Jacklyn O'Donnell
Born
Jacklyn Pearl O'Donnell

(1941-01-20) January 20, 1941
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesErin O'Donnell
EducationHollywood Professional School
OccupationActress
Years active1956–1970

Jacklyn Pearl O'Donnell (born January 20, 1941) is a retired American actress who was active from 1956 until 1970. She had regular starring roles on two television series, and performed on stage and in films. From September 1961 on she used the name "Erin O'Donnell" for billing credits.[1]

Early life

She was born Jacklyn Pearl O'Donnell in Los Angeles, California on January 20, 1941, to Jack and Aurine Hayes O'Donnell.[2] She had one older brother.[2] She was reared by her maternal grandparents[3] who started her on piano and ballet lessons at age five.[4] She completed her elementary education in Inglewood, California, then transferred to the Hollywood Professional School, from which she graduated in 1957 at age 16.[2]

While still in school she had performed in a piano duo called the Duoettes with Anna Fagerlin.[5] They played both popular and classical selections for Women's Social Clubs.[5] She also began acting at age 15, having a major role in a professional stage production, A Room Full of Roses.[6] The Los Angeles Times drama critic called her performance as a troubled teenager "wonderful"[6] though a later article indicates her stage debut was as an unpaid apprentice.[4]

Early career

Still a senior in high school, O'Donnell signed with the Jeanne Halliburton talent agency, which advertised her for ingenue parts in casting directories.[7] She had parts in five television episodes during 1957, two of them for the anthology series Matinee Theater,[4] as well as Father Knows Best, The Life of Riley, and Bachelor Father.[2]

During March 1958 she did her second stage performance, a feature role in A Man Called Peter.[8]

The Ed Wynn Show

O'Donnell was placed under contract to Thalia-Keethwyn Productions in May 1958 for a television show scheduled that Fall.[9] The Ed Wynn Show would be the third television series for the veteran comic actor Ed Wynn. O'Donnell and Sherry Alberoni would play Wynn's granddaughters.[2] O'Donnell drew lots of publicity during the fall of 1958 for this show, in which she played a college student living at home.[4] Despite an engaging cast, which included Herb Vigran and Myrna Fahey, the show lasted for only fifteen episodes. NBC cancelled it and moved Steve Canyon to its time slot in early January 1959.[10]

Film and television

For 1959 O'Donnell did two anthology series on television, Goodyear Theatre[11] and The DuPont Show. She also starred in her first film, an independently produced thirty-minute short called Teenage Challenge. The director of this short, William F. Claxton, would also direct O'Donnell's first feature length film Young Jesse James, shot in 1959 but not released until August 1960. After completing her work in this film, O'Donnell flew to Phoenix, Arizona for a supporting role in The Late Christopher Bean.[12]

Most of 1960 was disappointing for O'Donnell. She had only one television performance, on Zane Grey Theatre,[13] and when Young Jesse James was released in August the New York Times reviewer described her as "drab".[14] However, things picked up towards the end of the year when she was cast in a new television series.

Westinghouse Playhouse

NBC bought a thirty-minute television program from Revue Studios for broadcast on Friday nights starting in January 1961.[15] The show, called Westinghouse Playhouse, was not an anthology series as the name might suggest, but a sitcom loosely based on events in the real family life of star Nanette Fabray.[15] O'Donnell was cast as Fabray's new seventeen year old step-daughter, who initially resents her father's (Wendell Corey) re-marriage.[16] The show also featured Bobby Diamond and Doris Kemper,[16] and late in the series, Mimi Gibson.[17]

O'Donnell appeared in all twenty-six episodes of the series; a few of them were based around her character.[18] However, within a few weeks the series was already being called Nanette Fabray or The Fabray Show in acknowledgement of the overwhelming presence of the energetic star.[19]

Though the cast was considered good by critics, the show's writing "depended on developments which were easily foreseen and completely predictable".[16] The show was not renewed by NBC and aired its final episode in early July 1961.[20] The cancellation precipitated a major change in O'Donnell's career.

Later career

At age twenty, O'Donnell decided to change her agents and her billing name. She left Halliburton for the Herman Zimmerman agency,[21] and by September 1961 was billed as "Erin O'Donnell".[1] Having foregone accumulated name recognition, she found 1962 a slow year. She had two films, a light comedy Saintly Sinners,[22] and Incident in an Alley,[23] a noir drama based on a Rod Serling story. Both movies had been filmed in 1961. She also did one television show that year.

