Mary Eileen Chesterton(December 20, 1949 – October 3, 1979),[1]known professionally asClaudia Jennings,was an American actress and model. Jennings wasPlayboymagazine'sPlaymate of the Monthfor November 1969 and alsoPlaymate of the Yearfor 1970. She subsequently pursued a career in acting, and was known as the "Queen ofB movies".[3]She died in an automobile accident in 1979.
| Claudia Jennings | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Playboycenterfold appearance | |
| November 1969 | |
| Preceded by | Jean Bell |
| Succeeded by | Gloria Root |
| Playboy Playmate of the Year | |
| 1970 | |
| Preceded by | Connie Kreski |
| Succeeded by | Sharon Clark |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mary Eileen Chesterton December 20, 1949 Saint Paul, Minnesota,U.S.[1] |
| Died | October 3, 1979(aged 29)[1][2] Malibu, California,U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[1] |
Career
editMary Eileen Chesterton (known as "Mimi" to friends and family) was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1949, later moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and thenRichmond, Indiana.When her family moved from Richmond toEvanston, Illinois,as a result of her father becoming the advertising director withSkilsaw,she transferred at the start of hersophomore yeartoEvanston Township High School(ETHS) where she graduated in 1968. She was featured in a silent, plotless movie titled after hernicknamewhich was shot onSuper 8 filmby fellow ETHS classmateTodd McCarthy.She worked as a receptionist atPlayboyand then posed for the magazine in 1969. She adopted the name Claudia Jennings because she didn't want to embarrass her family and that she thought "Mimi" sounded too girlish.[4][citation needed]Her original pictorial was photographed byPompeo Posar.[1]She was Playmate of the Year in 1970, and was awarded a pinkMercury Capri.[5]
After her appearances inPlayboy,Jennings became an actress inexploitation moviesand in television. In 1973, she had a guest appearance onThe Brady Bunchepisode titled "Adios, Johnny Bravo". Jennings auditioned for the role asKate Jackson's replacement on the hit television showCharlie's Angels,but the role was awarded toShelley Hack.[6]
Death
editOn October 3, 1979, Jennings died in an automobile collision on thePacific Coast Highwaynear Malibu, California. She was 29.[2][3]
Jennings was featured in a 2000 episode ofE! True Hollywood Storyin which several of her friends and acquaintances were interviewed. The episode was made without the cooperation of her family, who considered the show too "tabloid" in style.[7]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Jud | Sunny |
| 1971 | The Love Machine | Darlene |
| 1972 | Trampa mortal | |
| 1972 | The Stepmother | Rita |
| 1972 | Unholy Rollers | Karen Walker |
| 1973 | Group Marriage | Elaine |
| 1973 | 40 Carats | Gabriella |
| 1974 | Willy & Scratch | Jennifer |
| 1974 | Truck Stop Women | Rose |
| 1974 | The Single Girls | Allison |
| 1974 | 'Gator Bait | Desiree Thibodeau |
| 1976 | The Man Who Fell to Earth | Peters' Wife |
| 1976 | Sisters of Death | Judy |
| 1976 | The Great Texas Dynamite Chase | Candy Morgan |
| 1977 | Moonshine County Express | Betty Hammer |
| 1978 | Deathsport | Deneer |
| 1979 | Fast Company | Sammy |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Ironside | Maralyn | "The Professionals" |
| 1973 | Barnaby Jones | Denise Frazer | "To Denise, with Love and Murder" |
| 1973 | The Brady Bunch | Tami Cutler | "Adios, Johnny Bravo" |
| 1974 | The F.B.I. | Judith Grinnell | "Deadly Ambition" |
| 1974 | Cannon | Leona Wilson / Susan Williams | "Bobby Loved Me", "Lady in Red" |
| 1974 | The Manhunter | Peggy | "The Truck Murders" |
| 1975 | Movin' On | Ann | "Ransom" |
| 1975 | Caribe | Jean Benedict | "School for Killers" |
| 1976 | The Streets of San Francisco | Evie | "Underground" |
| 1978 | Lucan | Debbie Kern[8] | "Nightmare" |
| 1979 | 240-Robert | Barbara Rice | "Bank Job" |
See also
edit
Further reading
edit- Claudia Jennings –The Authorized Biography.Midnight Marquee Publishing, 2018, by Eric Jonathan Karell[ISBN missing]
References
edit- ^abcde"Playmate data".RetrievedJanuary 29,2010.
- ^abDoviak, Scott Von (2015).Hick Flicks: The Rise and Fall of Redneck Cinema.McFarland.ISBN9780786482122.RetrievedJune 10,2013.
- ^ab'B' movie queen dies in crash,Chicago Tribune, October 4, 1979
- ^Williams, Albert. "But She Was A Cheerleader,"Reader(Chicago, IL), September 21, 2000.Retrieved September 2, 2021
- ^CC Easter Bunny Special: The Cars Of The Playboy Bunnies Of The Year 1964 – 1988,Curbside Classic, March 27 2016
- ^Brode, Douglas (2003).Boys and Toys: Ultimate Action-Adventure Movies.Citadel Press.ISBN9780806523811.RetrievedJune 10,2013.
- ^Albert Williams,But She Was A Cheerleader,Chicago Reader,September 21, 2000
- ^"Claudia Jennings".IMDb.RetrievedJune 25,2020.
External links
edit- Bass, Ari (July 21, 2000)."Claudia Jennings Lost Highway".Femme Fetales.Vol. 9, no. 2. p. 39.
- Claudia JenningsatIMDb