Nancy Kovack(born March 11, 1935)[1][2]is a retired American film and television actress.
Nancy Kovack | |
|---|---|
 Publicity still (1963) | |
| Born | March 11, 1935 Flint, Michigan,U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Years active | 1959–1976 |
| Known for | Jason and the Argonauts Frankie and Johnny Star Trek Bewitched |
| Spouse | |
Early years
editNancy Kovack was born inFlint, Michigan.[3]Her father, Michael A. Kovack, was the manager of aGeneral Motorsplant.[4]
Career
edit
After working as a model, Kovack became one of theGlee GirlsforJackie Gleason.[5]She appeared on a number of television series includingBewitched(3 episodes, playing both Darrin Stephens' ex-girlfriend and Samantha Stephens' nemesis, Sheila Sommers and Darrin's Italian client Clio Vanita),Batman(episodes 5 and 6),I Dream of Jeannie,Get Smart,[6]Perry Mason,12 O'Clock High,The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,The Invaders(episode "Task Force" (1967)),Burke's Law,Family Affair(episode "Family Plan" (1968)),The Name of the Game,and Hawaii Five-O(episode "Face of the Dragon" (1969)). She appeared in a key role as a native medicine woman andfemme fatalein one of the originalStar Trekepisodes, "A Private Little War"(1968). In 1969, she was nominated for anEmmy Awardfor Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for an appearance onMannix.[7]In addition to her guest appearances on television programs, Kovack was hostess of the game showBeat the Clock.[8]
As her profile increased, Kovack began to gain roles inHollywoodmovies, most notably as the high priestessMedeainJason and the Argonauts(1963). She also had roles inStrangers When We Meet(1960) withKirk DouglasandKim Novak,Diary of a Madman(1963) withVincent Price,The Outlaws Is Coming(1965) withThe Three Stooges,Sylvia(1965) withCarroll Baker,The Great Sioux Massacre(1965),The Silencers(1966) withDean Martin,Tarzan and the Valley of Gold(1966) withMike Henry,Frankie and Johnny(1966) withElvis Presley,andCarl Reiner's directorial debut,Enter Laughing(1967).
On Broadway, she appeared inThe Disenchanted.Her last film role was inMarooned(1969), a science-fiction drama starringGregory PeckandGene Hackman.Credited asNancy Mehta,she played the murder victim in the TV movie/series pilotEllery Queen(also known asToo Many Suspects,1975).[citation needed]
Kovack spent two-and-a-half years in Iran, and starred in three films that were made there, returning to the United States in 1968.[9]
Personal life
editIn 1969, Kovack married IndianconductorZubin Mehta,who was music director of theLos Angeles Philharmonicand later the music director of theNew York Philharmonic.Until 2006, Kovack and Mehta spent some months of the year in residence inMunich,Germany, where Mehta was the music director of theBavarian State Opera.[citation needed]
Susan McDougalworked as Kovack's personal assistant in the early 1990s. After her employment ended, Kovack took legal action against McDougal for alleged embezzlement. McDougal was acquitted in 1998 on all twelve charges. A suit by McDougal in 1999 formalicious prosecutionended in a settlement.[10]
Kovack is aChristian Scientist.[11]
Filmography
edit- Strangers When We Meet(1960) – Marcia
- Cry for Happy(1961) – Camille Cameron
- The Wild Westerners(1962) – Rose Sharon
- Diary of a Madman(1963) – Odette Mallotte
- Jason and the Argonauts(1963) – Medea
- 12 O’Clock High(1964 series 1, episode 9, “Appointment at Liege” ) – Lt. Irene Cooper
- Bewitched(TV Series, 1964–1969) – Sheila Sommers, Clio Vanita
- The Outlaws Is Coming(1965) – Annie Oakley
- Sylvia(1965) – Big Shirley
- Honey West(1965 episode: "The Gray Lady" ) – Nicole
- The Great Sioux Massacre(1965) – Libbie Custer
- I Dream of Jeannie(Season 1 Episode 9: 1965) – Rita Mitchell
- The Silencers(1966) – Barbara
- Frankie and Johnny(1966) – Nellie Bly
- Tarzan and the Valley of Gold(1966) – Sophia Renault
- Diamond 33(1966)
- Batman(episodes 5 and 6: 1966) – Queenie
- Town's Hero(1967)
- Enter Laughing(1967) – Linda aka Miss B
- Shab-e-fereshtegan, aka Night of the Angels(1968)
- Star Trek: The Original Series(1968 episode: "A Private Little War") - Nona
- Marooned(1969) – Teresa Stone
- Hawaii Five-O(1969 episode: "Face of the Dragon" ) - Dr. Alexandria Kemp
- Mannix(TV Series, 1973)
- The Invisible Man (1975 TV series)(Episode 9: “The Klae Dynasty" ) - Carolyn Klae
References
edit- ^Film Fatales Women in Espionage Films and Television, 1962-1973.McFarland. 2002. p. 163.ISBN9780786411948.
- ^Duffin, Allan; Matheis, Paul (2005).The 12 O'Clock High Logbook Series.BearManor Media. p. 190.ISBN9781593930332.
- ^"Conductor To Wed Actress".News-Journal.Ohio, Mansfield. United Press International. June 2, 1969. p. 3.
- ^Johnson, Erskine (November 25, 1961)."Hollywood Today".The Corpus Christi Caller-Times.Texas, Corpus Christi. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 6.RetrievedAugust 5,2017– viaNewspapers.
- ^Curtis, Olga (July 23, 1963)."Actress Nancy Kovack Says Films Just Help Pay Rent".Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.Texas, Lubbock. WNS. p. 6B.RetrievedAugust 5,2017– viaNewspapers.
- ^Get Smart,Episode 16, Season 4 ( "The Day They Raided the Knights" ), airdate January 11, 1969.
- ^"(" Nancy Kovack "search results)".EMMYS.Television Academy. Archived fromthe originalon August 6, 2017.RetrievedAugust 6,2017.
- ^"The Girl with the Convertible Top!".Chicago Tribune.Illinois, Chicago. September 5, 1959. p. 23.
- ^Alpert, Don (August 22, 1968)."Actress Nancy Kovack Stars In 3 Iranian-Made Movies".The Salt Lake Tribune.Utah, Salt Lake City. Los Angeles Times. p. 9.RetrievedAugust 5,2017– viaNewspapers.
- ^The Woman Who Wouldn't Talk;ISBN0-7867-1302-X,Susan McDougal et al. 2003, p. 338.
- ^Williams, Michae la (7 November 1978)."For Nancy Mehta, Wife of the Conductor, Life is a Gilded Cage".The New York Times.
External links
edit
- Nancy KovackatIMDb
- Nancy Kovackat theInternet Broadway Database
- Nancy Kovackat theTCM Movie Database
- Nancy Kovack profile,cultsirens; accessed February 16, 2015.