Actress, Model, Beauty Queen. After her selection as the Rose Queen for the Tournament of Roses in 1938, she began a brief modeling career before moving into film. Many of her early appearances were uncredited, including appearing as Veronica Lake's double in "Sullivan's Travels". Her first major break came when she played the lead role in "Stage Door Canteen", where, as Eileen, a hopeful young starlet in New York City, she volunteers as a hostess and dance partner in a club for allied soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen. The film, an unapologetic, highly patriotic look at the club, which actually did exist in New York, and eventually in other cities, features many theater and film stars, as well as big bands of the time. Making brief appearances are stars and musicians such as Judith Anderson, Tallulah Bankhead, Helen Hayes, Kathryn Hepburn, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and many others. Later films included a three-film series where she plays Phyllis Hamilton, a secretary to private-eye, Michael Shayne, played by Hugh Beaumont. After her film career, she became active in the anti-communist movement, traveling around Southern California, making speeches to civic and church groups.
Actress, Model, Beauty Queen. After her selection as the Rose Queen for the Tournament of Roses in 1938, she began a brief modeling career before moving into film. Many of her early appearances were uncredited, including appearing as Veronica Lake's double in "Sullivan's Travels". Her first major break came when she played the lead role in "Stage Door Canteen", where, as Eileen, a hopeful young starlet in New York City, she volunteers as a hostess and dance partner in a club for allied soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen. The film, an unapologetic, highly patriotic look at the club, which actually did exist in New York, and eventually in other cities, features many theater and film stars, as well as big bands of the time. Making brief appearances are stars and musicians such as Judith Anderson, Tallulah Bankhead, Helen Hayes, Kathryn Hepburn, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and many others. Later films included a three-film series where she plays Phyllis Hamilton, a secretary to private-eye, Michael Shayne, played by Hugh Beaumont. After her film career, she became active in the anti-communist movement, traveling around Southern California, making speeches to civic and church groups.
Bio by: Rick Bryant
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