Linda Harrison facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Linda Harrison
Harrison ca. 1966
Born	Linda Melson Harrison (1945-07-26) July 26, 1945 (age 79) Berlin, Maryland, U.S.
Other names	Augusta Summerland
Education	Stephen Decatur High School
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1966–present
Notable work	Nova (Planet of the Apes) Beneath the Planet of the Apes Batman
Spouse(s)	Richard D. Zanuck ​ ​ (m. 1969; div. 1978)​
Children	2; including Dean Zanuck

Linda Melson Harrison (born July 26, 1945) is an American actress. She is famous for playing Nova in the classic science fiction film Planet of the Apes (1968). She also appeared in the first sequel, Beneath the Planet of the Apes. Later, she had a small role in Tim Burton's 2001 remake of the original film.

Linda was also a regular on the 1969–70 NBC TV show Bracken's World. She was married to film producer Richard D. Zanuck, who produced movies like Jaws and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Her youngest son, Dean Zanuck, is also a producer.

Early Life and Dreams

Linda Melson Harrison was born in Berlin, Maryland. She was the third of five daughters. Her father, Isaac Burbage Harrison, worked with plants, and her mother, Ida Virginia Melson, was a beautician.

Linda's mother knew she would be a star from a young age. When Linda was five, her mother enrolled her in ballet and acrobatics. By age six, Linda was performing on stage and loved it. When she was eleven, her acrobatic skills won her first prize in a talent contest. Six years later, she won the "Miss Delmarva" beauty contest.

Becoming an Actress

Linda dreamed of becoming an actress. Her plan was to win beauty contests, then go to California to be noticed. She worked summers as a waitress in Ocean City, Maryland. She also appeared on local TV shows in Baltimore.

While in high school, Linda acted in a play called George Washington Slept Here. In 1962, she was crowned Miss Berlin. A month later, she represented her hometown at the Delmarva Chicken Festival beauty contest.

After high school, Linda tried college and secretarial school but found them boring. She moved to New York with her oldest sister. There, she found some success as a model. However, she missed Maryland and returned home.

In 1964, Linda won the Miss Delmarva beauty pageant again. Then, she won the Miss Maryland pageant. This led her to the Miss America contest in California in 1965. She hoped to win, but she was the first runner-up. She was very disappointed.

Getting Noticed in Hollywood

Even though she didn't win Miss America, Linda's looks caught the eye of a talent agent named Mike Medavoy. He told her she should be in movies. In 1965, she got a "personality test" at 20th Century Fox. This led to a 60-day agreement with the studio. During this time, she studied acting.

At a party, Linda met Richard D. Zanuck, a top executive at Fox. They quickly fell in love and started dating. This relationship became very important for her acting career.

Acting Career Highlights

After meeting Zanuck, Linda signed a seven-year contract with Fox. She joined the studio's Talent Training School. Here, she took classes in drama, speech, fencing, and dance. She also worked to lose her Eastern Maryland accent.

Early Roles in TV and Film

Linda's first acting job was a small part in a TV pilot called Men Against Evil, which became the show Felony Squad. She had only three words to say: "Go, man, go!" She was excited to be working in Hollywood.

Next, she appeared briefly in the Batman TV series in 1966. She played a cheerleader in two episodes. Even for a small role, she worked hard with her dance coach.

In 1966, Linda filmed a test in ape makeup for a movie based on the book Monkey Planet, which later became Planet of the Apes. This test helped show that the movie could be made. Linda played Zira in the test, a role later played by Kim Hunter.

I think they always had me in mind for Nova. But they needed someone to do the screen test, and you keep trying to employ your actors. So. I did the screen test. The part that was hard for me was actually doing the mask, where they put all that plaster on your face and you have to lie there still for a long time. Fortunately, I was an acrobat growing up, and a very very good one — I won a lot of contests — so I knew how to control my body and be 'quiet'. You had to do that, you had to be very still and lay there and be a 'good patient'. A young actor will do anything to get their mug on the screen! I remember that the makeup process took about three hours. I had to lay back and be perfectly still as they put this plaster mold on my face. After seeing the test, everyone was very enthusiastic about going ahead with making Planet of the Apes. But they felt the makeup needed a little more work and perfecting before it would look good on screen.

Linda's first movie appearance was in the comedy The Fat Spy in 1966. She also appeared in the Jerry Lewis comedy Way...Way Out. In 1967, she played "Miss Stardust" in A Guide for the Married Man.

Becoming Nova in Planet of the Apes

Heston and Harrison in Planet of the Apes

Linda Harrison was chosen to play Nova in Planet of the Apes. Nova is a human who cannot speak. Linda thought about how an animal would move and react, mostly from fear, to play the role.

