| Grace Lee Whitney | |
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 Grace Lee Whitney at a Star Trek convention (circa 1980) |
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| Born | April 1, 1930 Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States |
Grace Lee Whitney (born April 1, 1930) is an American actress and entertainer, also known as Ruth Whitney and Lee Whitney. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ann Arbor is a city in the US state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works See also Entertainment (disambiguation and The Entertainer (disambiguation Entertainment is an activity designed to give people She is most famous for playing the role of Janice Rand in a number of Star Trek television series and films. Yeoman Janice Rand, played by Grace Lee Whitney, is a character in the Star Trek The Original Series.
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Early life
Whitney was born Mary Ann Chase in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ann Arbor is a city in the US state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. She was adopted by the Whitney family who named her Grace Elaine Whitney. After she moved out on her own, she would later called herself Lee Whitney, and eventually, she became Grace Lee Whitney. Whitney started her entertainment career as a "girl singer" on Detroit's WJR radio at the age of fourteen. In her late teens, she moved to Chicago and started to open in nightclubs for the likes of Billie Holiday and Buddy Rich, and toured with the Spike Jones and Fred Waring Bands. A nightclub (or "night club" or "club" is a drinking, dancing, and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7 1915 – July 17 1959 was an American Jazz singer and songwriter Bernard "Buddy" Rich ( September 30 1917 &ndash April 2 1987) was an American jazz drummer and Bandleader Lindley Armstrong "Spike" Jones ( December 14, 1911 – May 1, 1965) was a popular musician and bandleader specializing in performing Fredrick Malcolm Waring ( June 9, 1900 &ndash July 29, 1984) was a popular Musician, Bandleader and radio-television
Theater
Whitney debuted on Broadway in Top Banana with Phil Silvers and Kaye Ballard where she played Miss Holland. Top Banana is a 1951 musical produced by Paula Stone and Mike Sloane that won comedian Phil Silvers a Tony award in 1952 Phil Silvers ( May 11, 1911 &ndash November 1, 1985) was an American entertainer and Comedy actor Kaye Ballard, also credited as "Kay Ballard" born Catherine Gloria Balotta on November 20, 1925, in Cleveland Ohio, to an Italian Following the successful run of the show, she joined the cast in Hollywood where she recreated the role in the 1954 movie of the same name. While in Los Angeles, Whitney auditioned and was cast in the starring role of Lucy Brown in the national tour of The Threepenny Opera, taking over the role from Bea Arthur who had played the part on Broadway. The Threepenny Opera ( Die Dreigroschenoper) is a revolutionary work of Musical theatre, by German dramatist Bertolt Brecht and composer Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located
Film Highlights
Whitney was cast as a member of the all-female band in Billy Wilder's classic comedy Some Like It Hot, released in 1959. Billy Wilder ( June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an Austrian born Jewish - American Journalist Some Like It Hot is a 1959 Comedy film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack She shared several scenes with Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Marilyn Monroe, including the famed "upper berth" sequence. John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III (February 8 1925 &ndash June 27 2001 was an American Actor known principally for his comedic roles Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz June 3, 1925) is an American film actor Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson, June 1 1926 &ndash August 5 1962 baptized Norma In her memoir, The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy, she maintains that as one of the only girls in the band with a speaking role, Wilder had hired her specifically for the role of Rosella. Billy Wilder ( June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an Austrian born Jewish - American Journalist Various credit sources list the name of another actress for that role, even though she is directly addressed by the name Rosella in two different scenes in the film; the first by band leader Sweet Sue (Joan Shawlee), and the second by a fellow band member.