The following year (1963) saw her starting to break out of teenage typecasting, as she played more mature roles on four narrative dramas: Perry Mason,[24] Arrest and Trial, and two episodes of Ben Casey. She also did a week-long run on stage in Just for Tonight, which starred Gloria Swanson.[25] By 1964 she had lost the babyface look that spelled "teenager" to casting directors, and was graduated from ingenue status to leading woman.[26] That year she had performances on six different television shows, including Temple Houston,[27] The Danny Thomas Show,[28] and Wendy and Me.[29]

She had work on three television series for 1965: Mister Roberts,[30] My Brother the Angel,[31] and two episodes of Bonanza.[32] However, she did only one dramatic television series in 1967, and by 1970 finished out her performing career with a minor part in a mixed genre film, Hell's Bloody Devils.[33]

Oldsmobile commercials

Starting in fall 1966 O'Donnell featured in TV commercials for 1967 Oldsmobile cars. The commercials were popular and landed her at least one talk show appearance.[34] O'Donnell told one interviewer they generated more publicity for her than anything in her dramatic career.[35] She was reported to be in negotiation with a movie studio as a result.[36] An apocryphal rumor was circulated by newspaper columnist Walter Winchell that she had spent the money earned from the commercials on a Ford automobile.[37]

Personal life

At seventeen, O'Donnell was described as being 5'2" (157.5 cm), 105 pounds (47.6 kg), with "brown eyes and honey-blond hair".[2]

O'Donnell gave an interview in 1967 to beauty columnist Lydia Lane in which she mentioned having attended college where she experienced a broken romance.[35] No other details about her personal life as an adult are available; she seems to have escaped attention from gossip columnists and fan magazines.

Stage performances

Listed by year of first performance (excluding student productions)
Year Play Role Venue Notes
1956 A Roomful of Roses Bridget MacGowan Call Board Theater O'Donnell starred in this original play by Edith Sommer.[6]
1958 A Man Called Peter Susan Call Board Theater Dramatized by John McGreedey from book by Catherine Marshall.[8][4]
1960 The Late Christopher Bean Susan Haggett Sombrero Playhouse O'Donnell supported Don Beddoe and Shirley Booth for the one-week run.[38]
1963 Just For Tonight Caroline Stanley Sombrero Playhouse Written for Gloria Swanson by Harold J. Kennedy, who also directed and starred in it with her.[25]

Filmography

Film (by year of first release)
Year Title Role Notes
1959[fn 1] Teenage Challenge Betty Hayes Independently produced short film with Christian theme
1960 Young Jesse James Zerelda "Zee" Mimms [39]
1962 Incident in an Alley[fn 2] Jean Joddy Her first film credit as "Erin O'Donnell".[23]
Saintly Sinners Sue Braeden [22]
1970 Hell's Bloody Devils Leni Marvenga Ads labelled her and other actresses as "The Wild Rebellion Girls".[33]
Television (in original broadcast order, excluding commercials)
Year Series Episode Role Notes
1957 Father Knows Best (Unknown episode) Known only from later newspaper articles[4][2]
The Life of Riley A Young Man's Fancy Joan [4][2]
Matinee Theater (2 Unknown Episodes) Known only from later newspaper articles[4][2]
Bachelor Father Uncle Bentley Keeps His Promise Girl #2 [2]
1958 The Ed Wynn Show Sincerely, Sam Hill Laurie [40]
The Crossing Guard Laurie
The Scholarship Laurie This episode aired the same night (Oct 9th) as....
The Real McCoys Grampa Learns about Teenagers Gloria ....this episode filmed earlier in the summer.
The Ed Wynn Show (11 Episodes) Laurie
1959 The Ed Wynn Show New York Adventure Laurie Final episode of this series
Goodyear Theatre A Light in the Fruit Closet Betsy Sequel to Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.[11]
The DuPont Show Love Is a Headache Hannah
1960 Zane Grey Theatre The Ox Nancy McConnell O'Donnell is pawn between Whit Bissell and Burl Ives.[13]
1961 Westinghouse Playhouse (26 Episodes) Nancy McGovern Her second stint as a series regular, and her last credit under her birth name.[16][20]
1962 The Gertrude Berg Show High Finance Marion Her first TV credit as "Erin O'Donnell"
1963 Ben Casey A Short Bio...[fn 3] Miss Warner
Justice to a Microbe Agnes
Perry Mason The Case of the Reluctant Model Maxine Lindsay O'Donnell is the defendant.[24]
Arrest and Trial Inquest into a Bleeding Heart Miss Claxton
1964 Kraft Suspense Theatre Who Is Jennifer? Farm Girl
Temple Houston The Case for William Gotch Laura Jean [27]
My Favorite Martian Who Am I? Coed
The Danny Thomas Show Rusty and the Chorus Girl Wendy [28]
This Is the Life The Trap of Freedom Maxine
Wendy and Me Wendy's Secret Wedding Laura Airline stewardess (O'Donnell) has secret wedding.[29]
1965 Bonanza A Good Night's Rest Peggy
Jonah Susan [32]
Mister Roberts Carry Me Back to Cocoa Island O'Donnell and Joy Harmon guest starred.[30]
My Brother the Angel Here Comes the Bridegroom Arlene [31]
1967 The Gypsy Rose Lee Show Episode of 1967-03-20 Herself O'Donnell played two Chopin études.[34]
The High Chaparral Destination Tucson Jo

Notes

  1. ↑ Some sources list the release year as 1958, but the film itself carries a 1959 copyright
  2. ↑ The working title was Line of Duty
  3. ↑ The full title of the episode is "A Short Biographical Sketch of James Tuttle Peabody, M.D.". There was a penchant for long episode titles among teleplay writers starting in the mid-1960s.

