of the other films she made,” Victoria adds, “but she took the entire King Kong experience and turned it into her own personal story.”
