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 famous child actress. She starred in TV shows like Law of the Plainsman and Karen. Many people remember her for playing Pippi Longstocking in a special TV episode. After acting, Gina went to law school and became a lawyer!
Growing Up
Gina Gillespie was born in San Gabriel, California. Her parents, Herbert and Rean Gillespie, were vaudeville dancers. Vaudeville was a type of live entertainment popular a long time ago.
In 1955, Gina's sister, Darlene Gillespie, became a Mouseketeer. The Mouseketeers were child performers on The Mickey Mouse Club TV show. Because of this, Gina's family moved to Burbank, California. Gina has three other brothers and sisters.
Acting on Screen
Gina Gillespie started acting on television when she was only four years old. She was discovered by the famous director Alfred Hitchcock.
In 1958, Gina had small roles in two movies. These were Andy Hardy Comes Home and The Lost Missile.
TV Series Roles
In 1959, Gina got a regular role in a TV show called Law of the Plainsman. She played Tess Logan, an eight-year-old orphan. This western series was on NBC from 1959 to 1960. Later, reruns were shown on ABC.
Gina continued to act in many TV shows and movies. One of her most famous roles was in a 1961 episode of Shirley Temple's Storybook. She played two characters in the episode called Pippi Longstocking.
This TV story was a bit different from the famous book. It was about a girl named Susan Ann Scholfield. Susan tells her younger sister that she wishes she could be Pippi. Pippi lives 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.
Life After Acting
Gina Gillespie finished high school at Providence High School in Burbank. On May 5, 1973, she married James MacDonald.
Later, Gina decided to go to law school. She studied at the University of La Verne College of Law. She graduated in 1988 with high honors, which is called Cum Laude. After passing her exams, she became a practicing attorney in California. This means she worked as a lawyer.