Filming for Planet of the Apes began in May 1967. Some scenes were shot in the desert near Page, Arizona. Linda found working in the desert "beautiful."

"I don't know if people viewed me differently because I was Richard Zanuck's girlfriend. I was so delighted and grateful to be in this picture that I probably never saw the negative side as much. I just didn't. I remember one piece of advice Dick gave me: He said, 'You go to work on time and listen to your director and do your job. And I don't want to hear any complaints about you!' I had to be even more careful and nice because I was his girlfriend."

Charlton Heston, who played Taylor, helped Linda because it was her first big movie. He taught her how to act for the camera. Linda said their off-screen relationship was similar to their characters' relationship.

"Heston had a quiet quality about him and was very courteous with me. He encouraged me to favor the camera. I was a newcomer in many ways – which may have helped my character. I'm sure Heston had his doubts about me; however, he never showed them. He treated me more like a child than an adult and not much was discussed between us, in character or out. When you idolize someone like I did, you tend to submit rather than assert yourself. Again, this worked in our roles and the relationship between us, as Taylor and Nova. Heston was terrific to work with and so helpful and such a gentleman."

Linda felt that the older actors on set helped her a lot because she was new to acting.

After filming in the desert, production moved to Malibu Creek State Park in California. The Ape City set was built there. The final scenes were filmed on the coast. Linda's character, Nova, sees the ruined Statue of Liberty at the end of the film.

Planet of the Apes was released in February 1968 and was a huge success. Linda was introduced as a new star in the movie's credits. Audiences were impressed by her looks, and her large brown eyes helped her act without speaking.

The success of Planet of the Apes led to four sequels, TV shows, and remakes. Linda Harrison and Charlton Heston appeared in the first sequel, Beneath the Planet of the Apes.

Returning for Beneath the Planet of the Apes

Harrison's "Nova" costume in the first two "Apes" films – Debbie Reynolds Auction, June 2011

Linda Harrison played Nova again in Beneath the Planet of the Apes. She said it wasn't as good as the first movie because it had a smaller budget.

Director Ted Post said Linda was very cooperative. He helped her develop her character, Nova, by showing her trying to understand the other characters.

Linda's co-star, James Franciscus, remembered her as a "joy to work with." He recalled a risky scene where they rode a horse without a saddle. Linda was nervous but brave and did the scene.

Linda remembered having "a lot of fun" on the second Apes film. She said it was physically demanding with the horses, but they just did their jobs.

TV Series Bracken's World

While filming Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Linda was cast in the TV series Bracken's World. She played Paulette Douglas, a young actress trying to balance studio life with her romance. The show was canceled after its second season. Linda felt the show would have lasted longer if it had focused more on its regular characters.

Later Films and TV Roles

After a break from acting, Linda tried to return in 1974. She wanted a role in the movie Jaws, but the director chose another actress. Linda was disappointed. As a comfort, she got a part in Airport 1975 as Gloria Swanson's assistant. In this film, she used the name "Augusta Summerland."

Linda then guest-starred on several TV shows, including Barnaby Jones and Switch, still using the name "Augusta Summerland."

In the 1980s, Linda went back to acting school. Her former husband, Richard Zanuck, and his new wife saw her perform. They needed an actress for their movie Cocoon. Linda got the part of Susan. She played Susan again in the 1988 sequel, Cocoon: The Return.

Recent Work and Conventions

Harrison in 2002

In 1990, Linda moved back to Berlin, Maryland, and opened a shop. A few years later, she returned to Los Angeles to be closer to her sons. She also got a real estate license.

In 1995, she had a small role in the movie Wild Bill. In 1998, she appeared as herself in a TV documentary about the making of the Planet of the Apes films.

Linda also started attending science fiction conventions. She found it very rewarding to meet fans who appreciated her work. She became a regular at Planet of the Apes conventions.

In 2001, she had a small role as a "Woman in Cart" in Tim Burton's remake of Planet of the Apes. She said the apes in the new movie were much more brutal.

In 2013, Linda began filming Midnight Massacre, where she was also an executive producer and co-star. This movie is a thriller set in the future.

Awards

In 2008, for the 40th anniversary of Planet of the Apes, Linda Harrison received the Maria Honorifica award. This was at the Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya in Spain, recognizing her acting career.

Filmography

Films

Television

Images for kids

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  Linda Harrison with Carl Reiner in A Guide for the Married Man

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  Dennis Cole and Linda Harrison in Bracken's World, October 1969

See also

In Spanish: Linda Harrison para niños