Jill Ireland
Jill Dorothy Ireland (24 April 1936 – 18 May 1990) was an English actress and singer. She appeared in 16 films with husband Charles Bronson, and was involved in two of Bronson’s other films as a producer.
Jill Ireland | |
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![]() Ireland in 1967 | |
Born | Jill Dorothy Ireland 24 April 1936 London, England |
Died | 18 May 1990 54) Malibu, California, U.S. | (aged
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1955–1990 |
Spouses | |
Children | 5; including Val McCallum |
Early life
Born in Hounslow,[1] Ireland was the daughter of a wine importer.[2]
She was evacuated to Upper Broughton in South Nottinghamshire, with solicitor Bernard Dowson, and his wife Elizabeth, of Sulney Fields on Colonels Lane. He died aged 91 in August 1964, leaving £200 to her.[3] This house, in the 1910s, was the East Midlands headquarters of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. His mother, Alice Dowson (from Asfordby, who married Benjamin Dowson, and died in 1927) was the grandmother of Dame Alix Kilroy,[4] who was responsible for the utility furniture scheme of the war, and for clothing coupons.[5]
She was educated at Chatsworth Junior School in Hounslow. She lived at 'Chertsey' on Maswell Park Road in Hounslow.[6]
Career
She began acting in the mid-1950s with small roles in films including Simon and Laura (1955) and Three Men in a Boat (1956).
In 1957, Ireland married actor David McCallum[7] after the couple met while working on the film Hell Drivers (1957). They married on Saturday 11 May 1957 at Islington register office.[8]
Later, they appeared together in five episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.: "The Quadripartite Affair" (season 1, episode 3, 1964), "The Giuoco Piano Affair" (season 1, episode 7, 1964), "The Tigers Are Coming Affair" (season 2, episode 8, 1965), and a two-parter "The Five Daughters Affair" (season 3, episodes 28 & 29, 1967). They had three sons, Paul, Valentine, and Jason (who was adopted). McCallum and Ireland divorced in 1967. Jason McCallum died of a drug overdose in 1989, six months before Ireland's death.[9]
In 1968, Ireland married Charles Bronson.[7] She had met him when he and McCallum were filming The Great Escape (1963) some years earlier. Together they had a daughter, Zuleika, and adopted a daughter, Katrina. They remained married until Ireland's death in 1990.[10]
Death and legacy
Ireland was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984.[7] After her diagnosis, Ireland wrote two books, chronicling her battle with the disease. At the time of her death, she was writing a third book and became a spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society.[7] In 1988, she testified before the U.S. Congress about medical costs and was given the American Cancer Society's Courage Award by President Ronald Reagan.[11]
In 1990, Ireland died of breast cancer at her home in Malibu, California.[11] She was cremated and her ashes were placed in a cane which Charles Bronson had buried with him at Brownsville Cemetery[12] when he died in 2003.[13]
For her contribution to the film industry, Jill Ireland has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6751 Hollywood Boulevard.[14]
In 1991, Ireland was portrayed by Jill Clayburgh in the made-for-television film Reason for Living: The Jill Ireland Story. The film, which was based on Ireland's memoir Lifelines and listed her posthumously as an executive producer, received mixed reviews from critics.[15] To prepare for the role, Clayburgh, who had never met Ireland, read Lifelines and listened to Ireland's recorded interviews.[16]
Filmography
Film | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
1955 | No Love for Judy | The Other Woman | |
The Woman for Joe | Bit Part | Uncredited | |
Oh... Rosalinda!! | Lady | ||
Simon and Laura | Burton's Receptionist | ||
1956 | The Big Money | Doreen Frith | |
Three Men in a Boat | Bluebell Porterhouse | ||
1957 | There's Always a Thursday | Jennifer Potter | |
Hell Drivers | Jill, Pull Inn Waitress | Alternative title: Hard Drivers | |
Robbery Under Arms | Jean Morrison | ||
1959 | Carry On Nurse | Jill Thompson | |
The Ghost Train Murder | Sally Burton | Alternative title: Scotland Yard: The Ghost Train Murder | |
The Desperate Man | Carol Bourne | ||
1960 | Jungle Street | Sue | Alternative title: Jungle Street Girls |
Girls of the Latin Quarter | Jill | ||
1961 | So Evil, So Young | Ann | |
Raising the Wind | Janet | Alternative title: Roommates | |
1962 | Twice Round the Daffodils | Janet | Alternative title: What a Carry On: Twice Round the Daffodils |
