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Jean Willes
Jean Willes
Jean Willes
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Jean Donahue (born Jean Willes; April 15, 1923 – January 3, 1989)[1] was an American film and television actress. She appeared in approximately 65 films in her 38-year career.

Key Information

Early years

[edit]

Born Jean Willes[2] in Los Angeles to William Simmons Willes and Velma Harrington Duncan Willes, she spent part of her childhood in Seattle and part in Salt Lake City. After she and her parents returned to Los Angeles, she began acting with a little theater group there.[3]

Career

[edit]

Willes began using her married name for billing in 1947.[2] Her first film was The Winner's Circle (1948).[3]

Willes is familiar to modern viewers for her roles in several Three Stooges short subjects, such as Monkey Businessmen as well as A Snitch in Time, Don't Throw That Knife and Gypped in the Penthouse. She was a favorite of director Edward Bernds, who cast her in many shorts and features.[citation needed] She played roles ranging from an Air Force captain to prostitutes. She was one of the "four queens" pursuing Clark Gable in The King and Four Queens (1956). Later that year she appeared as Nurse Sally Withers in the original movie version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

She made the transition to television, debuting in an episode of Boston Blackie.[4] She appeared in dozens of series in varied roles and genres such as Westerns and anthology series; Crossroads; The Californians; Richard Diamond, Private Detective with David Janssen; several episodes of the Burns and Allen television series titled The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show; in the 1956 television show The Great Gildersleeve as the scheming girlfriend Eva Jane in the episode "One Too Many Secretaries"; The Twilight Zone ("Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?"); four episodes of Bonanza between 1959 and 1968; Hazel; Trackdown ("The Bounty Hunter" with Robert Culp and Steve McQueen); The Munsters; Perry Mason; The Alfred Hitchcock Hour; Bat Masterson with Gene Barry; The Beverly Hillbillies with Buddy Ebsen; McHale's Navy with Ernest Borgnine; Tombstone Territory; Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre; Walt Disney's Zorro with Guy Williams; and Kojak with Telly Savalas.[citation needed]

In 1958, in the episode "Queen of the Cimarron" of the syndicated western television series Frontier Doctor, starring Rex Allen, Willes portrayed Fancy Varden, the owner of the Golden Slipper Saloon who attempts to establish her own cattle empire with animals infected with anthrax.

Willes portrayed Belle Starr in a 1959 episode of the ABC/Warner Brothers Western series Maverick entitled "Full House," in which Joel Grey played Billy the Kid and James Garner performed a bravura pistol-twirling exhibition woven into the plot. In the same year for Warners she played Anna Sage in The FBI Story. Willes played the character Ruth in the Wanted: Dead or Alive episode, "The Eager Man", Manila Jones in "The Montana Kid", and Meghan Francis in "The Kovack Affair".

Willes played Amelia Monk in the 1967 episode, "Siege at Amelia's Kitchen", on the syndicated anthology series, Death Valley Days hosted by Robert Taylor.

Personal life

[edit]

Willes's second husband was NFL football player Gerard Cowhig. The couple had one son, Gerry.[5]

With Gene Barry and Adele Mara (1958)

Death

[edit]

Willes died of liver cancer in Van Nuys, California on January 3, 1989. She was 65 years of age.[6] She is buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, California.[7]

Selected filmography

[edit]
Willes and Dennis Morgan (1955)
Willes and James Garner (1960)
Willes in Ocean's 11 (1960)

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jean Willes

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Jean Willes (April 15, 1923 – January 3, 1989) was an American actress renowned for her portrayals of brassy, tough, and sexually appealing characters in B-movies, Westerns, science fiction, and television during a career spanning from 1942 to 1976. Appearing in nearly 200 film and television credits, she often played gold-digging saloon girls, prostitutes, and hard-edged women who added grit to low-budget productions and episodic series. Her most notable roles include Nurse Sally Withers in the sci-fi classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) and Mrs. Gracie Bergdorf in the Rat Pack heist film Ocean's 11 (1960). Born in , , Willes was raised in a Mormon family in and , before the family settled in Seattle, Washington, where she attended the as a dramatics major. Drawn to from a young age, she returned to in 1942 and debuted on screen that year in the Beautiful Clothes. She signed a contract with in 1945, which led to supporting roles in features like A Snitch in Time (1954) and Gypped in the Penthouse (1955), both shorts, as well as Westerns such as (1952) and The King and Four Queens (1956). Willes' television work became particularly prominent in the 1950s and 1960s, where she guest-starred in numerous Western series, embodying sly, hard-boiled ladies in shows like Maverick (as Belle Starr), Wagon Train, Cheyenne, The Range Rider, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, and The Virginian. Later film appearances included These Thousand Hills (1959), Gun Street (1961), The Cheyenne Social Club (1970), and one of her later roles in Bite the Bullet (1975). In her personal life, she was previously married to Frank Donahue (1944–1947). She married former NFL player Gerard Cowhig in 1951, with whom she had a son, Gerard Jr. (born 1954), and remained wed until her death. Willes passed away from liver cancer at age 65 in Van Nuys, California, and was interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Early life

