Allison Hayes
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(November 2008) |
Allison Hayes | |
---|---|
![]() Hayes inMohawk(1956) | |
Born | Mary Jane Hayes March 6, 1930 |
Died | February 27, 1977 | (aged 46)
Burial place | Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City Mother of Sorrows, Lot 618, section N, grave 1 GPS (lat/lon): 33.99248, -118.38374 |
Education | Calvin Coolidge High School |
Occupations | |
Years active | 1954–1967 |
Known for | |
Title | Miss 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
[edit]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
[edit]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.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Myrna_Hansen._So_This_Is_Paris.png/170px-Myrna_Hansen._So_This_Is_Paris.png)
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]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Allison_Hayes-Gene_Barry_in_Bat_Masterson.jpg/220px-Allison_Hayes-Gene_Barry_in_Bat_Masterson.jpg)
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
[edit]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
[edit]Film
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^Wilson, Scott (2016).Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.McFarland.ISBN9781476625997.Retrieved16 August2017.
- ^Room, Adrian (2012).Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed.McFarland. p. 223.ISBN9780786457632.Retrieved16 August2017.
- ^Hogan, David J. (1997).Dark Romance: Sexuality in the Horror Film,p. 65. McFarland Classics.
- ^abDavis, W. Marvin (2006).Consumer's Guide to Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines,pp. 1–3. The Haworth Press, Inc.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1930 births
- 1977 deaths
- American film actresses
- American soap opera actresses
- Western (genre) film actresses
- American television actresses
- Female models from West Virginia
- Miss America 1940s delegates
- Actresses from West Virginia
- 20th-century American actresses
- Actors from Charleston, West Virginia
- Deaths from leukemia in California
- Burials at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City