References

  1. 1 2 "Helped (photo caption)". Hesperia Gazette. Victorville, California. September 27, 1961. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Winning Achievement Awards Habit with Jacklyn O'Donnell". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. October 26, 1958. p. 213 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ 1950 United States Federal Census for Jackalyn O'Donnell, California > Los Angeles > Los Angeles > 66-569, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Jacklyn O'Donnell - She Has Holes in Her Head". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. November 9, 1958. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "Santa Paula Ebell Opens Year With Luncheon-Meeting Monday". Ventura County Star. Ventura, California. October 3, 1956. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 3 Von Blon, Katherine (November 17, 1956). "'A Room Full of Roses' Offered at Call Board". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Ingenues". Academy Players Directory. No. 77. Hollywood, California: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 1957. p. 217.
  8. 1 2 Von Blon, Katherine (February 22, 1958). "'Adano' to Be Next in Leon Lord Theater". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Contracts Approved (photo caption)". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. May 13, 1958. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Vernon, Terry (January 8, 1959). "Tele-Vues". The Independent. Long Beach, California. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 "Two Big Specials as the Highlights". Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. April 26, 1959. p. 114 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "'Late' Actress Signed". Valley Times. North Hollywood, California. January 15, 1960. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. 1 2 "Burl Ives After Revenge in 'Ox'". The News-Messenger. Fremont, Ohio. October 28, 1960. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Archer, Eugene (August 25, 1960). "The Screen". The New York Times. New York, New York. p. 25 – via nytimes.com.
  15. 1 2 "The January Changes in NBC TV Lineup". The Bradenton Herald. Bradenton, Florida. December 3, 1960. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Gross, Ben (January 1961). "What's On?". Daily News. New York, New York. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "New Girl in Town (photo caption)". Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. May 19, 1961. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Friday, May 26, 1961". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. May 20, 1960. p. 99 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ Wadsworth, Charlie (March 24, 1961). "In London, Jack Par Has Been Up to Par". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. 1 2 "In Finale (photo caption)". Valley Times. North Hollywood, California. July 7, 1961. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Ingenues". Academy Players Directory. No. 93. Hollywood, California: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 1962. p. 266.
  22. 1 2 "Comedy on Met's Screen". Daily News. New York, New York. March 8, 1962. p. 499 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. 1 2 "'Incident in an Alley' New Title". Brooklyn Daily. Brooklyn, New York. September 28, 1961. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. 1 2 "We Think You'll Like". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. October 26, 1963. p. 107 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. 1 2 Fish, Mary (March 20, 1963). "'Just for Tonight' Pungent Comedy; Gloria Swanson Sparkles in Lead". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "Leading Women". Academy Players Directory. No. 99. Hollywood, California: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 1964. p. 175.
  27. 1 2 "Thursday, February 6". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. February 2, 1964. p. 191 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. 1 2 "Monday, April 20". Cincinnati Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. April 18, 1964. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. 1 2 "Tonight's TV Previews". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. October 5, 1964. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. 1 2 "Tonight's Television Highlights". New Castle News. New Castle, Pennsylvania. July 15, 1966. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. 1 2 "Friday, Dec. 10". Cincinnati Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. December 4, 1965. p. 44 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. 1 2 "Gypsy Magic Tried to Hoss". Reno Gazette Journal. Reno, Nevada. April 5, 1965. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. 1 2 "They're Madmen on Motorcycles (Ad)". Lexington Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. July 15, 1970. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. 1 2 "Monday Television Programs". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. March 20, 1967. p. 46 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. 1 2 Lane, Lydia (April 28, 1967). "Poor Diet, Insufficient Rest Aggravate Your Complexion". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ↑ Freeman, Alex (December 19, 1966). "TV Closeup". The Daily Reporter. Dover, Ohio. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ↑ Winchell, Walter (December 23, 1966). "Broadway Digest: Near Unanimous for 'I Do'". San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ Buchen, Charlotte (January 1960). "Shirley Booth, Don Beddoe Delight Large Sombrero Opening Audience". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ↑ "People". Los Angeles Evening Citizen-News. Hollywood, California. December 25, 1959. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ↑ "TV Previews". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, Wisconsin. September 25, 1958. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
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