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Allison Hayes

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Allison Hayes
Hayes inMohawk(1956)
Born
Mary Jane Hayes

(1930-03-06)March 6, 1930
DiedFebruary 27, 1977(1977-02-27)(aged 46)
Burial placeHoly Cross Cemetery, Culver City
Mother of Sorrows, Lot 618, section N, grave 1 GPS (lat/lon): 33.99248, -118.38374
EducationCalvin Coolidge High School
Occupations
Years active1954–1967
Known for
TitleMiss District of Columbia1949

Allison Hayes(bornMary Jane Hayes;March 6, 1930 – February 27, 1977)[1]was an American film and television actress and model.

Early life

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Allison Hayes was born[2]to William E. Hayes and Charlotte Gibson Hayes inCharleston, West Virginia.She was in the class of 1948 atCalvin Coolidge High School.Hayes won the title ofMiss District of Columbia.She represented D.C. in the 1949Miss Americapageant. Although she did not win the competition, it provided her with the opportunity to work in local television before moving to Hollywood to work forUniversal Picturesin 1954.

Career

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Hayes made her film debut in the 1954 comedyFrancis Joins the WACS.Her second film,Sign of the Pagan,provided her with an important role in a relatively minor film. OppositeJack Palance,she played the part of a siren who ultimately kills him. Despite the strength of her second film role, she played minor roles in her next few films. Originally cast inFoxfire(1955), she was removed from the film during a lawsuit filed against Universal Pictures for injuries, including broken ribs, that she had sustained during the filming ofSign of the Pagan.Released from her contract, she was signed byColumbia Picturesin 1955.

From left to right,Mara Corday,Kathleen Hughes,Myrna Hansen,and Hayes inSo This Is Paris(1955)

InChicago Syndicate,her first film for Columbia, Hayes played Joyce Kern – alias Sue Morton – who seeks vengeance for the death of her father at the hand of local gangster Arnie Valent.Count Three and Praygave her the role that she later described as the best of her career. Hayes played withVan Heflin,co-starring withRaymond BurrandJoanne Woodwardin her debut. As an arrogant Southern belle, she was in love with Heflin, returning from the Civil War as a minister. After being spurned by him, Hayes is reduced to becoming Burr's live-in "housekeeper". Hayes had several well-played dramatic scenes. However, when the film was released much of the attention of reviewers was focused on Woodward, and Hayes was largely ignored. She appeared in films such asThe Steel Jungle,Mohawk,andGunslinger(all 1956), but a fall from a horse during the filming of the latter left Hayes with a broken arm and unable to work. After she recovered, she began appearing in supporting roles in television productions.[citation needed]

Hayes withGene BarryinBat Masterson(1958).

In 1958, she played in severalB movies,includingWolf Dogas well as taking the lead role inAttack of the 50 Foot Woman,where she plays the part of an abused socialite who grows to giant size because of an alien encounter. In this film, she starred withYvette VickersandWilliam Hudson,and it is probably her best-known role.[3]The film did not lead to better roles, though she remained constantly employed and found work as a model.[citation needed]During 1963 and 1964, she played a continuing role inGeneral Hospitalbut by this time her movie career was virtually over.

In 1958, she appeared in the recurring role of Ellie Winters, poker dealer/secret agent, in seven episodes of the western seriesBat MastersonstarringGene Barry.In 1959, she was cast in season 2, episode 7 ofRawhideas Rose Morton. A close friend ofRaymond Burrsince filmingCount Three and Pray,[citation needed]she made five guest appearances onPerry Masonduring this time, including the role of Pearl Chute in the 1962 episode "The Case of the Bogus Books".

As her acting career declined, she began to experience severe health problems and was unable to walk without a cane. In severe pain, her usually good-natured personality began to change and she became emotional and volatile, making it difficult for her to secure acting work.[citation needed]She was given a minor role in the 1965Elvis PresleyfilmTickle Me,and made her final appearance in a guest role onGomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.in 1967.

