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Colleen Townsend

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Colleen Townsend
from the trailer for When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950)
Born (1928-12-21) December 21, 1928 (age 95)
Glendale, California, U.S.
Other namesColleen Townsend Evans
Colleen Evans
Occupation(s)Actress, writer and humanitarian
Spouse(s)
Louis H. Evans, Jr.
​
​
(m. 1950⁠–⁠2008)​
(his death)

Colleen Townsend Evans (born December 21, 1928[1]) is an American actress, author and humanitarian.

Early years

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Townsend was born in Glendale, California.[2] Her parents separated "when she was a tot," after which she lived with her mother.[3] She attended Brigham Young University, leaving during her sophomore year to pursue a film career.[4]

Life and career

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When Townsend was 15 year old she began performing on television as a member of the dramatic company at station W6XAO in Los Angeles. A talent scout saw her work there, which led to her signing a contract with Warner Bros.[3]

Townsend began a film career in 1944, appearing in minor roles in several films. By 1946, she was appearing on the cover of magazines, and in 1947, she was signed to a contract by 20th Century Fox. She was the subject of a cover story for Life in 1948, which discussed the way in which major studios groomed and manufactured their stars, using Townsend's story as an example.[2] The studio created a photographic calendar for her to "put [her] face in every home, office and barracks in America all year around".[5] Hedda Hopper was quoted as saying that Townsend was "going places."[5]

She played a featured role in the film The Walls of Jericho (1948), and she was billed third behind Dan Dailey and Celeste Holm in Chicken Every Sunday (1949). Her biggest success was in the 1950 film When Willie Comes Marching Home, in which she was paired with Dan Dailey. Again Pioneers (1950), which she wrote, provided her with her first lead role.[citation needed]

She grew up attending the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,[citation needed] and in 1948, she became active in the Hollywood Presbyterian Church. In 1950, Townsend left her acting career and married long-time friend Louis H. Evans Jr. who was a seminary student at the time at San Francisco Theologic Seminary. Evans was the founding pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian Church,[6] which began in the Evans home. Bel Air Presbyterian Church exists today as the largest Presbyterian congregation in the Los Angeles area.[7]

Later, the couple met and became friends with Billy and Ruth Graham. Townsend, now billed as Colleen Evans, returned to films briefly, starring in two films produced by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: Oiltown, U.S.A. (1950) and Souls in Conflict (1955).[8]

Post-acting

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Colleen and Louis Evans moved to Washington, D.C. where he served at National Presbyterian Church. Thereafter she dedicated herself to humanitarian work, specifically in relation to racial or religious discrimination, human rights, and the role of women in society. She partnered with her husband in ministry and served on the board of World Vision. She served as the first female chair of the Billy Graham Crusade in 1986.[8]

Filmography

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Year Title Role
1944 Janie Hortense Bennett
The Very Thought of You Young bride
Hollywood Canteen Junior hostess
1945 Pillow to Post WAC's daughter
Sing Your Way Home Girl
1948 Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! Girl leaving church service
The Walls of Jericho Marjorie Ransome
1949 Chicken Every Sunday Rosemary Hefferan
1950 When Willie Comes Marching Home Marjorie Fettles
Again Pioneers Sallie Keeler
1952 The Great Discovery Connie
1953 Oiltown, U.S.A. Christine Manning

See also

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References

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  1. ^ O'Leary, Dorothy (July 1948). "Colleen (Townsend) With a Plan". Movieland. p. 42. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "The Big Build-Up". Life. August 30, 1948. pp. 77–81. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Pollock, Louis (March 1949). "Soldier of God". Modern Screen. pp. 42–43, 111–112. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  4. ^ "Something For The Pupils". Kansas City Star. March 9, 1948. p. 3.
  5. ^ a b Life Goes to the Movies. Simon and Schuster. 1977. pp. 98–99. ISBN 0-671-79000-5.
  6. ^ "The Rev. Louis H. Evans, organizing pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian Church, dies at 82". LA Times. November 2, 2008.
  7. ^ "Home - Bel Air Church". belairpres.org. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "A Renaissance Woman for Christ". Wheaton College. 2005. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
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