Family background

Jean Willes was born on April 15, 1923, in , . Her parents were William Simmons Willes, a druggist and naturalized citizen whose own father had also worked as a druggist, and Velma Harrington Duncan Willes, a public school .

Childhood and entry into acting

Jean Willes was born on April 15, 1923, in , , to William and Velma Willes; her father worked as a druggist, following in the footsteps of his own father in that profession, while her mother was a public school teacher. The family relocated during her early years, first to and , where Willes was raised in the Mormon faith, and later to Seattle, Washington, shaping her formative experiences across these locations. In , Willes pursued her growing interest in performance by attending the , where she majored in dramatics, gaining foundational training in acting and theater. This education honed her skills and solidified her aspiration for a professional career on stage and screen, prompting her return to in the early to seek opportunities in the burgeoning . Upon arriving back in her birthplace, Willes immersed herself in non-professional theater by joining a Little Theatre group around 1942, where she performed in amateur productions and built practical experience. This period marked her initial steps toward , allowing her to network and refine her craft amid the competitive Hollywood environment.

Career

Film roles

Jean Willes began her film career in 1942 with uncredited appearances in Columbia comedy shorts, marking her entry into Hollywood billed as Jean Donahue. Her first role came in 1943's So Proudly We Hail!, where she played a bit part as Lieutenant Carol Johnson in the wartime drama directed by . Early in her career during the 1940s, Willes accumulated several uncredited or minor supporting roles in films such as Here Come the Waves (1944) and Salty O'Rourke (1945), often portraying or background figures in comedies and dramas, as she honed her skills as a character actress. By 1948, after adopting her married name, she secured her first credited leading role in the sports drama The Winner's Circle, playing Jean Trent opposite . Throughout the 1950s, Willes specialized in B-movies, Westerns, and supporting parts in higher-profile dramas and comedies, appearing in approximately 65 films over her 38-year career spanning 1942 to 1975. She frequently embodied brassy, tough, and alluring female characters, such as nurses, saloon owners, or outlaws' accomplices, contributing to the genre's emphasis on strong female presences amid male-dominated narratives. Notable among her 1950s roles was Annette, a club receptionist, in Fred Zinnemann's From Here to Eternity (1953), a military drama that highlighted her ability to add grit to ensemble casts. In science fiction, she portrayed Nurse Sally Withers in Don Siegel's Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), a pivotal supporting role in the iconic paranoia thriller. That same year, Willes appeared as Ruby McDade, one of the four scheming widows, in Raoul Walsh's Western The King and Four Queens, opposite Clark Gable. Her work in Eugene O'Neill's adaptation Desire Under the Elms (1958), directed by Delbert Mann, saw her as Florence Cabot, a minor but memorable figure in the familial drama starring Sophia Loren and Burl Ives. Willes' career peaked in the with continued supporting roles in major productions, solidifying her status as a reliable character actress in diverse genres. In ' satirical drama (1960), she played an uncredited prostitute, enhancing the film's portrayal of moral . She also featured as Gracie Bergdorf, the wife of one of the heist planners, in Lewis Milestone's comedy (1960), starring the . These roles paralleled her television work in similar tough-female archetypes but underscored her versatility in cinematic Westerns and ensemble films. Her film output tapered in the late and early 1970s, with appearances in Gene Kelly's (1970) as Alice, a saloon girl. Willes retired from acting after her final film role as Rosie, a madam, in ' Western (1975), opposite and , concluding a career defined by enduring contributions to B-movie and supporting cinema.

