Джули Адамс: Американская актриса (1926–2019)

American actress (1926–2019)

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. 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 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. 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. Adams worked as a part time secretary and began her film career in B movie westerns.

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. 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." 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). 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!" 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."

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, She was cast in the recurring role of real estate agent Eve Simpson for ten episodes of CBS's Murder, She Wrote. 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. 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.

Adams was married to screenwriter Leonard B. Stern from 1951 to 1953. 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. Adams died on February 3, 2019, in Los Angeles, California, aged 92.

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

Year Title Role Notes1949 Red, Hot and Blue Starlet UncreditedThe Dalton GangPolly Medford 1950 Hostile Country Ann Green Marshal of Heldorado Ann as Betty AdamsCrooked River Ann Hayden as Betty AdamsColorado Ranger Ann as Betty AdamsWest of the Brazos Ann Greene Fast on the Draw Ann For Heaven's Sake Joe's Mother Scenes deleted1951 Bright Victory Chris Paterson Credited as Julia AdamsHollywood Story Sally Rousseau / Amanda Rousseau Credited as Julia Adams1952 Finders Keepers Sue Kipps Bend of the River Laura Baile Credited as Julia AdamsThe Treasure of Lost Canyon Myra Wade Credited as Julia AdamsHorizons West Lorna Hardin Credited as Julia AdamsThe Lawless Breed Rosie McCoy Credited as Julia Adams1953 The Mississippi Gambler Ann Conant Credited as Julia AdamsThe Man from the Alamo Beth Anders Credited as Julia AdamsThe Stand at Apache River Valerie KendrickWings of the Hawk Raquel Noriega Credited as Julia Adams1954 Creature from the Black Lagoon Kay Lawrence Credited as Julia AdamsFrancis Joins the WACS Captain Jane Parker 1955 Six Bridges to Cross Ellen Gallagher The Looters Sheryl Gregory One Desire Judith Watrous credited as Julia Adams1956 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 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

Year Title Role Notes1949 Your Show Time as Betty Adams1955 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 1962The Andy Griffith Show Mary Simpson 1962The Dick Powell Show Robin 1962Dr. Kildare Ginny Nelson 1963The Gallant Men Captain Meg Thorpe 1963Arrest and Trial Eleanor 1963Perry 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 episodes1981; 1984 Too Close for Comfort Sylvia Walker 2 episodes1982 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 episodesThe Conviction of Kitty Dodds Margaret TV Movie1997 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"