'Cry-Baby's' Kim McGuire Pursued Law After Acting: A Look Into Her Life

Mar 25, 2022

Former actress, Kim McGuire, was best known for her role Mona "Hatchet-Face" Malnorowski in John Waters' comedy musical "Cry-Baby." The movie was McGuire's film debut and was released in 1990. The actress starred alongside Johnny Depp, Ricki Lake, Amy Locane, Iggy Pop and Traci Lords. The character Hatchet-Face is a teenage gang member in 1954 Baltimore that is known for her "loud-mouth" and disfigured facial features. 

McGuire had to wear a significant amount of makeup for the role. The role of Hatchet-Face was originally meant for the drag-queen Divine, a performer that had often appeared in Waters' films. Sadly, Divine passed away just before filming was set to begin and so the part was eventually given to McGuire. 

The star was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1955. Her parents were attorney Raymond and his wife Mary Toole. McGuire followed in the footsteps of her father and pursued a career as a lawyer after finishing high school. She got her undergraduate degree at the University of New Orleans and later attended Loyola University School of Law. However, from a young age, McGuire was interested in acting. This led her to audition for "Cry-Baby," and her casting caused the actress to delay her law career.

After acting, McGuire pursued law full time and passed the bar exam in Alabama, Mississippi, California and the District of Columbia. She represented abused women and children, as well as specializing in entertainment law. Later in her life, she taught entertainment law to students. McGuire passed away in 2016 at the age of 60, but her memory is carried on by her husband and fans. Keep reading to learn more about this special actress, lawyer and author.

In 2005, McGuire and Piotrowsky lost their home to Hurricane Katrina. They said that they lost nearly everything they owned, and their insurance company did not pay for anything, according to Piotrowsky. McGuire wrote a book titled "Flashback Katrina 10 Years After" that was published in 2015. The book provides a first-hand account of what happened during the storm. 

After recovering from the hurricane, the couple moved to Naples, Florida. A resident, Suzy Hixson, worked with Piotrowsky and took the time to share what McGuire was like. "She was so kind," Hixson said." She never had a bad word to say about anyone."

McGuire stayed in the public eye, even after she quit acting, by being active on social media. The star would use her Facebook to inspire others with photos of her holding signs with phrases or meditations. Piotrowsky was his wife's photographer. He said, "We would go to Hobby Lobby and she'd pick out these flowers and signs to hold."

McGuire was always in shape, and her husband said she "was dancing six hours a day, all aerobic," when he first met her. The actress wanted to be a triple-threat, so she practiced acting, singing and dancing whenever she could.

Outside of performing and writing books, McGuire's passion was studying law to become an attorney and help the underdogs of the world. "She loved to go to school," Piotrowsky said. "I call her a professional student." With a background in acting, it made sense for McGuire to go into entertainment law and she represented many actors and writers in Hollywood. 

Victor Vieth is the founder of Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center in Winona, Minnesota and he shared that the star was instrumental in helping the lives of children in need. "The Kim McGuire I knew lived and breathed children's advocacy. It was always in the forefront of her mind," he said.

McGuire's work with at-risk women and children is a shining testament to the kind of person she was and what was important to her. Helping to protect those without a voice was very dear to her heart and it showed in her work as an attorney. "The child protection community is in mourning over her death," Vieth said. "We have lost a star in our constellation."

In September 2016, McGuire passed away at the age of 60 due to complications from pneumonia. Her body resisted treatment and she suffered cardiac arrest. Her husband had no idea how ill she was when he brought McGuire to the hospital and her death was a shock. "The doctor said she was on this for a while, but she had only mentioned it a day or two before I took her in," Piotrowsky said. "She said she was feeling clammy, not well."

McGuire didn't have any children, but her husband and family shared a caring obituary for her after she passed. It says:

"The outpouring of love and prayers for Kim from her family, friends and fans has been overwhelming and most comforting. Kim's parents and sister thank you very much. Kim was a dancer, choreographer, actor, attorney and author and credited her dear father for instilling in her a love of learning."

Do you remember Kim McGuire? What do you think of her becoming an attorney after she retired from acting? Let us know and be sure to send this on to your friends and family.