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Julie Adams

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Julie Adams
Adams in 1953
Born
Betty May Adams

(1926-10-17)October 17, 1926
Waterloo, Iowa, U.S.
DiedFebruary 3, 2019(2019-02-03) (aged 92)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesBetty Adams
Julia Adams
OccupationActress
Years active1946–2019[1]
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1951; div. 1953)​
​
​
(m. 1954; div. 1981)​
Children2
Websitejulieadams.biz

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.

Early years

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Julie Adams was born 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; the longest she lived in one town was 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.[5]

Career

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Adams and Jack Kelly in Maverick

Film

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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.[6] 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."[7]

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 horror film Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954).[8]

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!"[9]

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."[10]

Television

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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.[11]: 355  She guest-starred in five episodes of 77 Sunset Strip, three of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and two of Maverick, "The White Widow" and "The Brasada Spur", both with Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick.[11]: 304–305 

More guest-star roles in popular television series followed, including One Step Beyond; The Big Valley, in its classic episode "The Emperor of Rice'";[11]: 36  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.[12] She was cast in the recurring role of real estate agent Eve Simpson for ten episodes of CBS's Murder, She Wrote.[8]

Appearances

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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.[13]

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.[14] 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

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Adams was married to screenwriter Leonard B. Stern from 1951 to 1953.[15][16] 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.[17][18]

Adams died on February 3, 2019, in Los Angeles, California, aged 92.[19][20]

Awards

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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.[21] In 2012, she won the Rondo Award for the Monster Kid Hall of Fame at the annual Wonderfest in Louisville, Kentucky.[22]

Filmography

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Features

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Year Title Role Notes
1949 Red, Hot and Blue Starlet Uncredited
The Dalton Gang Polly Medford
1950 Hostile Country Ann Green
Marshal of Heldorado Ann as Betty Adams
Crooked River Ann Hayden as Betty Adams
Colorado Ranger Ann as Betty Adams
West of the Brazos Ann Greene
Fast on the Draw Ann
For Heaven's Sake Joe's Mother Scenes deleted
1951 Bright Victory Chris Paterson Credited as Julia Adams
Hollywood Story Sally Rousseau / Amanda Rousseau Credited as Julia Adams
1952 Finders Keepers Sue Kipps
Bend of the River Laura Baile Credited as Julia Adams
The Treasure of Lost Canyon Myra Wade Credited as Julia Adams
Horizons West Lorna Hardin Credited as Julia Adams
The Lawless Breed Rosie McCoy Credited as Julia Adams
1953 The Mississippi Gambler Ann Conant Credited as Julia Adams
The Man from the Alamo Beth Anders Credited as Julia Adams
The Stand at Apache River Valerie Kendrick
Wings of the Hawk Raquel Noriega Credited as Julia Adams
1954 Creature from the Black Lagoon Kay Lawrence Credited as Julia Adams
Francis Joins the WACS Captain Jane Parker
1955 Six Bridges to Cross Ellen Gallagher
The Looters Sheryl Gregory
One Desire Judith Watrous credited as Julia Adams
1956 The Private War of Major Benson Dr. Kay Lambert
Away All Boats Nadine MacDougall
1957 Four Girls in Town Kathy Conway
Slaughter on Tenth Avenue Daisy 'Dee' Pauley
Slim Carter Clover Doyle
1958 Yancy Derringer Amanda Eaton
Tarawa Beachhead Ruth Campbell
1959 The Gunfight at Dodge City Pauline Howard
1960 Raymie Helen
1962 The Underwater City Monica Powers
1965 Tickle Me Vera Radford
1971 The Last Movie Mrs. Anderson
1974 McQ Elaine
1975 The Wild McCullochs Hannah McCulloch
Psychic Killer Dr. Laura Scott
1976 The Killer Inside Me Mother
1978 Goodbye, Franklin High Janice Armer
The Runaways Mother
The Fifth Floor Nurse Hannelord
1984 Champions Emma Hussey
1988 Black Roses Mrs. Miller
1990 Catchfire Martha
2006 World Trade Center Allison's Grandmother
2011 Carnage Secretary
2018 The Lucky Southern Star Grandma Short, last film role

