Julie Adams

Julie Adams (born Betty May Adams; October 17, 1926 – February 3, 2019) was an American actress, billed as Julia Adams in her early career, primarily known for her numerous television guest roles.[2] She starred in a number of films in the 1950s, including Bend of the River (1952), opposite James Stewart; and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). On television, she was known for her roles as Paula Denning on the 1980s soap opera Capitol, and Eve Simpson on Murder, She Wrote.

Julie Adams
Adams in 1953
Born
Betty May Adams

(1926-10-17)October 17, 1926
DiedFebruary 3, 2019(2019-02-03) (aged 92)
Other namesBetty Adams
Julia Adams
OccupationActress
Years active1946–2019[1]
Spouses
Leonard Stern
(m. 1951; div. 1953)
    (m. 1954; div. 1981)
    Children2
    Websitejulieadams.biz

    Early years

    Julie Adams was born as Betty May Adams on October 17, 1926, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Arkansas-born parents Esther Gertrude (Beckett) and cotton buyer Ralph Adams.[3] Her family moved a great deal with the longest she lived in one town being eight years in Blytheville, Arkansas. In 1946, at the age of 19, she was crowned "Miss Little Rock" and then moved to Hollywood, California, to pursue her acting career.[4] Adams worked as a part-time secretary and began her film career in B movie westerns.

    Career

    Adams and Jack Kelly in Maverick

    Film

    She used her real name until 1949, when she began working for Universal-International, the same studio where she met future stars such as James Best, Piper Laurie, Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis.[5] She then became "Julia" and eventually "Julie". In 1954, she explained the latter change, "The studio picked Julia, but I never have felt comfortable with it. I just like the name Julie better, and the studio has given me permission to make the change."[6]

    Her first movie role was a minor part in Red, Hot and Blue (1949), followed by a leading role in the Lippert western The Dalton Gang (1949). Adams was featured as the beautiful ichthyologist Kay Lawrence in the science-fiction film Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954).[7]

    She co-starred in 1950s films opposite some of Hollywood's top leading men, including with James Stewart in 1952's Bend of the River, with Rock Hudson in The Lawless Breed (1953) and One Desire (1955), with Tyrone Power in The Mississippi Gambler (1953), with Glenn Ford in The Man from the Alamo (1953), with Charlton Heston in The Private War of Major Benson (1955), with Dan Duryea in Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (1957) and with Joel McCrea in The Gunfight at Dodge City (1959).

    Adams co-starred with Rory Calhoun, known for his role in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), in the film The Looters (1955), the story of a plane crash in the Rocky Mountains. Part of the picture was filmed about Tarryall Creek at what is now Eleven Mile State Park in Park County in central Colorado. The advertising poster reads: "Five desperate men ... and a girl who didn't care ... trapped on a mountain of gale-lashed rock!"[8]

    Adams was famously menaced in the 1954 horror classic Creature from the Black Lagoon

    She also starred in 1957's Four Girls in Town, a romantic comedy about four young women competing for the leading role in a new movie, featuring an international cast. She appeared with Elvis Presley in the musical-comedy Tickle Me (1965). Adams thought highly of her co-star, noting: "Despite his status as a superstar singer and stage performer, Elvis took his acting very seriously. He was always prepared, and did a good job in the roles he was given. When he did his musical numbers in Tickle Me, sometimes walking from table to table in a nightclub set, he did them perfectly in one take."[9]

    Television

    Adams on The Andy Griffith Show (1962)

    On television, Adams appeared on The Andy Griffith Show portraying Mary Simpson, a county nurse and romantic interest of Sheriff Andy Taylor in a 1962 episode. She also made four guest appearances on Perry Mason, perhaps the most notable being the 1963 episode, "The Case of the Deadly Verdict," when she played Janice Barton, Mason's only convicted client during the show's nine-year run on CBS. In 1963, she starred in "The Case Of Lovers Leap." In 1964, she played Janice Blake in "The Case of the Missing Button." In 1965, she played the role of defendant Pat Kean in "The Case of the Fatal Fortune." Adams appeared on The Rifleman as a dubious vixen and romantic interest of lead character Chuck Connors. She guest-starred in five episodes of 77 Sunset Strip, three of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and two of Maverick,[8] "The White Widow" and "The Brasada Spur," both with Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick.

