Beverly Sassoon (born 1944 or 1945[1]) is a Canadian-American actress and author.
Early life
Adams was born in Alberta, Canada,[2] but is a citizen of the United States.[3] She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Adams.[1] Raised Roman Catholic, she moved with her family to Burbank, California after the war where, as a teen, she competed in and won beauty contests before becoming an actress.[4][5] She began working as a model while she was a student at Valley State College.[2]
Adams, who initially wanted to become a doctor, had a weekend job in a dress shop while she worked during the week as secretary to a Superior Court judge in Los Angeles. When the dress shop had a fashion show televised, Adams modeled some of the dresses. An advertising man saw her modeling on that broadcast and invited her to make a commercial at a local television station. Ozzie Nelson was at the station at the same time, and he invited her to play a bit part in an episode of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.[1]
Acting
Adams appeared in various guest roles in television series of the 1960s, including a recurring role on the Dr. Kildare TV series. She was selected for Columbia Pictures' New Talent Program and was signed to a contract where she appeared on several Screen Gems television series and several films, including the recurring role of Lovey Kravezit in the Matt Helm movies starring Dean Martin.[6]
During her retirement from acting, Adams, going by her married name of Beverly Sassoon, published several books and served as a spokeswoman for Vidal Sassoon, Inc.[2]
She launched her own line of pet care products, Beverly Sassoon Pet Care System.[7]
Personal life
Adams met hairstylist Vidal Sassoon when she was sent to his London salon while she was filming Torture Garden. They married on February 16, 1967.[2]
They had four children:[8] daughter Catya, an actress who died from a drug-induced heart attack; son Elan BenVidal ;[9][10] son David;[11] and daughter Eden Sassoon.[11] In 1981, the couple divorced, and Adams returned to acting. She married a matador, Antonio Migoni, but the marriage was annulled. Adams later married Philip Neal, whom she described as "the love of my life".[2] Neal died in 2004.[citation needed]
In November 2022, Adams was profiled in Classic Images, where she discussed her onscreen career.[12]
^"Beverly Adams". northernstars.ca. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
^p. 33 Lisanti, Tom & Paul, Louis Film Fatales: Women in Espionage Films and Television, 1962-1973 McFarland; Reprint edition 30 October 2016
^Lisanti, Tom; O'Neill, Eileen; Paul, Louis (2002). Film Fatales: Women in Espionage Films and Television, 1962-1973. McFarland. p. 36. ISBN0-7864-1194-5.
