Beverly Garland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beverly Garland
Garland in 1969
Born	Beverly Lucy Fessenden (1926-10-17)October 17, 1926 Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
Died	December 5, 2008(2008-12-05) (aged 82) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names	Beverly Campbell
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1949–2005
Spouse(s)	Bob Campbell (m. 1945; divorced) Richard Garland ​ ​ (m. 1951; div. 1953)​ Filmore Crank ​ ​ (m. 1960; died 1999)​
Children	2

Beverly Lucy Garland (born Fessenden; October 17, 1926 – December 5, 2008) was a talented American actress. She appeared in many movies, often playing strong women. She also had important roles in popular TV shows.

Many people remember her as Barbara Harper Douglas. She played this character on the sitcom My Three Sons from 1969 to 1972. She married the main character, Steve Douglas, who was played by Fred MacMurray.

In the 1980s, Beverly Garland also starred as Dotty West. She was the mom of Kate Jackson's character in the TV series Scarecrow and Mrs. King. Later, she had a recurring role as Ginger Jackson on 7th Heaven.

Early Life and First Roles

Garland in 1945

Beverly Lucy Fessenden was born on October 17, 1926. Her birthplace was Santa Cruz, California. Her mom, Amelia Rose, was a businesswoman. Her dad, James Atkins Fessenden, was a singer and salesman.

Beverly grew up in Glendale, California. She loved acting and studied drama. Later, her family moved to Phoenix, Arizona. She graduated from North High School there. She also practiced her acting skills in summer theater plays.

In the 1950s, Beverly Garland often played strong, brave women. These characters could handle tough situations. For example, she played a marshal in the Western movie Gunslinger in 1956. She also played a scientist's wife fighting an alien in It Conquered the World. Both of these films were directed by Roger Corman. They were even made fun of later on the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Becoming a TV Star

Garland in an episode of Decoy (1958).

From 1957 to 1958, Beverly Garland starred in the TV series Decoy. She played Casey Jones, an undercover police officer. This show was special because it was the first American TV police series with a woman in the main role. It ran for one season with 39 episodes.

Beverly Garland also made many guest appearances on other TV shows. In 1956, she played Nelli Austin, a sharpshooter, on State Trooper. She also appeared with actor Claude Akins in several shows. These included Wanted: Dead or Alive and The Dakotas.

In 1959, she was a guest star on Rawhide. She also appeared twice on Yancy Derringer. In 1960, she played Dr. Nora James on the show Riverboat. She also appeared in an episode of the Western show Laramie.

Beverly Garland, Richard Chamberlain and Raymond Massey in Dr. Kildare (1961)

From 1962 to 1963, Beverly Garland was a regular on the game show Stump the Stars. On this show, teams had to guess words or phrases through pantomime.

In 1963, she appeared in an episode of Gunsmoke. She also appeared in an episode of The Fugitive. From 1964 to 1965, she co-starred as Ellie Collins on The Bing Crosby Show.

Her most famous roles were playing suburban mothers. She was Barbara Harper Douglas on My Three Sons. She also played Dotty West on Scarecrow and Mrs. King. On Scarecrow and Mrs. King, she was the mom of Laura Holt, played by Kate Jackson. This show ran for four seasons.

Beverly Garland also appeared in two episodes of Remington Steele. She played the mom of Laura Holt, played by Stephanie Zimbalist. In the mid-1990s, she played Ellen Lane, the mom of Lois Lane, in six episodes of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

She made guest appearances on many other popular shows. These included Twilight Zone, Kung Fu, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. On 7th Heaven, she played Ginger Jackson, the stepmother of Annie Camden. She appeared in nine episodes.

Awards and Recognition

Beverly Garland was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1955. This was for her excellent acting in a single episode of the TV series Medic.

For her great work in television, Beverly Garland has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find it at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard. Her star was placed there on January 26, 1983.

Personal Life

Beverly Garland married actor Richard Garland in 1951. They divorced two years later. However, she continued to use his last name for her acting career.

In 1960, she married businessman Filmore Crank. They were married for 39 years until he passed away in 1999. They had two children together. Filmore also had two children from a previous marriage.

After her husband's death, Beverly Garland spent more time on a hotel he built. He named it after her. It was first a Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge. Then it became a resort called Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn. In 2014, it was renamed The Garland. It is a beautiful 255-room hotel built in the Spanish Mission-style.

Beverly Garland was also the honorary mayor of North Hollywood. She helped with tourism in California. She was on the boards of the California Tourism Corporation and the Greater Los Angeles Visitors' and Convention Bureau.

Death

Beverly Garland passed away on December 5, 2008. She died from natural causes at her home in the Hollywood Hills. She had lived there for over 40 years. She had been ill for a long time.

A memorial service was held for her on December 13 at her hotel. Several hundred people attended to remember her. Her body was cremated.

Selected Film and TV Appearances

Images for kids

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  Morgan Jones and Garland in Not of This Earth (1957)