Television appearances

Jean Willes began her television career in the early 1950s, paralleling her film work with guest appearances in anthology and drama series. Her debut TV role was as Josephine Blake in the episode of Front Page Detective in 1951. She soon featured in prominent live anthology programs, including leading roles in Robert Montgomery Presents (1953) and Suspense (1954), as well as Studio One. Throughout the and , Willes amassed numerous guest spots across genres, particularly Westerns and crime dramas, often portraying tough, no-nonsense women such as saloon keepers, suspects, or adversaries. In , she appeared as Anita Bonsal in "The Case of the Crimson Kiss" (1957) and as Irene Wallace in "The Case of the Romantic Rogue" (1959). Her Western roles included Manila Jones in "Ricochet" on Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) and Blanche Runyon in "The Gambler" on Crossroads (1955). Willes gained recognition in science fiction with her role as the enigmatic dancer Ethel McConnell in The Twilight Zone episode "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?" (1961). She made four appearances on Bonanza between 1959 and 1968, including Amelia Terry in "The Sisters" (1959), Molly Travers in "The Gentleman from New Orleans" (1964), an unnamed role in "A Good Night's Rest" (1965), and Mrs. O'Brien in "Star Crossed" (1968). A memorable recurring character was Amelia Monk in the Death Valley Days episode "Siege at Amelia's Kitchen" (1967), highlighting her affinity for historical Western narratives. In the 1970s, Willes continued with character parts in popular series, such as Countess Maria in "Jed and the Countess" on The Beverly Hillbillies (1965), Mrs. Cartwright on The Munsters (1964–1966), Gertrude Krebs on Here's Lucy, and Savannah in "Elegy in an Asphalt Graveyard" on Kojak (1975). She also featured in Three Stooges shorts like Monkey Businessmen (1949) and A Snitch in Time (1950), which gained widespread TV syndication. Her television output emphasized episodic versatility over long-term series commitments, with retirement following her final role in The Blue Knight (1976). By the post-1960s era, her work shifted toward seasoned supporting roles in established shows, reflecting the medium's growing demand for reliable character actors.

Personal life

Marriages

Jean Willes married stunt actor and former Frank Mark Donahue on January 17, 1944, in Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. The union, which occurred early in her acting career as she transitioned from modeling to film roles, lasted until their divorce on January 31, 1947. During this period, Willes adopted the professional billing name Jean Donahue, reflecting her married surname, though it may also have been a studio suggestion by for her initial screen appearances. Following her , Willes reverted to her maiden name professionally by 1948, aligning with the maturation of her career in supporting film and television roles. She married NFL player Gerard Finbar Cowhig on December 19, 1950; Cowhig, born July 5, 1921, in , , was an All-American fullback and team captain at the , where he played from 1942 to 1946 under coach . Drafted in the sixth round of the 1945 NFL Draft by the , Cowhig's professional career included stints as a fullback, linebacker, and for the , , and . This second marriage coincided with the peak of Willes' acting years in the , providing personal stability amid her increasing television work, and endured until her death in 1989. The couple had one son, Gerry.

Family and later years

Willes had one son, Gerard William "Gerry" Cowhig, born on January 2, 1954, in , . The family resided in , , where Willes maintained a private household focused on domestic life. In her later years, Willes retired from acting in 1976 at age 52, following her final film role in (1975) and a handful of television appearances, transitioning to a quieter existence away from the entertainment industry. Her husband died on December 6, 1995, in . Their son Gerard William Cowhig died on December 4, 2001, in , at age 47, as the victim of a .

Death

Illness

In the years following her retirement from acting in 1976, Jean Willes developed , ultimately leading to her death at the age of 65.

Burial and aftermath

Jean Willes died on January 3, 1989, at the age of 65 from in , . She was buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles County, California. Her death was noted in several obituaries, including a New York Times notice that highlighted her 30-year career in films such as Elmer Gantry and television series like Perry Mason and Bonanza. A Washington Post report confirmed her age at death and listed the cause as liver failure. Willes was survived by her second husband, former player , who died on December 6, 1995, at age 74 in their home.