She also had uncredited roles in House of Wax with Vincent Price, The Naked and the Dead with Cliff Robertson, Pocketful of Miracles with Bette Davis and Glenn Ford, and Critic's Choice with Bob Hope and Lucille Ball. Vincent Leonard Price Jr ( May 27 1911 &ndash October 25 1993) was an American Film Actor, remembered The Naked and the Dead is a 1948 novel by Norman Mailer. It was based on his experiences during World War II. Clifford Parker "Cliff" Robertson III (born September 9, 1925) is an Academy Award - winning American Actor with a Pocketful of Miracles is a 1961 film that was the last to be directed by Frank Capra. Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (April 5 1908 – October 6 1989 was an American actress of Film, Television and Theatre. Gwyllyn Samuel Newton "Glenn" Ford ( May 1, 1916 &ndash August 30, 2006) was a Canadian -born American Critic's Choice is a 1963 film directed by Don Weis. Based on the 1960 Broadway play of the same name by Ira Levin, the movie Bob Hope, KBE KCSG ( May 29, 1903 &ndash July 27, 2003) was an American comedian and actor who appeared in Lucille Ball (August 6 1911 – April 26 1989 was an American comedienne, film television stage and radio Actress, model, film Whitney appeared in the credited role of Tracey Phillips in the 1962 drama A Public Affair. A Public Affair is the fourth studio album by American pop singer Jessica Simpson. Billy Wilder subsequently gave her the featured role of Kiki the Cossack in the 1963 film Irma La Douce with Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon. Billy Wilder ( June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an Austrian born Jewish - American Journalist This article is about the film For the stage musical see Irma La Douce (musical Irma La Douce is a 1963 Shirley MacLaine (born April 24, 1934) is an American Academy Award -winning Film and Theater Actress, well-known John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III (February 8 1925 &ndash June 27 2001 was an American Actor known principally for his comedic roles She also appeared in The Man from Galveston as Texas Rose with Jeffrey Hunter that same year. Jeffrey Hunter ( November 25, 1926 – May 27, 1969) was a film and television actor
Television
Whitney has made more than a hundred television appearances since her television debut in Cowboy G-Men in 1953. She had guest starring roles in such westerns as Gunsmoke, Bat Masterson, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, and Zane Grey Theatre, as well as other shows including 77 Sunset Strip, Hawaiian Eye, and The Untouchables. Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston Bat Masterson is an American Western Television series which showed a fictionalized account of the life of real-life marshal/gambler/dandy The Rifleman was a Western Television program that ran from 1958–1963 on ABC, a production of Four Star Wagon Train is a Television Western Series on NBC from 1957 - 1962 and then on ABC from 1962- 77 Sunset Strip is Hawaiian Eye is an American The Untouchables is the name of a television series that ran from 1959 to 1963 on the American Broadcasting Company.
She had notable roles in Bewitched (as Babs Livingston) and Batman (as Neila) starring opposite comic actor Victor Buono. Bewitched is an American Situation comedy originally broadcast for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972. Batman is a 1960s American Television series, based on the DC Comic book character of the same name. Charles Victor Buono ( February 3, 1938 - January 1, 1982) was an Academy Award - and Golden Globe-nominated American She also appeared in an episode of The Outer Limits entitled "Controlled Experiment" with Carroll O'Connor and Barry Morse. For the album by Progressive Metal band Voivod see The Outer Limits (album. " Controlled Experiment " is an episode of the original The Outer Limits television show John Carroll O'Connor ( August 2, 1924 &ndash June 21, 2001) was an American Actor, producer and director Herbert "Barry" Morse ( 10 June 1918 - 2 February 2008) was a British -born Canadian Actor of stage This episode was shot as a pilot for a proposed series starring O'Connor and Morse as two Martians sent to Earth to examine human life and experiences. EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 CBS instead opted for the series My Favorite Martian with Ray Walston and Bill Bixby. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. My Favorite Martian is an American Television Sitcom that aired on CBS from September 29, 1963 to Ray Walston ( December 2 1914 – January 1 2001) was an American stage, Television and Feature film Bill Bixby (born Wilfred Bailey Bixby on January 22, 1934 – November 21, 1993) was an American Film and
In the late 1960s, Whitney appeared as guest star on such programs as Mannix, Death Valley Days, The Big Valley, and The Virginian. Mannix is an American television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Death Valley Days is a long-running American radio and Television anthology about true stories of the old American West The Big Valley is a television Western which ran on ABC from 1965 to 1969. The Virginian is a western -themed Television series which aired on NBC from 1962 to 1971 for a total of 249 episodes Roles in the 1970s were far fewer, but included The Bold Ones, Cannon, and Hart to Hart. The Bold Ones was the Umbrella title for several Television series. Cannon is a detective series which ran on CBS from 1971 to 1976. Hart to Hart is an American Television series starring Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers. In 1983 she had a small part in the television film The Kid with the 200 IQ with Gary Coleman and in 1998 she appeared in the Diagnosis: Murder episode "Alienated" with fellow Star Trek cast members Walter Koenig, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, and Wil Wheaton. Gary Wayne Coleman (born February 8, 1968) is an American Actor, best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diagnosis Murder is a mystery / medical / Crime drama Television series starring Dick Van Dyke as Dr The following is a list of Diagnosis Murder episodes, a US Television show originally airing from October 29 1993 to May 11 2001 Walter Marvin Koenig ( IPA:; born September 14, 1936) is an American Actor, Writer, teacher and director, known Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (born Majel Leigh Hudec on February 23, 1932 in Columbus Ohio) is an American actress, and Richard William "Wil" Wheaton III (born July 29, 1972) is an American Writer and Actor.