Later years and death

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Hayes later said that the pain of her illness caused her to contemplate suicide, and that her doctors did not take her symptoms seriously. Reading a medical book about the metal poisoning of factory workers, Hayes recognized the symptoms described as being similar to her own. Hayes began to question the ingredients of a calcium supplement made frombone mealshe had been taking for a long time. When she employed atoxicologistto test a sample of the product, he determined that it had an extremely high content of lead and concluded that Hayes was most likely suffering fromlead poisoning.Hayes mounted a campaign to have theFDAban the import or sale of thefood supplement.[4]

An invalid, Hayes moved to San Clemente, California, and her health continued to deteriorate. In 1976, she was diagnosed withleukemiaand was treated regularly in La Jolla, California. While at the hospital receiving ablood transfusion,her condition unexpectedly and rapidly deteriorated as she experienced chills, flu-like symptoms and intense pain. She was transferred to the University of California Medical Center in San Diego, California on February 26, 1977, where she died the following day, at age 46. Hayes was interred with her father atHoly Cross Cemeteryin Culver City, California. Her mother Charlotte died eight months later and was buried in a nearby unmarked grave. In a letter that arrived after her death, the FDA advised her that amendments were being made to the laws governing the importation of nutritional supplements, largely as a result of her situation.[4]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1954 Francis Joins the WACS Lt. Dickson
So This Is Paris Carmen Alternative titles:Three Gobs in ParisandSo This Is Paree
Sign of the Pagan Ildico
1955 The Prodigal Minor role Uncredited
The Purple Mask Irene de Bournotte
Double Jeopardy Barbara Devery Alternative title:Crooked Ring
Chicago Syndicate Joyce Kern, alias Sue Morton
Count Three and Pray Georgina Decrais Alternative title:The Calico Pony
1956 The Steel Jungle Mrs. Archer
Mohawk Greta Jones
Gunslinger Erica Page
1957 The Undead Livia
Zombies of Mora Tau Mona Harrison Alternative title:The Dead That Walk
The Unearthly Grace Thomas
The Disembodied Tonda Metz
1958 Attack of the 50 Foot Woman Nancy Fowler Archer as the title character
Wolf Dog Ellen Hughes
A Lust to Kill Sherry
Hong Kong Confidential Elena Martine
1959 Pier 5, Havana Monica Gray
Counterplot Connie Lane
1960 The Hypnotic Eye Justine
The High Powered Rifle Sharon Hill Alternative title:Duel in the City
1963 The Crawling Hand Donna Alternative title:Don't Cry Wolf
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? Mrs. Grayson
1965 Tickle Me Mabel

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1955 Four Star Playhouse Christine 1 episode
1957 The Ford Television Theatre Marian Abbott 1 episode
Death Valley Days Mary Granger 1 episode
The Millionaire Linda Kendall 1 episode
The Web Blonde 1 episode
1957–1959 Tombstone Territory Various roles 4 episodes
1958 Cool and Lam Evaline Dell Television pilot
1958–1960 Bat Masterson Ellie Winters 7 episodes
1959 Mike Hammer Miriam Courtney 1 episode
The Rough Riders Ellen Johnston 1 episode
Markham Marina 1 episode
Captain David Grief Melba 1 episode
World of Giants 1 episode
Rawhide Rose Morton 1 episode
The Alaskans Stella 1 episode
1960 Richard Diamond, Private Detective Angel Case 1 episode
Men into Space Mandy Holcomb 1 episode
77 Sunset Strip Marianne Winston Episode: "The Parallel Caper"
The Untouchables Mrs. Charles "Pops" Felcher 1 episode
1960–1965 Perry Mason Various roles 5 episodes
1961 Acapulco Chloe Episode: "Bell's Half Acre"
The Case of the Dangerous Robin 1 episode
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre Millie 1 episode
Laramie Francie 1 episode
Surfside 6 Lotta Episode: "Prescription for Panic"
1962 Ripcord Laura Coulter 1 episode
Bachelor Father Loretta 1 episode
Kraft Mystery Theatre 1 episode
1963–1964 General Hospital Priscilla Longsworth Unknown episodes
1966 The F.B.I. Anne Frazier 1 episode
1967 The Iron Horse Dana 1 episode
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Rose Pilchek 2 episodes, (final appearance)

References

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  1. ^Wilson, Scott (2016).Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.McFarland.ISBN9781476625997.Retrieved16 August2017.
  2. ^Room, Adrian (2012).Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed.McFarland. p. 223.ISBN9780786457632.Retrieved16 August2017.
  3. ^Hogan, David J. (1997).Dark Romance: Sexuality in the Horror Film,p. 65. McFarland Classics.
  4. ^abDavis, W. Marvin (2006).Consumer's Guide to Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines,pp. 1–3. The Haworth Press, Inc.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss District of Columbia
1949
Succeeded by