[3] Between 1932 and 1939, Phyllis Fraser appeared in several movies, most notably Winds of the Wasteland (1936) with John Wayne and Little Men (1934).

[citation needed] In 1939, she left Hollywood for New York City to pursue a career in advertising at McCann Erickson.

Soon after her arrival, she was introduced by The New Yorker editor Harold Ross to publishing magnate and Random House co-founder (and future What's My Line?

[citation needed] After Cerf's death on August 27, 1971, she married former New York City mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr. on January 30, 1975.

"It’s cozy and grand at the same time, but not elaborately fussy," said real estate agent John Glass in 2007 while the townhouse was for sale for $9.9 million.