Julie Adams | |
|---|---|
%2c_1953.jpg) Adams in 1953 | |
| Born | Betty May Adams (1926-10-17)October 17, 1926 Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | February 3, 2019(2019-02-03) (aged 92) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Betty Adams Julia Adams |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1946–2019[1] |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | julieadams |
Julie Adams (bornBetty May Adams; October 17, 1926 – February 3, 2019) was an American actress, billed asJulia Adams in her early career, primarily known for her numerous television guest roles. She starred in a number of films in the 1950s, includingBend of the River (1952), oppositeJames Stewart; andCreature from the Black Lagoon (1954). Adams also had an extensive television career including roles as Paula Denning on the 1980s soap operaCapitol, and Eve Simpson onMurder, She Wrote.
Julie Adams was born Betty May Adams on October 17, 1926, inWaterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Arkansas-born parents Esther Gertrude (Beckett) and cotton buyer Ralph Adams.[2][3] She was an only child, and her parents were alcoholics. Her parents moved around a lot, with her father earning a living as a cotton buyer.[4] Her father died when she was 15, and due to her mother's heavy drinking, Adams moved to Arkansas to live with her aunt and uncle inBlytheville, Arkansas.[5][6] In 1946, at the age of 19, she was crowned "Miss Little Rock".[7] Adams then moved to Hollywood, California, to pursue her acting career.[6]
After moving to Hollywood, Adams worked as a part-time secretary and spent time taking speech lessons to lose her accent.[6][8] Working under her real name, Betty Adams, she landed a role inRed, Hot and Blue (1949).[9] Then, she landed a leading role in theLippert WesternThe Dalton Gang (1949).[9]B-movie stardom followed quickly when the producers ofThe Dalton Gang asked if she would star in their next sixWesterns.[8]
Adams's breakout role as a third-billed part in Universal Pictures'Bright Victory (1951),[10] the audience response was enough that Universal put Adams under contract.[8] Universal didn't like the name "Betty", so they changed her name to "Julia".[11] She eventually changed it herself to "Julie".[12] "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."[13]
While under contract with Universal, she co-starred in films opposite some of Hollywood's top leading men, including withJames Stewart inBend of the River (1952), withRock Hudson inThe Lawless Breed (1953) andOne Desire (1955), withTyrone Power inThe Mississippi Gambler (1953), withGlenn Ford inThe Man from the Alamo (1953).[8]
She was featured as the beautiful ichthyologist Kay Lawrence in the horror filmCreature from the Black Lagoon (1954).[14][15] The white one-piece swimsuit worn by Adams in the film was made exclusively for her.[10] The studio, for publicity purposes, had Adams's legs insured by Lloyd's of London for $125,000.[8][10] Although two sequels toCreature were made, Adams did not want to appear in them.[10] Ultimately, Adams is best remembered for her role inCreature.[16]
Adams withRory Calhoun in the filmThe Looters (1955), the story of a plane crash in theRocky Mountains. Part of the picture was filmed aboutTarryall Creek at what is nowEleven Mile State Park inPark County in centralColorado. The advertising poster reads: "Five desperate men ... and a girl who didn't care ... trapped on a mountain of gale-lashed rock!"[17]
Adams starred withCharlton Heston inThe Private War of Major Benson (1955) and withDan Duryea inSlaughter on Tenth Avenue (1957). She also starred in 1957'sFour Girls in Town, a romantic comedy about four young women competing for the leading role in a new movie, featuring an international cast. In 1957, Adams's run at Universal came to an end withSlim Carter. After that, she did have a few more film appearances, but most of her work would be in television.[8]
Adams's post-Universal films includedThe Gunfight at Dodge City (1959) withJoel McCrea. She appeared withElvis Presley in the musical-comedyTickle Me (1965). Adams thought highly of her co-star, noting: "He was such a gentleman, and surprisingly shy... I was quite in awe of him because he would do a musical number in one take, and that was wonderful".[18]
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On television, Adams appeared onThe Andy Griffith Show portraying Mary Simpson, a county nurse and romantic interest of SheriffAndy Taylor in a 1962 episode. She also made four guest appearances onPerry Mason, including the 1963 episode, "The Case of the Deadly Verdict", in which she played Janice Barton, Mason's only convicted client during the show's nine-year run onCBS. 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 onThe Rifleman as a dubious vixen and romantic interest of lead characterChuck Connors.[19] She guest-starred in five episodes of77 Sunset Strip, three ofAlfred Hitchcock Presents, and two ofMaverick,"The White Widow" and "The Brasada Spur", both withJack Kelly as Bart Maverick.[20] She also guest starred in an episode of "Mannix" in 1967 called "Then the Drink Takes the Man."
More guest-star roles in popular television series followed, includingOne Step Beyond;The Big Valley, in its classic episode "The Emperor of Rice'";[21]McMillan & Wife;Police Woman;The Streets of San Francisco;The Incredible Hulk;Cannon;Quincy, M.E.;Too Close for Comfort; andCagney & Lacey. Adams co-starred withJames Stewart in all 24 episodes ofThe Jimmy Stewart Show onNBC in 1971–1972. Stewart played a professor, and Adams played his wife.[22] She was cast in the recurring role ofreal estate agent Eve Simpson for ten episodes of CBS'sMurder, She Wrote.[23][24]
Adams originally had no interest in monster movie conventions. However, in 2003,Ben Chapman convinced her to join him for a 50th anniversary celebration ofCreature from the Black Lagoon at Creaturefest in 2002.[14] The festival was held atWakulla Springs, just south ofTallahassee, Florida, where underwater scenes were filmed in 1953.[8][25]
In October 2012, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences selectedCreature 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 inBeverly Hills, California.[26]
Adams was married to screenwriterLeonard B. Stern from 1951 to 1953.[27]
Adams metRay Danton while they both were working on the 1955 filmThe Looters. They married March 20, 1955.[28][29] The couple had two sons: Steven Richard Danton (b. October 16, 1956),[30][31] an assistant director; and Mitchell Danton,[32] a film editor. They divorced in 1974.[29]
Adams died on February 3, 2019, inLos Angeles, California, aged 92.[33][34]
In 1999, Adams received aGolden Boot award for her work in Westerns.[35] She was inducted into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame in 2000.[36][37] At CineCon in 2011, Adams was honored with a Film Career Achievement Award.[33] In 2012, she won the Rondo Award for the Monster Kid Hall of Fame at the annual Wonderfest in Louisville, Kentucky.[37] In 2013, Adams received theUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock's Distinguished Alumni Award.[37]