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1949 Your Show Time as Betty Adams
1955–1957 Lux Video Theatre Catherine / Henrietta Smith / Jane
1956 Studio One Anne
1957 Climax! Coleen
1958 Playhouse 90 Janice Ohringer
1958 Zane Grey Theatre Julie Brand
1958–1960 Goodyear Theatre Betty Fordham / Marion Ewell
1958 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Carol Longsworth Season 3 Episode 39: "Little White Frock"
1958 Letter to Loretta Milly / Paula McGill
1959 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Peg Valence Season 5 Episode 9: "Dead Weight"
1959 Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond Helen Archer Episode: "Epilogue"
1959 The Gunfight at Dodge City Pauline Howard
1959 The Man and the Challenge Linda Webb
1959 The Alaskans Clara
1959–1960 Maverick Wilma White / Belle Morgan
1959–1964 77 Sunset Strip Anne Kenzie / Norma Kellogg / Miriam Galbraith / Marie La Shelle / Margot Wendice
1960 Cheyenne Irene Travers
1960 The Rifleman Nora Sanford
1960 Tate Mary Hardin
1960 Markham Stacey Winters
1960 Wrangler Eve Browning
1960 Michael Shayne Beatrice Drake
1960–1961 Hawaiian Eye Gloria Matthews / Sara Crane
1960–1962 Checkmate Jean Damion / Janet Evans
1961 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Phyllis Kendall Season 6 Episode 15: "Summer Shade"
1961 Bonanza Helen Layton Episode: "The Courtship"
1961 Outlaws Juill Ramsur
1961 Surfside 6 Julie Owens / Merilee Williams
1962 The Andy Griffith Show Mary Simpson
1962 The Dick Powell Show Robin
1962 Dr. Kildare Ginny Nelson
1963 The Gallant Men Captain Meg Thorpe
1963 Arrest and Trial Eleanor
1963 Perry Mason Patricia L. Kean / Janice Blake / Janice Barton / Valerie Comstock
1964–1965 Kraft Suspense Theatre Joanne Clay / Ellen Yarnell
1965 Twelve O'Clock High Lieutenant Betty Russo
1965 Burke's Law Carla Cabrial
1965 The Long, Hot Summer Leona Mills
1966 The Virginian Marian Clay
1966–1967 The Big Valley Janet Masters / Edna Wesley
1967 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Julia Douglas
1967 Insight Jessica
1967–1973 Mannix Edie Reynolds
1968 Ironside Norma Howard
1968 The Outsider Laura Carlvic
1968–1973 The Mod Squad Nancy Ryan / Samantha Semple
1969 My Friend Tony
1969 General Hospital Denise Wilton
1969 The F.B.I. Denise Kriton
1969–1972 The Doris Day Show Louise Rusk / Karen Carruthers
1969–1975 Marcus Welby, M.D. Lee Morgan / Claire Berwick
1970 Dan August Patricia Fairley
1970–1971 The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Lynn Craig
1971 The Young Lawyers Alice Graham
1971 The Trackers Dora Paxton TV Movie
1971–1972 The Jimmy Stewart Show Martha Howard
1972 Night Gallery Gay Melcor Segment "The Miracle at Camafeo"
1972–1975 Cannon
1973 Go Ask Alice Dorothy TV Movie
1973 Search Jeanette Lewis
1974 Lucas Tanner Mrs. Walker
1975 Kolchak: The Night Stalker Mrs. Avery Walker
1975 Caribe Mrs. Bladell
1975 The Streets of San Francisco Judith
1975 Ellery Queen Jennifer Packard
1976 Medical Center Ellie Wilke
1976 Six Characters in Search of an Author The Mother TV Movie
1977 McMillan & Wife Dorothy Wininger
1977 This Is the Life
1977–1982 Quincy, M.E. Dr. Chris Winston / Sharon Ross / Mrs. Daniels
1978 Police Woman Eleanor Simpson
1978 The Incredible Hulk Ellen
1980 Trapper John, M.D. Lorrie Malcolm
1981 Vega$ Margaret Sorenson
1981–1982 Code Red Ann Rorchek 19 episodes
1981; 1984 Too Close for Comfort Sylvia Walker 2 episodes
1982 Cagney & Lacey Helen Granger Episode: "Better than Equal"
1984–1986 Capitol Paula Denning 3 episodes
1987–1993 Murder, She Wrote Eve Simpson 10 episodes
1993 Beverly Hills, 90210 Grandma Arlene Beevis 2 episodes
The Conviction of Kitty Dodds Margaret TV Movie
1997 Diagnosis: Murder Edie Reynolds Fallon Episode: "Hard-Boiled Murder"
1999 Melrose Place Mrs. Damarr
Sliders Old Maggie Beckett
2000 Family Law Bonnie
2006 Cold Case Dottie Mills
Lost Amelia Episode: "A Tale of Two Cities"
2007 CSI: NY Betty Willens Episode: "Boo"
2008 Lost: Missing Pieces Amelia Episode: "The Envelope"

References

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  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. ^ Weaver, Tom; Schecter, David; Kiss, Robert J. (2017-09-11). Universal Terrors, 1951-1955: Eight Classic Horror and Science Fiction Films. McFarland. p. 184. ISBN 978-1-4766-2776-2.
  6. ^ "Julie Adams at 85". Great Entertainers Archives.com. 2012-04-09. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  7. ^ 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
  8. ^ a b 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Armstrong, Richard. "Julie Adams Chats with the Café about James Stewart, the Gill Man, Elvis, and Her Autobiography". Classic Film & TV Cafe.
  11. ^ a b c Lentz, Harris M. (1997). Television Westerns Episode Guide: All United States Series, 1949-1996. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-7386-1.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "50th Birthday Party". Retrieved 2019-02-06.
  14. ^ "A Monstrous Centennial: Universal's Legacy of Horror". Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2012-09-12.
  15. ^ "Julie Adams – The Private Life and Times of Julie Adams. Julie Adams Pictures". Glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  16. ^ "Wins Divorce". The Bee. October 14, 1953. p. 16. Retrieved September 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  17. ^ "Official Julie Adams website". julieadams.biz. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  18. ^ "Julie Adams – Biography". TCM.com. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Bergan, Ronald (February 7, 2019). "Julie Adams obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "Julie Adams".
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