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Lois Chiles

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Lois Chiles
Born
Lois Cleveland Chiles

(1947-04-15)April 15, 1947(age 77)
Houston,Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, model
Years active1972–2006
Spouse
(m.2005; died2020)
RelativesEddie Chiles(uncle)

Lois Cleveland Chiles(born April 15, 1947)[1]is an American actress and former fashion model known for her role asHolly Goodheadin theJames BondfilmMoonraker(1979), and as ahit-and-rundriver inCreepshow 2(1987).

Other screen credits includeThe Way We Were(1973),The Great Gatsby(1974),Death on the Nile(1978),Broadcast News(1987), and the television role of Holly Harwood onDallas(1982–1983).

Early and personal life[edit]

Chiles was born inHouston,the daughter of Marion Clay Chiles and Barbara Wayne Kirkland Chiles. Her paternal uncle was oil tycoon andTexas RangersownerEddie Chiles.[2][3][4]She had two brothers: Clay Kirkland Chiles (died 1979),[citation needed]and William Edmonds Chiles, president and CEO ofBristow Group, Inc.She was raised inAlice, Texas.

Chiles studied at theUniversity of Texas at Austinand the formerFinch Collegein New York City, where she was discovered by aGlamoureditor looking for a young woman to feature on the cover of the magazine's annual college issue.[1]She landed the job and soon had contracts withWilhelmina Modelsin New York andElite Modelsin Paris. Later, she studied acting underRoy London.[5]She datedDon Henleybut the relationship ended, and in 2005, she married money managerRichard Gilder.[6]They are both honorary co-chairs ofNorthfield Mount Hermon,a school in Massachusetts. Gilder donated money to the school and they named the Chiles Theater after her.[7]Gilder died in 2020.[8]

Career[edit]

Chiles enjoyed a successful modeling career in the early 1970s. After her role in the independent 1972 blaxploitation filmTogether for DaysoppositeClifton Davis,Chiles appeared in the successful 1973 studio releaseThe Way We Were,as the college girlfriend ofRobert Redford.She was then cast as Jordan Baker inThe Great Gatsby(1974) alongsideMia Farrowand, once again, Robert Redford. She again shared the screen with Farrow in theAgatha ChristieadaptationDeath on the Nile(1978).

AsNASAastronaut,scientist, andBond girlDr.Holly Goodhead,Chiles appeared oppositeRoger MooreinMoonraker(1979).

Chiles had initially been approached to star in the previous Bond filmThe Spy Who Loved Me,but she declined the role as she was taking a break from acting at the time.[1]She also appeared in a small role in thethrillerComa(1978), one of the many films in which she played a murder victim.[9][unreliable source?]

She appeared in the music video for theTony PowerssongOdysseyin 1982.

Chiles lost her youngest brother tonon-Hodgkin's lymphomain 1979, which contributed to her decision to take a three-year hiatus from acting. The time away took a toll on her film career, and she struggled to find roles of the caliber she previously enjoyed, although film criticPauline Kaelgave her good notices for her performances inAlan Alda'sSweet Liberty(1986).[citation needed]Her portrayal of reporter Jennifer Mack inJames L. Brooks'Broadcast News(1987) was also well received, as was her turn inGeorge A. Romero's horror flickCreepshow 2in 1987, as a hit-and-run driver.[10][unreliable source?]In 1989, she appeared uncredited in a short but effective cameo as the estranged mother ofIone Skye's character inSay Anything...(1989).[citation needed]

She has since appeared as a stuffy high-school principal in the 1996DisneyfilmWish Upon a Star,and as a frightened cruise passenger in the critically pannedSpeed 2: Cruise Controlin 1997. She made acameo appearancein the international release of the 1997BondspoofAustin Powers: International Man of Mystery,though her scene was cut from the United States release.[citation needed]

She has worked in television, playingJ.R. Ewing's love interest Holly Harwood in the 1982–1983 season ofDallasand guest appearances in series such asHart to Hart(as a psychotic split-personality model),In the Heat of the Night,Murder, She Wrote,andThe Nanny(with another Bond girl,Ivana Miličević). Later career high points included the indie filmsDiary of a Hitman(1991) andCurdled(1996).[1]In 2005, friendQuentin Tarantino,with whom she had previously worked on the set ofCurdled,recruited her to appear in the two-episode finale of season five ofCSI: Crime Scene Investigation,which he wrote and directed.[citation needed]