The Battleaxe | Audrey Page | ||
1967 | The Karate Killers | Imogen Smythe | |
1968 | Villa Rides | Girl in restaurant | |
1970 | Twinky | Girl at airport | Uncredited |
Rider on the Rain | Nicole | Alternative title: Le Passager de la Pluie | |
Violent City | Vanessa Shelton | Alternative titles: Città violenta, The Family, Final Shot | |
Cold Sweat | Moira | Alternative title: De la part des copains | |
1971 | Someone Behind the Door | Frances Jeffries | Alternative title: Quelqu'un derrière la porte |
1972 | The Valachi Papers | Maria Reina Valachi | |
The Mechanic | The Girl | Alternative title: Killer of Killers | |
1973 | Chino | Catherine Maral | Alternative titles: Valdez Horses, Valdez the Halfbreed |
1975 | Breakout | Ann Wagner | |
Hard Times | Lucy Simpson | Alternative titles: Street Fighter & The Streetfighter | |
Breakheart Pass | Marica Scoville | ||
1976 | From Noon till Three | Amanda Starbuck | |
1979 | Love and Bullets | Jackie Pruit | |
1982 | Death Wish II | Geri Nichols | |
1987 | Assassination | Lara Royce Craig | |
Caught | Janet Devon | (final film role) | |
Television | |||
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1959 | The Voodoo Factor | Renee | Unknown episodes |
1960 | Juke Box Jury | 1 episode | |
1961 | Armchair Theatre | Sybil Vane | 1 episode |
Kraft Mystery Theatre | 1 episode | ||
Ghost Squad | Anna | 1 episode | |
1963 | Richard the Lionheart | Marianne | 1 episode |
1964 | Ben Casey | Julie Carr | 1 episode |
The Third Man | Julia | 1 episode | |
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Julie Lyle | 1 episode | |
1964–1967 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Imogen Smythe / Marion Raven / Suzanne de Serre | 5 episodes |
1965 | My Favorite Martian | Zelda | 1 episode |
1965–1966 | Twelve O'Clock High | Alyce Carpenter "The Hotshot"/Sara Blodgett "The Survivor" | 2 episodes |
1966 | The Wackiest Ship in the Army | 1 episode | |
Shane | Marian Starrett | 17 episodes | |
1967 | Star Trek | Leila Kalomi | 1 episode "This Side of Paradise" |
1968 | Mannix | Ellen Kovak | 1 episode "To the Swiftest, Death" |
1969 | Daniel Boone | Angela | 1 episode "The Traitor" |
1972 | Night Gallery | Ann Loring | 1 episode "The Miracle at Camafeo"/"The Ghost of Sorworth Place" [second segment, "Ghost"] |
1980 | The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything | Charla O'Rourke | Television film |
1991 | Reason for Living: The Jill Ireland Story | Executive Producer | posthumous credit, Television film inspired by Ireland's memoir Lifeline |
Books
References
- Middlesex Chronicle Thursday 18 April 1991, page 2
- Bernstein, Fred (17 September 1979). "It's a Pretty Impasse When Jill Ireland Is Taller in the Saddle Than Charles Bronson". People. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
- The People Sunday 11 October 1964, page 10
- Suffolk and Essex Free Press Thursday 9 September 1999, page 5
- The Sketch Wednesday 3 March 1948, page 11
- Daily Mirror Friday 19 August 1955, page 20
- Stevens, Christopher (2010). Born Brilliant: The Life of Kenneth Williams. John Murray. pp. 370/1. ISBN 978-1-84854-195-5.
- The People Sunday 12 May 1957, page 9
- Sporkin, Elizabeth (20 May 1991). "Jill Ireland". People. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
- Smith, Kyle (15 September 2003). "Tender as Nails". People. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
- Yarrow, Andrew L. (19 May 1990). "Jill Ireland, Actress, 54, Is Dead; Wrote of Her Fight With Cancer". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
- Brownsville Cemetery in West Windsor, Vermont
- Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 23030-23037). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
- "Hollywood Walk of Fame". Walkoffame.com. 20 June 1989. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
- Multiple sources:
- Kogan, Rich (20 May 1991). "NO REASON FOR WATCHING 'REASON FOR LIVING'". Chicago Tribune.
- Pergament, Alan (16 May 1991). "'OUR SONS,' 'JILL IRELAND STORY' BOTH SUFFER FROM TV ADDICTION". Buffalo News.
- Jicha, Tom (20 May 1991). "NBC'S 'REASON FOR LIVING' FALLS SHORT OF DOING JUSTICE TO JILL IRELAND, SON". Sun-Sentiel.
- Dawson, Greg (20 May 1991). "PORTRAIT OF JILL IRELAND IS DRAWN WITH DIGNITY". Orlando Sentinel.*Zurawik, David (22 May 1991). "'Reason for Living' exploits struggle of Jill Ireland". The Baltimore Sun.
- Mills, Nancy (18 May 1991). "Jill Clayburgh: The Passion of Mothers : Truths Abound for the Actress Who Plays Jill Ireland in TV Movie". Los Angeles Times.