Selected filmography

Films

Jean Willes appeared in approximately 65 feature films over her career, often in supporting roles as brassy or tough characters. Below is a selection of her key film credits, listed chronologically with roles.
YearTitleRole
1943So Proudly We Hail!Lt. Carol Johnson
1944Here Come the WavesJohnny Cabot Fan (uncredited)
1945Salty O'RourkeThe other girl (uncredited)
1945You Came AlongShowgirl
1947Blondie in the DoughMiss Marsh
1950Mary
1952Penelope
1953Annette, club receptionist (uncredited)
1955Virginia
1956Nurse Sally Withers
1956The King and Four QueensRuby McDade
1958Florence Cabot
1959Jen
1960Prostitute (uncredited)
1960Gracie Bergdorf
1961By Love PossessedJunie McCarthy
1964Margot Monet
1970Alice
1975Bite the BulletRosie

Television

Jean Willes had a prolific television career spanning from the early 1950s to the mid-1970s, appearing as a guest star in over 150 episodes across various genres, including westerns, crime dramas, , and comedies. She often portrayed tough, no-nonsense women, such as saloon owners, outlaws, or suspicious witnesses, leveraging her experience from film roles to bring a sharp, memorable presence to the small screen. Her television work began with early and western series, reflecting the dominant programming of the era, and continued through the transition to more serialized formats in the 1960s and 1970s. In the , Willes frequently appeared in popular western and shows, establishing her as a reliable character actress in the genre. She played , the infamous outlaw, in the Maverick episode "Full House" (1959), where she schemed alongside con artists in a high-stakes poker game opposite . Earlier, in Perry Mason's "The Case of the Crimson Kiss" (1957), she portrayed Anita Bonsal, a drugged entangled in a mystery. Other notable early roles included Lil in Maverick's "Day of Reckoning" (1958), a candid saloon girl offering insights into frontier life, and Ruth in Wanted: Dead or Alive's "Eager Man" (1959), a bounty hunter's wife navigating moral dilemmas. The 1960s saw Willes diversify into and family-oriented series while maintaining her western roots. She delivered a standout performance as Ethel McConnell, a sly suspected of being an alien, in The Twilight Zone's "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?" (1961), contributing to the episode's tense, humorous atmosphere at a snowbound diner. In westerns, she appeared multiple times on , including as Mrs. O'Brien in "" (1968), a protective mother in a romantic subplot. She also guest-starred in (1964), showcasing comedic timing in domestic scenarios. By the late and , Willes took on roles in more contemporary dramas and comedies, often as authoritative or eccentric figures. In Death Valley Days' " at Amelia's Kitchen" (1967), she played Amelia Monk, a resilient homesteader defending her home during a family , hosted by Robert Taylor. On the sitcom , she appeared as Gertrude Krebs, a stern ex-Army nurse and old flame of Harry, in "Lucy, the Part-Time Wife" (1970), adding dry humor to the episode's farcical plot involving a fake . Her final notable television role was Savannah, a gritty , in Kojak's " in an Asphalt Graveyard" (1975), a crime procedural episode dealing with and . Willes retired from acting in 1976, leaving a legacy of versatile supporting performances that enhanced numerous classic television narratives.

References

  1. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jean-willes
  2. http://www.westernclippings.com/heavies/jeanwilles_charactersheavies.shtml
  3. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39739771/jean-willes
  4. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LHN4-62D/jean-willes-1923-1989
  5. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0929795/bio/
  6. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/16762/from-here-to-eternity
  7. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053793/fullcredits
  8. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/18360/oceans-eleven
  9. https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodPageOfDeath/posts/jean-willes-april-15-1923-january-3-1989willes-is-familiar-for-her-roles-in-seve/700984182137577/
  10. https://www.facebook.com/SamPeckinpahFanPage/posts/born-today-april15-1923-american-film-and-television-actress-jean-willes-she-app/1237888204563036/
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  15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JshVfGmLAsE
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  20. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jean-willes/credits/3030308105/
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0621325/
  22. https://threestooges.net/cast/actor/389
  23. https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/09/obituaries/jean-willes-actress-65.html
  24. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CowhGe20.htm
  25. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39740073/gerard-finbar-cowhig
  26. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LTSG-873/gerard-william-cowhig-1954-2001
  27. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1004190/bio/
  28. https://homicide.latimes.com/post/gerard-william-cowhig/
  29. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0929795/
  30. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1989/01/10/deaths-elsewhere/wp00000020011117dl1a002j0/
  31. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036912/fullcredits/
  32. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045793/fullcredits/
  33. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/92793/these-thousand-hills
  34. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053793/fullcredits/
  35. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054710/fullcredits/
  36. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058336/fullcredits/
  37. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/101479-jean-willes?language=en-US
  38. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0644449/
  39. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0644437/
  40. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0743937/
  41. https://tv.apple.com/us/person/umc.cpc.342fehgd8wwzo50tel431rahi
  42. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0600106/
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