In the spring of 2002, she taught a course in film acting at theUniversity of Houston.[5]Unlike some "Bond girls", Chiles has said that "being a Bond girl is a fun way to be remembered", although she jokes that being asked to sigh "Oh, James" is annoying because "you can't live up to people's fantasies".[11][unreliable source?]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1972 Together for Days Shelley
1973 The Way We Were Carol Ann
1974 The Great Gatsby Jordan Baker
1978 Coma Nancy Greenly
1978 Death on the Nile Linnet Ridgeway
1979 Moonraker Dr.Holly Goodhead
1981 Hart to Hart Mary Scott / Scottie TV series, Season 2 (1 episode)
1982 Odyssey Unnamed Music video for Tony Powers song
1982–1983 Dallas Holly Harwood TV series, Season 6 (22 episodes) and Season 7 (2 episodes)
1984 Courage Ruth
1986 Sweet Liberty Leslie
1986 Dark Mansions Jessica Drake TV movie
1987 Creepshow 2 Annie Lansing (segment "The Hitchhiker" )
1987 Tales from the Hollywood Hills: A Table at Ciro's Lita Nathan TV movie
1987 Broadcast News Jennifer Mack
1989 Say Anything... Diane's Mother (uncredited)
1989 Twister Virginia
1990 Burning Bridges Claire Morgan TV movie
1990 In the Eye of the Snake Claire Anzer—Marc's Mother
1990 Murder, She Wrote Millie Bingham Stafford TV series, Season 7 (1 episode)
1991 Veronica Clare TV series, Seasons 1 and 2 (1 episode each)
1991 Bis ans Ende der Welt Elsa Farber
1991 Diary of a Hitman Sheila
1992 Obsessed Louise TV movie
1993 In the Heat of the Night Muriel Gray TV series, Season 6 (1 episode)
1993 Civil Wars Alexandra Phelps TV series, Season 2 (1 episode)
1993 Crossroads Renee TV series, Season 1 (1 episode)
1993 Lush Life Lucy TV movie
1994 L.A. Law Camilla Greer TV series, Season 8 (1 episode)
1995 The Babysitter Bernice Holsten
1995 Flipper Allison Van Rijn TV series, Season 1 (1 episode)
1996 Curdled Katrina Brandt
1996 Wish Upon a Star Principal Mary Mittermiller TV movie
1997 Bliss Eva
1997 The Nanny Elaine TV series, Season 4 (1 episode)
1997 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Steamrolled Henchman's Wife (uncredited)
1997 Speed 2: Cruise Control Celeste
1998 Black Cat Run Ada Bronnel
2000 Eventual Wife Susan's Mother short
2002 Any Day Now Judge TV series, Season 4 (1 episode)
2002 Warning: Parental Advisory Susan Baker TV movie
2005 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jillian Stokes TV series, Season 5 (episode: "Grave Danger")
2006 Kettle of Fish Jean

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdProfile,entertainment.msn; accessed April 9, 2016.ArchivedSeptember 18, 2004, at theWayback Machine
  2. ^"Lois Chiles: biography".SuperiorPics.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^Profile,Yahoo; accessed April 9, 2016.ArchivedMay 22, 2011, at theWayback Machine
  4. ^"If you don't have an oil well, get one!",barrypopik; accessed April 9, 2016.
  5. ^abProfile,mfah.org; accessed April 9, 2016.
  6. ^Lattman, Peter (November 7, 2012)."Lois Chiles Talks About Being a Bond Girl".New York Times.RetrievedApril 9,2016.
  7. ^"Richard Gilder '50 Gives $5 Million for Financial Aid | Northfield Mount Hermon".Archived fromthe originalon September 14, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 14,2017.
  8. ^Roberts, Sam (May 14, 2020)."Richard Gilder, Donor to Parks, Museum and History, Dies at 87".The New York Times.
  9. ^ProfileArchivedSeptember 23, 2015, at theWayback Machine,Cinemorgue; accessed April 9, 2016.
  10. ^Creepshow 2reviewArchivedFebruary 13, 2009, at theWayback Machine,barnesandnoble; accessed April 9, 2016.
  11. ^Talking to Bond GirlsArchivedJuly 16, 2011, at theWayback Machine,stumpedmagazine; accessed August 3, 2014.

External links[edit]