Margo Epper

Born in 1935, Margo Epper, a stocky actress, made her career as a Hollywood body double and was used frequently, in various films. In 1959, the 24-year-old Epper was hired by the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock to be a body double in his new thriller "Psycho." In the film, Epper posed as the supposedly still-alive Mrs. Norma Bates. Epper was seen whenever Mrs. Bates is seen in her bedroom window, and during the famous shower scene, in which the leading lady Marion Crane (played by actress Janet Leigh) was murdered. In the shower scene, however, Epper was not used in the entire scene, but only for a brief moment. Margo played Mrs. Bates as she is seen creeping into the bathroom, unknown to Marion, and rips open the shower curtain. During the rest of the shower scene, an actress named Anne Dore was used as "Mother". After "Psycho" was released, Margo made a guest appearance as The Boston Strong Girl's Mother Wrestler in the 23rd episode of the 6th season of "The Beverly Hillbillies" in the episode entitled 'The Great Tag-Team Match'. The last piece of film work Epper ever did was playing the role of a whore, in the 1972 Paul Newman film "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean."