Kathleen Crowley (born Betty Jane Crowley; December 26, 1929 – April 23, 2017)[1] was an American actress. She appeared in over 100 movies and television series in the 1950s and 1960s, almost always as a leading lady.
Biography
Early life
Born on December 26, 1929, in the Green Bank section of Washington Township, New Jersey, Crowley graduated from Egg Harbor City High School in 1946. On August 7, 1949, the 19-year-old Crowley won the title of Miss New Jersey at a contest held at Asbury Park, New Jersey.[2][3] As the winner, she entered the Miss America pageant held in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 10, 1949, and finished in seventh place.[4] At the time, she was working as a bookkeeper.[5]
Acting career
Crowley attended New York's American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1950 on a scholarship won at the Miss America pageant, and undertook some live TV work there.[6][7]
In February 1951, she appeared with Conrad Nagel in A Star Is Born on Robert Montgomery Presents. Crowley made 81 television appearances and was cast in 20 movies between 1951 and 1970. One of her last movie roles was in Downhill Racer with Robert Redford. She made three guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of defendant and title character Marylin Clark in the 1958 episode "The Case of the Lonely Heiress." She was in the 1963 episode of Perry Mason's "The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito" as Mrs. Bradisson.[8]
Her most frequent recurring appearance was as Terry Van Buren in seventeen episodes of Waterfront. She also appeared in seven episodes of the popular TV Series 77 Sunset Strip (1958-1964) beginning with that series’ episode titled “Lovely Lady Pity Me,” based on a novel by series creator Roy Huggins. In the episode "Strange Bedfellows," she appeared as Martizza Vedar, a character purposely similar to Zsa Zsa Gabor due to their extremely close physical resemblance. For the episode "The Desert Spa Caper," Crowley portrayed alcoholic actress Claire Dickens.
In 1966 Crowley portrayed Sophia Starr on two episodes of the TV series Batman, entitled "The Penguin Goes Straight" and "Not Yet He Aint."
Crowley is best remembered for appearing in eight episodes, a series record for leading ladies, as a variety of seductive sirens on the series Maverick (1957-1962).[9] She was the only actress in the series whom James Garner lauded for her acting ability in depth and at length in his memoir The Garner Files.[10] Her Maverick episodes were "The Jeweled Gun" with Jack Kelly, "Maverick Springs" with James Garner and Jack Kelly, "The Misfortune Teller" with James Garner, "A Bullet for the Teacher" and "Kiz" with Roger Moore, and three more with Jack Kelly titled "Dade City Dodge," "The Troubled Heir," and "One of Our Trains is Missing."
Private life
Crowley married John Rubsam in Los Angeles on September 27, 1969, and gave birth to her only child, a son named Matthew, the following year.[11][12]
Death
She died at age 87 on April 23, 2017, at her home in Green Bank, New Jersey.[13][14]
^"Miss America Named Tonight". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Michigan, Traverse City. September 10, 1949. p. 10. Retrieved April 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Miss New Jersey Chosen". The Kingston Daily Freeman. August 8, 1949. Retrieved April 27, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Our Jersey Neighbour". The Bristol Daily Courier. September 11, 1958. Retrieved April 27, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
