Hollywood legend Kathleen Hughes, who rose to fame in the 1950s, passed away peacefully on Monday at the age of 96. Widely known for her iconic scream queen promotional photograph, the actress made eleven films under a contract with Fox before moving over to Universal.

The famous photograph was taken after Hughes’ career-changing role in the 1953 science-fiction horror film, It Came From Outer Space. Hughes got the part after serving as a model for film tests using newly developed 3D cameras. Still shown at festivals, It Came From Outer Space has been memorialized in The Rocky Horror Picture Show song, Science Fiction Double Feature.

As a California native, Hughes attended Fairfax High School, L.A. City College and UCLA. She won a drama scholarship and was recruited by a Fox talent scout after one of her play performances. Her uncle, F. Hugh Herbert, screenwriter and playwright, assisted her with her personality test at Fox.

Seen here, Hughes can be shown giving Rock Hudson an onscreen kiss for his first screen test. In a 2004 interview, she named Edward G. Robinson as her favorite co-star.

Fox 11 interviewed Hughes during the SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023. Naming the 94-year-old “one of the thriller and sci-fi genre queens of the 50s”, the news outlet followed Hughes and her daughter to the picket lines. Hughes asserted, “I told everybody that I was born to picket.”

Hughes’ daughter, music editor, Angie Rubin who worked on films like Pitch Perfect and Se7en, sat by her side as she discussed one of her favorite films, Three Bad Sisters. Hughes said, “I was the baddest [sister], which made me so happy.” Then, when discussing A.I. replacing humans, Hughes commented, “I think it sucks.”

Hughes was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, the writer-producer Stanley Rubin who produced films including, River of No Return starring Marilyn Monroe, and her son. She is survived by daughter Angie, as well as her sons, John and Michael. Hughes is also survived by Fiona, the cat she adored.

Our condolences go out to the family.