Chanin Hale, married name Chanin Hale Bradshaw, (1928 – 2020), was an American actress on stage, film, and television, perhaps best known for more than forty appearances on The Red Skelton Hour.[1]
Early life
Chanin Hale was born Marilyn Victoria Chanine Hale Haney in Dayton, Ohio. As a creative, athletic girl, she won art awards and excelled in sports. Being "bit" by the performing bug in school, Hale pursued acting and acquired roles in student and community theater, taking lessons in dancing and singing. She dyed her red hair platinum blonde, and joined the Dayton Y Players, learning Greek tragedy and low comedy. She attained some success in the title role of Annie Get Your Gun, which helped to land a role in Little Mary Sunshine, playing a flirtatious character named Twinkle. Hale took to her mother's family name, retaining it into her professional career.[2]
Hale was also a regular supporter of, and toured with, the USO, to Vietnam and other overseas locations, well into the late 1960s. Subsequently, Hale was one of the last successful pinup models. Early in 1969, she was a favorite with the soldiers; thousands of 8x10s were printed and mailed after her photo was published by the New York Daily News posing as Eve in a homemade costume.[1][2]
Personal life
Hale was married to Richard Bradshaw in 1986 until her death nearly 34 years later. She died at the age of 91.[1]