    More guest-star roles in popular television series followed, including One Step Beyond; The Big Valley, in its classic episode "The Emperor of Rice'"; McMillan & Wife; Police Woman; The Streets of San Francisco; The Incredible Hulk; Cannon; Quincy, M.E.; Too Close for Comfort; and Cagney & Lacey. Adams co-starred with James Stewart in all 24 episodes of The Jimmy Stewart Show on NBC in 1971–1972. Stewart played a professor, and Adams played his wife.[10] She was cast in the recurring role of real estate agent Eve Simpson for ten episodes of CBS's Murder, She Wrote.[7]

    Appearances

    Adams joined three other cast members from Creature from the Black Lagoon for a 50th anniversary celebration of the film at Creaturefest in November 2003. The festival was held at Wakulla Springs, just south of Tallahassee, Florida, where underwater scenes were filmed in 1953.[11]

    In August 2012, she was a guest of honor at the Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention held at the Shrine Auditorium. (She attended the same convention in May 2012.) She also appeared at the CineCon Classic Film Festival on August 31, 2012, at the Loews Hollywood Hotel. She was a scheduled guest at The Hollywood Show in Chicago, September 7–9, 2012. An additional book signing was held at Century Books in Pasadena, California, on September 20, 2012. On October 13, 2012, she was back in Berwyn, Illinois, for a book signing party.

    In October 2012, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences selected Creature from the Black Lagoon as one of 13 classic horror films to screen to honor the 100th anniversary of Universal Pictures. The film was shown (in 3D format) on October 16 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California.[12] After the screening, Adams appeared on stage for a Q&A session where she shared personal memories of her role in the film, as well as several other career projects on which she had worked.

    Personal life and death

    Adams was married to screenwriter Leonard B. Stern from 1951 to 1953.[13][14] She was then married to actor-director Ray Danton from 1954 until their divorce in 1981. They had two sons: Steven Danton, an assistant director; and Mitchell Danton, a film editor.[15][16]

    Adams died on February 3, 2019, in Los Angeles, California, aged 92.[17][18]

    Awards

    In 1999, Adams received a Golden Boot award for her work in Westerns. She was inducted into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame in 2000. At CineCon in 2011, Adams was honored with a Film Career Achievement Award.[19] In 2012, she won the Rondo Award for the Monster Kid Hall of Fame at the annual Wonderfest in Louisville, Kentucky.[20]

    Filmography

    Features

    Year Title Role Notes
    1949Red, Hot and BlueStarletUncredited
    The Dalton GangPolly Medford
    1950Hostile CountryAnn Green
    Marshal of HeldoradoAnnas Betty Adams
    Crooked RiverAnn Haydenas Betty Adams
    Colorado RangerAnnas Betty Adams
    West of the BrazosAnn Greene
    Fast on the DrawAnn
    For Heaven's SakeJoe's MotherScenes deleted
    1951Bright VictoryChris PatersonCredited as Julia Adams
    Hollywood StorySally Rousseau / Amanda RousseauCredited as Julia Adams
    1952Finders KeepersSue Kipps
    Bend of the RiverLaura BaileCredited as Julia Adams
    The Treasure of Lost CanyonMyra WadeCredited as Julia Adams
    Horizons WestLorna HardinCredited as Julia Adams
    The Lawless BreedRosie McCoyCredited as Julia Adams
    1953The Mississippi GamblerAnn ConantCredited as Julia Adams
    The Man from the AlamoBeth AndersCredited as Julia Adams
    The Stand at Apache RiverValerie Kendrick
    Wings of the HawkRaquel NoriegaCredited as Julia Adams
    1954Creature from the Black LagoonKay LawrenceCredited as Julia Adams
    Francis Joins the WACSCaptain Jane Parker
    1955Six Bridges to CrossEllen Gallagher
    The LootersSheryl Gregory
    One DesireJudith Watrouscredited as Julia Adams
    1956The Private War of Major BensonDr. Kay Lambert
    Away All BoatsNadine MacDougall
    1957Four Girls in TownKathy Conway
    Slaughter on Tenth AvenueDaisy 'Dee' Pauley
    Slim CarterClover Doyle
    1958Yancy DerringerAmanda Eaton
    Tarawa BeachheadRuth Campbell
    1960RaymieHelen
    1962The Underwater CityMonica Powers
    1965Tickle MeVera Radford
    1971The Last MovieMrs. Anderson
    1974McQElaine
    1975The Wild McCullochsHannah McCulloch
    Psychic KillerDr. Laura Scott
    1976The Killer Inside MeMother
    1978Goodbye, Franklin HighJanice Armer
    The RunawaysMother
    The Fifth FloorNurse Hannelord
    1984ChampionsEmma Hussey
    1988Black RosesMrs. Miller
    1990CatchfireMartha
    2006World Trade CenterAllison's Grandmother
    2011CarnageSecretary
    2018The Lucky Southern StarGrandmaShort, last film role

