Sally Mansfield
Sally Mansfield in Rocky Jones, Space Ranger 1954
Born
Marie Mahder

(1923-12-03)December 3, 1923
Oak Park, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJanuary 28, 2001(2001-01-28) (aged 77)
Westlake Village, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupationactor

Marie Mahder (December 3, 1923 – January 28, 2001), best known by her stage name Sally Mansfield, was an American television character actress; she also had a few small roles in feature films including one with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

Television career

Mansfield portrayed Connie on Bachelor Father[1] and appeared on many popular TV shows in the 1950s and 1960s, including Death Valley Days, The Donna Reed Show, Hazel and The Andy Griffith Show, and The Phil Silvers Show. She was also an accomplished dancer, performed with the Don Arden Dancers in New York City and Las Vegas, and entertained US troops in Korea.

She is perhaps best remembered, however, for her 1954 role as spaceship navigator Vena Ray on the syndicated science fiction show Rocky Jones, Space Ranger.[2] She was chosen from 300 who auditioned. Her character anticipated Nichelle Nichols' much more famous role as a female spaceship bridge officer on the 1960s television series Star Trek. The same year Mansfield carried the Miss Emmy torch at the Palladium during the sixth annual Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awards banquet.

Executive Producer, Guy V. Thayer Jr., signed Richard Crane and Mansfield to five year contracts for Rocky Jones, Space Ranger. One of the contract stipulations was that the still-single Mansfield would not marry and Crane would not divorce his wife of eight years.

Death

On January 28, 2001, Mansfield died of lung cancer in Westlake Village, California, at the age of 77.[3]

Selected Television

Year Title Role Notes
1953 Death Valley Days Dodie Trumbull Season 2, Episode 2, "Little Washington"
1953 Death Valley Days Wilhelmina Cannon Episode, "Sego Lilies"
1961 Bachelor Father Connie Episode "The Law and Kelly Gregg"
1962 Bachelor Father Connie Episode "Kelly the Yes Man"
1962 Bachelor Father Connie Episode "Kelly's Engagement"

References

  1. ↑ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (24 June 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-307-48320-1. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  2. ↑ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 905. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  3. ↑ "Sally Mansfield; Early TV Actress". The Los Angeles Times. March 1, 2001. p. 83. Retrieved August 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "Hollywood Daily Herald". Austin Daily Herald. October 19, 1953. p. 15.
  • "Sweater Warmer". Humboldt Standard. January 29, 1953. p. 6.
  • "Difficult Rules". Humboldt Standard. October 31, 1953. p. 5.
  • "Movieland Briefs". Los Angeles Times. October 15, 1952. p. B8.
  • "TV Radio". Los Angeles Times. February 11, 1954. p. 30.
  • "Attention to Little Things Keeps Busy Star Glamorous". Oakland Tribune. September 9, 1954. p. 42.
  • "Sally Mansfield". Pose. March 1955. p. 53.
  • "Hollywood Close-Ups". Syracuse Herald-American. February 7, 1954. p. 102.
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