Monique van Vooren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Monique van Vooren
|
|
---|---|
![]() Van Vooren in 1957
|
|
Born | Brussels, Belgium
|
March 25, 1927
Died | January 25, 2020 Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
|
(aged 92)
Nationality | Belgian-American |
Other names | Monique Vooren |
Citizenship | United States |
Occupation | Actress, dancer |
Years active | 1950–2012 |
Spouse(s) | 1) Jakobson (details unknown) 2) Kurt (or Curt) Henry Pfenniger (m. 1950-195?; divorced) 3) Gerard Walter "Jerry" Purcell
(m. 1958–2002) |
Children | 1 |
Monique van Vooren (born March 25, 1927 – died January 25, 2020) was a talented Belgian-American actress and dancer. She was known for her many roles in movies and on stage, and she even wrote a book!
Early Life and Talents
Monique van Vooren was born in Brussels, Belgium. Her parents were George Bronz and Louise van Vooren. Even as a young girl, Monique showed many talents.
She was a champion skater and also won beauty contests in Belgium. Monique was very smart and loved learning. She studied philosophy and many languages. She could speak English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, and Dutch. She even said she could read ancient Greek and Latin!
Monique first visited the United States when she was 19 years old. Later, she married a New York businessman named Gerard Walter Purcell. They were married for a long time, from 1958 until he passed away in 2002. They had one child together.
A Career in Entertainment
Monique van Vooren had a busy career in acting and entertainment. She performed on Broadway, which is famous for its plays and musicals in New York City. She was in shows like John Murray Anderson's Almanac and Man on the Moon.
In the 1960s, she also acted in many plays across the United States. These were often part of "summer stock theatre," where actors perform plays during the summer months.
Monique was also a singer! She recorded an album called Mink in HiFi with RCA Victor. This showed that she had many different artistic skills.
Beyond acting and singing, Monique was also a writer. In 1983, she published a book called Night Sanctuary. She explained that her book explored the different sides of people.
Film and TV Roles
Monique van Vooren appeared in many movies and television shows throughout her career. She played various characters, from dramatic roles to parts in popular TV series. Her acting career lasted for over 60 years!
Here are some of the films and TV shows she was in:
- 1950: Tomorrow Is Too Late - Giannina
- 1953: Tarzan and the She-Devil - Lyra, the She-Devil
- 1955: The Infiltrator - Elaine
- 1955: Ça va barder - Irène
- 1957: Producers' Showcase (Episode: "Mayerling", TV film released theatrically in Europe)
- 1957: Ten Thousand Bedrooms - Girl on Main Title
- 1958: Gigi - showgirl (uncredited)
- 1959: Sunday Showcase (TV Series) - Zizi Molnari
- 1959: Happy Anniversary - Jeanette Revere
- 1961: The DuPont Show of the Month (TV Series) - Krys
- 1959–1963: The United States Steel Hour (TV Series)
- 1965: The Trials of O'Brien (TV Series) - Eve St. Clair
- 1967: Fearless Frank - Plethora
- 1968: Batman (TV Series) - Miss Clean
- 1971: The Decameron - Queen of Skulls (as Monique Van Voren)
- 1973: Sugar Cookies - Helene
- 1973: Ash Wednesday - German Woman
- 1973: Andy Warhol's Frankenstein - Baroness Katrin Frankenstein
- 1987: Wall Street - "Woman at '21'"
- 2012: Greystone Park - Monique (final film role)
Monique van Vooren passed away on January 25, 2020, after battling cancer. She left behind a legacy of performances in film, television, and on stage.