    Television

    Year Title Role Notes
    1949Your Show Timeas Betty Adams
    1955-1957Lux Video TheatreCatherine / Henrietta Smith / Jane
    1956Studio OneAnne
    1957Climax!Coleen
    1958Playhouse 90Janice Ohringer
    1958Zane Grey TheatreJulie Brand
    1958-1960Goodyear TheatreBetty Fordham / Marion Ewell
    1958Alfred Hitchcock PresentsCarol LongsworthSeason 3 Episode 39: "Little White Frock"
    1958Letter to LorettaMilly / Paula McGill
    1959Alfred Hitchcock PresentsPeg ValenceSeason 5 Episode 9: "Dead Weight"
    1959Alcoa Presents: One Step BeyondHelen ArcherEpisode: "Epilogue"
    1959The Gunfight at Dodge CityPauline Howard
    1959The Man and the ChallengeLinda Webb
    1959The AlaskansClara
    1959-1960MaverickWilma White / Belle Morgan
    1959-196477 Sunset StripAnne Kenzie / Norma Kellogg / Miriam Galbraith / Marie La Shelle / Margot Wendice
    1960CheyenneIrene Travers
    1960The RiflemanNora Sanford
    1960TateMary Hardin
    1960MarkhamStacey Winters
    1960WranglerEve Browning
    1960Michael ShayneBeatrice Drake
    1960-1961Hawaiian EyeGloria Matthews / Sara Crane
    1960-1962CheckmateJean Damion / Janet Evans
    1961Alfred Hitchcock PresentsPhyllis KendallSeason 6 Episode 15: "Summer Shade"
    1961BonanzaHelen LaytonEpisode: "The Courtship"
    1961OutlawsJuill Ramsur
    1961Surfside 6Julie Owens / Merilee Williams
    1962The Andy Griffith ShowMary Simpson
    1962The Dick Powell ShowRobin
    1962Dr. KildareGinny Nelson
    1963The Gallant MenCaptain Meg Thorpe
    1963Arrest and TrialEleanor
    1963Perry MasonPatricia L. Kean / Janice Blake / Janice Barton / Valerie Comstock
    1964-1965Kraft Suspense TheatreJoanne Clay / Ellen Yarnell
    1965Twelve O'Clock HighLieutenant Betty Russo
    1965Burke's LawCarla Cabrial
    1965The Long, Hot SummerLeona Mills
    1966The VirginianMarian Clay
    1966–1967The Big ValleyJanet Masters / Edna Wesley
    1967The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.Julia Douglas
    1967InsightJessica
    1967–1973MannixEdie Reynolds
    1968IronsideNorma Howard
    1968The OutsiderLaura Carlvic
    1968-1973The Mod SquadNancy Ryan / Samantha Semple
    1969My Friend Tony
    1969General HospitalDenise Wilton
    1969The F.B.I.Denise Kriton
    1969–1972The Doris Day ShowLouise Rusk / Karen Carruthers
    1969–1975Marcus Welby, M.D.Lee Morgan / Claire Berwick
    1970Dan AugustPatricia Fairley
    1970-1971The Bold Ones: The New DoctorsLynn Craig
    1971The Young LawyersAlice Graham
    1971The TrackersDora PaxtonTV Movie
    1971-1972The Jimmy Stewart ShowMartha Howard
    1972Night GalleryGay MelcorSegment "The Miracle at Camafeo"
    1972-1975Cannon
    1973Go Ask AliceDorothyTV Movie
    1973SearchJeanette Lewis
    1974Lucas TannerMrs. Walker
    1975Kolchak: The Night StalkerMrs. Avery Walker
    1975CaribeMrs. Bladell
    1975The Streets of San FranciscoJudith
    1975Ellery QueenJennifer Packard
    1976Medical CenterEllie Wilke
    1976Six Characters in Search of an AuthorThe MotherTV Movie
    1977McMillan & WifeDorothy Wininger
    1977This Is the Life
    1977-1982Quincy, M.E.Dr. Chris Winston / Sharon Ross / Mrs. Daniels
    1978Police WomanEleanor Simpson
    1978The Incredible HulkEllen
    1980Trapper John, M.D.Lorrie Malcolm
    1981Vega$Margaret Sorenson
    1981-1982Code RedAnn Rorchek19 episodes
    1981; 1984Too Close for ComfortSylvia Walker2 episodes
    1982Cagney & LaceyHelen GrangerEpisode: "Better than Equal"
    1984-1986CapitolPaula Denning3 episodes
    1987-1993Murder, She WroteEve Simpson10 episodes
    1993Beverly Hills, 90210Grandma Arlene Beevis2 episodes
    The Conviction of Kitty DoddsMargaretTV Movie
    1997Diagnosis: MurderEdie Reynolds FallonEpisode: "Hard-Boiled Murder"
    1999Melrose PlaceMrs. Damarr
    SlidersOld Maggie Beckett
    2000Family LawBonnie
    2006Cold CaseDottie Mills
    LostAmeliaEpisode: "A Tale of Two Cities"
    2007CSI: NYBetty WillensEpisode: "Boo"
    2008Lost: Missing PiecesAmeliaEpisode: "The Envelope"

