Evil conspirator Virginia Grant
Virginia Grant (K.T. Stevens; 1919-1994) is a hidden villainess from "The Merriweather File," episode 1.21 of Thriller (airdate February 14, 1961).
Introduction[]
Virginia Grant was introduced as a woman who had known Charles Merriweather, as he was accused of killing a man named Jake Harbor. She was visited at her home by Howard Yates, a friend of both Charles and Ann Merriweather, as well as Charles' defense lawyer. She mentioned the couple's past tragedy--Ann accidentally killed their young son--and that Charles had been close to their child, doing so while asking about Jake's identity. Charles was suspected of not only killing Jake, but also attempting to kill his wife in the episode, and while the episode's epilogue revealed that Charles didn't kill Jake, he was the mastermind in the attempt to kill his wife.
Reveal[]
Virginia attempting to kill Ann Merriweather
Charles (who was having an affair with Virginia) devised the plot due to his anger over the loss of their son, as well as Ann refusing to divorce him. Virginia turned heel by acting as the evil hitwoman in the scheme, as she entered the house (while wearing men's clothing as part of her ruse) and turned on the oven in an attempt to kill Ann. After that plan failed, Virginia and Charles enlisted Jake to commit the murder, only for Ann to be ready for the intruder and shoot Jake to death.
Later on, the evil Virginia returned to the house in her disguise and attacked Ann before escaping, and the epilogue also revealed that while Charles ended up convicted and executed for Jake's murder (due to Ann setting him up), Virginia was also arrested and serving time in a women's prison.
Trivia[]
- K.T. Stevens returned to the series as villainess Olive Guthrie during the second and final season.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Boris Karloff's Thriller - The Merriweather File