Star Trek
Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry cast Whitney in the role of Yeoman Janice Rand, the personal assistant to Captain James T. Kirk in 1966. Star Trek is a Science fiction Television series created by Gene Roddenberry that aired from September 8, 1966 through Eugene Wesley "Gene" Roddenberry (August 19 1921 &ndash October 24 1991 was an American Screenwriter and producer. Yeoman Janice Rand, played by Grace Lee Whitney, is a character in the Star Trek The Original Series. She appeared in eight of the first thirteen episodes; then was released from contract. She had reported that, while still under contract, she was sexually assaulted by an executive associated with the series, and, later, in a public interview, she stated that Leonard Nimoy had been her main source of support during that time. Leonard Simon Nimoy (born March 26, 1931) is an American Actor, Film director, Poet, Musician and She details the assault in her book The Longest Trek and refuses to name the executive. She was not given a reason for her termination from the series. She reprised her role as Janice Rand, who had received a promotion to Chief Petty Officer (CPO), in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979). Yeoman Janice Rand, played by Grace Lee Whitney, is a character in the Star Trek The Original Series. Star Trek The Motion Picture is a 1979 Science fiction film from Paramount Pictures. She appeared again in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), with another promotion, as Lieutenant (jg) Janice Rand. Star Trek III The Search for Spock ( Paramount Pictures, 1984) is the third feature Film based on the Star Trek Star Trek IV The Voyage Home ( Paramount Pictures, 1986) is the fourth feature Film based on the Star Trek Science fiction Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country is the sixth feature film based on the Star Trek Science fiction Television series.
Ten years later, to celebrate the thirtieth year of the franchise, she returned to Star Trek in 1996 in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Flashback" along with George Takei. " Flashback " is the name of the 44th episode of Star Trek Voyager, the second episode of the third season George Hosato Takei (born April 20, 1937) is an American actor of Japanese descent best known for his role in the TV series Star Trek
She has filmed roles in two internet Star Trek episodes: "Star Trek: New Voyages" and "Star Trek: Of Gods and Men" (reprising her role as Janice Rand in both). Star Trek Phase II (formerly known as Star Trek New Voyages) is an award-winning fan-created Science fiction series set in Star Trek Of Gods and Men (OGaM is a three-part unofficial Star Trek fan Mini-series which contains many cast members from the Star Trek "New Voyages" premiered on August 24, 2007. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. "Of Gods and Men" is scheduled to debut in late 2007.
Music & recordings
In the 1960s and 1970s, Whitney sang with a number of orchestras and bands, including the Keith Williams Orchestra. Later she concentrated on jazz/pop vocalizing while fronting for her band Star.
In the 1970s, with her then-husband, Jack Dale, she wrote a number of Star Trek-related songs. A 45 RPM record was released in 1976 with the songs Disco Trekkin’ (A side) and Star Child (B side). She recorded other tunes including Charlie X, Miri, Enemy Within, and USS Enterprise. The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701 is a Starship in Star Trek, which chronicles the vessel's mission "to explore strange new worlds to Many of these songs were released in the 1990s in cassette tape format: Light at the End of the Tunnel in 1996 and Yeoman Rand Sings! in 1999.
Books
Whitney's autobiography is entitled The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy and was released in 1998 (ISBN 1-884956-05-X). The book delves into her hiring and firing from Star Trek and her fight and eventual victory over alcohol and drug use, particularly marijuana. Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions Recreational drug use is the use of Psychoactive drugs for Recreational purposes rather than for work, medical or spiritual purposes
A comprehensive interview with Whitney is to be published in the book Talkin' Trek and Other Stories by Anthony Wynn, coming from BearManor Media in 2008, which also includes interviews with such actors as George Takei, Armin Shimerman and James Doohan. Anthony Wynn (born 1962, Eugene Oregon) is an American author and playwright George Hosato Takei (born April 20, 1937) is an American actor of Japanese descent best known for his role in the TV series Star Trek Armin Shimerman (born November 5, 1949) is an American actor who was born and raised in Lakewood, New Jersey. James Montgomery Doohan ( March 3, 1920 &ndash July 20, 2005) was a Canadian character and voice Actor
Filmography
- Star Trek VI -Excelsior Communications Officer (1991)
- Star Trek IV - Cameo (1986)
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
- The Man from Galveston (1963)
- Irma La Douce (1963)
- A Public Affair (1962)
- Pocketful of Miracles (1961)
- Some Like It Hot (1959)
- The Naked and the Dead (1958)
- Women's Prison (1955)
- Riding Shotgun (1954)
- Top Banana (1954)
- Hannah Lee: An American Primitive (1953)
- House of Wax (1953)
- The Texan Meets Calamity Jane (1950)
- Mystery Range (1947)
External links
- Grace Lee Whitney at the Internet Movie Database
- Grace Lee Whitney article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki
- Grace Lee Whitney Official Autograph site
- Janice Rand history
- Grace Lee Whitney at TV.com
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