    References

    1. Marble, Steve (February 5, 2019). "Julie Adams, star in 'Creature From the Black Lagoon,' dies at 92". Los Angeles Times.
    2. "Julie Adams obituary | Movies | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
    3. "Julie Adams comes back to Malvern — signs book, views films, visits with all". Arkansas Online.
    4. "Julie Adams Tribute – The Rifleman". Riflemanconnors.com. 1926-10-17. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
    5. "Julie Adams at 85". Great Entertainers Archives.com. 2012-04-09. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
    6. Carroll, Harrison (November 18, 1954). "Behind the Scenes in Hollywood". The Lethbridge Herald. p. 3. Retrieved September 9, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
    7. Exclusive Interview: Julie Adams on THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON at Mile High Horror! Archived 2017-02-22 at the Wayback Machine, fangoria.com; accessed October 13, 2016.
    8. Laura King Van Dusen, "Movie Making", Historic Tales from Park County: Parked in the Past (Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2013); ISBN 978-1-62619-161-7, pp. 182–83.
    9. Armstrong, Richard. "Julie Adams Chats with the Café about James Stewart, the Gill Man, Elvis, and Her Autobiography". Classic Film & TV Cafe.
    10. Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1979). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows: 1946–Present. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-25525-9. P. 307.
    11. "50th Birthday Party". Retrieved 2019-02-06.
    12. "A Monstrous Centennial: Universal's Legacy of Horror". Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2012-09-12.
    13. "Julie Adams – The Private Life and Times of Julie Adams. Julie Adams Pictures". Glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
    14. "Wins Divorce". The Bee. October 14, 1953. p. 16. Retrieved September 9, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
    15. "Official Julie Adams website". julieadams.biz. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
    16. "Julie Adams – Biography". TCM.com. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
    17. McFadden, Robert D. (February 4, 2019). "Julie Adams, Seized by Creature in 'Black Lagoon,' Dies at 92". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
    18. Bergan, Ronald (February 7, 2019). "Julie Adams obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
    19. Limited, Alamy. "JULIE ADAMS.The 17th annual Golden Boot Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel 1999.k16313tr.(Credit Image: © Tom Rodriguez/Globe Photos/ZUMAPRESS.com Stock Photo - Alamy". www.alamy.com. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
    20. "Julie Adams".
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