Marie Scharper; Retired Publicist

Marie Scharper, a Hollywood publicist who represented such stars as Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, has died in Woodland Hills.

She was 86.

Mrs. Scharper worked at Warner Bros. from the 1930s to the 1950s as a publicist for several actors and actresses, including Davis, Crawford and Ann Sheridan.

She was also a personal publicist to several other performers, including Lorne Green, said her executor, Jay Eller.

She retired in the late 1960s.

She died Sunday of natural causes at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, Eller said.

She had lived at the Motion Picture and Television Country Home for five years.

She was born Marie Dyches on March 30, 1904, in Los Angeles.

In 1937, she joined the Publicists Guild as a charter member. In 1975, she married William Albert (Al) Scharper, former managing editor of Daily Variety, who died in 1977.

Mrs. Scharper is survived by a great-nephew, Jeffrey Sturmthal, and a great-niece, Robin Sturmthal of Mission Viejo.

No services are scheduled.

Pierce Brothers Cunningham & O’Connor Mortuary in Los Angeles is handling the arrangements.