Debbie Watson (actress)

Deborah Lynn Watson is a retired American movie and television actress. She was born on January 17, 1949, in Culver City, California.[1]

Debbie Watson
Watson as Tammy in 1965.
Born (1949-01-17) January 17, 1949
Culver City, California
Years active1964–1971
Spouse(s)Richard Sanford Orshoff (m. 1966-1971); Ronald Lewis Taylor (m. 1973-present)
Children2

Career

Watson began her acting in community theater, appearing in productions at Long Beach Community Theater, Tustin Community Theater, and Melodyland Theater.[2]

Television

Watson got her start on television as a hopeful on Ted Mack and the Original Amateur Hour in 1963.[3] She went on to star as the boy-struck teenage girl Karen Scott in the 1964 situation comedy television series Karen,[4][5] the only portion of the largely unsuccessful 90 Bristol Court (which also included Harris Against the World and Tom, Dick and Mary) to last the entirety of the 1964-1965 season. She then appeared as Tammy Tarleton in the 1965 rural-themed sitcom TV series Tammy, with co-stars Denver Pyle and Frank McGrath.[4][6]

Film

Watson's film appearances include the character of Marilyn Munster in Munster, Go Home! in 1966.[4][7] The actress was a Universal Pictures starlet at the time, and the studio used Watson to replace Pat Priest, who had played Marilyn through most of The Munsters TV sitcom series. In 1967, Watson co-starred with Roddy McDowall in The Cool Ones,[4][8] followed by Tammy and the Millionaire, which comprised four episodes of Tammy re-edited into a feature-length film.

Later career

When Watson was 17 years old she married record producer-engineer Richard Sanford Orshoff, who was then 22.[9] In August 1967, they had a child, Darren. Watson and Orshoff divorced in 1971. She made her final TV appearance on Love, American Style in 1971 before retiring from acting. In 1973 she married Ronald L Taylor (now a retired Superior Court Judge), and they had a son, Dylan. Watson lives in Southern California and on the Oregon coast. In 2003, she appeared in A&E's Biography episode of The Munsters.

Television series

Filmography

References
  1. Leonard, Vince (July 19, 1964). "Reaching For Stardom". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 117. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Barrett, Rona (October 25, 1964). "Wishing on Star at 9 Brings Stardom at 15". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. p. 32. Retrieved February 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Terry Rowan, Bikini, Surfing & Beach Party Movies, page 101, Lulu, 2014
  4. "Debbie Watson". TVGuide.com. TV Guide. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  5. "TV schedule". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. October 3, 1964. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  6. "Goodby [sic] Karen Here's Tammy". St. Petersburg Times. August 30, 1965. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  7. "'Munsters' actress sues slot maker". Las Vegas Review-Journal. December 28, 2004. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  8. "Huffing Hoofers Turn Directors". St. Petersburg Times. May 14, 1967. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  9. Debbie Watson All For Teen Marriages - https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19670102.2.30&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
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