One of six children born to Alfred Weidler, an architect, and Margaret Theres Louisa, a former Wagnerian opera singer, Virginia's birth is often listed as taking place in 1927. Official Social Security records, however, give her birth as March 21, 1926.

Originally hired at age three to perform in the film "Moby Dick," Virginia was dropped from the cast when she refused to undress in front of the camera for one of the scenes. Two years later, her film career resumed with a bit part in the movie "Surrender." Between then and 1943, she performed in more than 40 films. In addition to "Babes on Broadway," Weidler also appeared with Mickey Rooney in "Young Tom Edison" and some of the "Andy Hardy" flicks. Her portrayal of Dinah Lord, Katharine Hepburn's smart-aleck younger sister, in "The Philadelphia Story" (1940) is commonly considered the high point of her career. Virginia's rendition of "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" is one of many memorable moments in this vintage classic. Virginia's later performances were generally disappointing and she had the further misfortune of being eclipsed by another teenaged star: Shirley Temple.

Virginia left films and turned to vaudeville for a brief stint as a song-and-dance performer. She made her debut on the legitimate stage in "The Rich Full Life," but the show closed within a month.

On March 27, 1947, she married Lionel Krisel, a career Navy officer who served as a naval attache' in Cuba in the '50s. They had two sons, Ronnie and Gary Krisel. For the rest of her life, when asked about her film career Virginia would politely decline to comment.

Virginia had suffered from rheumatic fever as a child, and her damaged heart gave out on July 1, 1968, at the age of 42. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea.