Gina Gillespie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gina Gillespie
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| Born | September 20, 1951 San Gabriel, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress, Attorney |
| Years active | 1958–1965 (as actress) |
| Spouse(s) |
James MacDonald
(m. 1973) |
| Relatives | Darlene Gillespie (sister) |
Gina Gail Gillespie, born on September 20, 1951, was a child actress from the United States. She was famous for her roles in TV shows like Law of the Plainsman and Karen. She also played Pippi Longstocking in an episode of Shirley Temple's Storybook in 1961. After her acting career, she went to law school and became a lawyer.
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Early Life
Gina Gillespie was born in San Gabriel, California. Her parents, Herbert and Rean Gillespie, were vaudeville dancers. In 1955, her sister Darlene became a Mouseketeer. Because of this, her family moved to Burbank, California. Gina also has three other brothers and sisters.
Acting Career
Gina Gillespie started acting on television when she was just four years old. She was discovered by the famous director Alfred Hitchcock. In 1958, she had small parts in movies like Andy Hardy Comes Home and The Lost Missile.
TV Roles
In 1959, Gina got a regular role in the TV western series Law of the Plainsman. She played Tess Logan, an eight-year-old orphan. This show was on NBC from 1959 to 1960. Later, reruns were shown on ABC.
She kept acting in both TV shows and movies. In 1961, she played two roles in the Shirley Temple's Storybook episode called Pippi Longstocking. This story was a bit different from the famous children's book. It was about a girl named Susan Ann Scholfield. Susan tells her younger sister that she would be a girl named Pippi if she could. Pippi would live in a house with a monkey, a horse, and a box of gold. The episode then shows the fun adventures Susan imagines.
In 1964, Gina was cast as Mimi Scott in the TV series Karen. Mimi was the tomboyish younger sister. This show was broadcast on NBC from 1964 to 1965.
Movie Roles
In 1962, Gina played young Blanche in the movie What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. She received good reviews for her acting in this film.
Film and TV Appearances
Here is a list of some of the movies and TV shows Gina Gillespie appeared in:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Andy Hardy Comes Home | Cricket Hardy | Played Andy's daughter |
| 1959 | Playhouse 90 | Kathy Patrick | Episode: A Marriage of Strangers |
| 1959 | Face of a Fugitive | Alice Bailey | Played sheriff's niece |
| 1959 | It Happened to Jane | Betty Osgood | Played Jane's daughter |
| 1959-1960 | Law of the Plainsman | Tess Logan | Regular role in the series |
| 1960 | The Slowest Gun in the West | The Daughter | TV special |
| 1960 | Wagon Train | Peggy O'Toole | Episode: The Albert Farnsworth Story |
| 1961 | Thriller | Priscilla | Episode: Mr. George |
| 1961 | The Aquanauts | Lisa | Episode: Niagara Dive |
| 1961 | Tales of Wells Fargo | Carol Butler / Cindy Croydon | Appeared in 2 episodes |
| 1961 | Shirley Temple's Storybook | Susan & Pippi | Episode: Pippi Longstocking, played two roles |
| 1962 | What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? | Young Blanche | Played Jane's sister as a child |
| 1964 | The Fugitive | Jenny Ammory | Episode: The Witch |
| 1964-1965 | Karen | Mimi Scott | Regular role in the series (27 episodes) |
Later Life and Career
Gina Gillespie finished high school at Providence High School in Burbank. She married James MacDonald on May 5, 1973. Later, she went to the University of La Verne College of Law. She graduated with honors in 1988. After passing the California State Bar exam, she became a practicing lawyer.
