Kathleen Crowley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kathleen Crowley
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Crowley as Kiz in Maverick (1960)
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| Born |
Betty Jane Crowley
December 26, 1929 Green Bank, Washington Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | April 23, 2017 (aged 87) Green Bank, Washington Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Other names | Kathleen Rubsam |
| Alma mater | American Academy of Dramatic Arts |
| Occupation | Actress, beauty pageant winner |
| Years active | 1951–1970 |
| Known for | Maverick 77 Sunset Strip Waterfront Target Earth |
| Title | Miss New Jersey 1949 |
| Spouse(s) |
John Rubsam
(m. 1969) |
| Children | 1 |
Kathleen Crowley (born Betty Jane Crowley; December 26, 1929 – April 23, 2017) was an American actress. She was famous for appearing in over 100 movies and TV shows. Most of the time, she played the main female character. She was active in Hollywood during the 1950s and 1960s.
Contents
About Kathleen Crowley
Her Early Life
Kathleen Crowley was born on December 26, 1929, in Green Bank, New Jersey. She finished high school in Egg Harbor City in 1946. When she was 19, on August 7, 1949, she won the title of Miss New Jersey.
After winning, she went on to compete in the Miss America pageant. This big event was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on September 10, 1949. Kathleen did very well, finishing in seventh place. At that time, she worked as a bookkeeper.
Becoming an Actress
In 1950, Kathleen Crowley received a special scholarship from the Miss America pageant. This allowed her to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. While studying there, she started getting roles in live television shows.
Her acting career officially began in February 1951. She appeared with actor Conrad Nagel in a show called A Star Is Born on Robert Montgomery Presents. Over the next two decades, from 1951 to 1970, Kathleen was in 81 TV shows and 20 movies. One of her last movie roles was in Downhill Racer with famous actor Robert Redford.
Popular TV Roles
Kathleen Crowley made several guest appearances on the popular TV show Perry Mason. In 1958, she played the main character, Marylin Clark, in an episode called "The Case of the Lonely Heiress." She also appeared in the 1963 episode "The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito."
She had a regular role as Terry Van Buren in seventeen episodes of Waterfront. Kathleen also appeared in seven episodes of the well-known TV series 77 Sunset Strip. In one episode, she played Martizza Vedar, a character who looked a lot like actress Zsa Zsa Gabor.
In 1966, Kathleen played Sophia Starr in two episodes of the classic TV series "Batman." These episodes were titled "The Penguin Goes Straight" and "Not Yet He Aint."
Working in Many Genres
Kathleen Crowley acted in many different types of TV shows. She was in science fiction and horror movies, but also in many popular TV series from the 1950s and 1960s. These included westerns like Yancy Derringer, Bat Masterson, and Cheyenne.
She also appeared in family shows like My Three Sons and The Donna Reed Show. Other famous shows she was part of include Bonanza, Route 66, Thriller, and Family Affair. In 1960, she played Laurie Allen in the western TV show Laramie.
Her Time on Maverick
Kathleen Crowley is especially remembered for her eight appearances on the TV western Maverick. This was a record for any leading lady on the show. Actor James Garner, who starred in Maverick, praised her acting skills in his book.
Her episodes on Maverick included "The Jeweled Gun" and "Maverick Springs" with Jack Kelly. She also appeared in "The Misfortune Teller" with James Garner. With Roger Moore, she was in "A Bullet for the Teacher" and "Kiz." She also had three more episodes with Jack Kelly: "Dade City Dodge," "The Troubled Heir," and "One of Our Trains is Missing."
Her Personal Life
Kathleen Crowley married John Rubsam in Los Angeles on September 27, 1969. The next year, she gave birth to her only child, a son named Matthew.
Her Passing
Kathleen Crowley passed away at her home in Green Bank, New Jersey, on April 23, 2017. She was 87 years old. She was survived by her husband, her son, and her granddaughter.
Selected Films
- The Silver Whip (1953)
- Target Earth (1954)
- City of Shadows (1955)
- Female Jungle (1956)
- The Quiet Gun (1957)
- The Flame Barrier (1958)
- Curse of the Undead (1959)
- Downhill Racer (1969)
