Leslie Gaye Griffin (March 6, 1935 – July 14, 2016), better known as Lisa Gaye, was an American actress and dancer.

Early years

Leslie Gaye Griffin was born on March 6, 1935, in

Denver, Colorado Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

, to Frank Henry Griffin, a painter, and Margaret Allen Griffin (née Gibson), an actress. Her family moved from Denver to Los Angeles, California, when sister Teala was contracted to be an actress by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

. Her mother was determined that Gaye and her siblings make their careers in show business. Her siblings, Marcia (

Teala Loring Teala Loring (born Marcia Eloise Griffin; October 6, 1922 – January 28, 2007) was an American actress who appeared in over 30 films during the 1940s. Life and career Born in Denver, Colorado, she was the sister of actors Debra Paget, Lis ...

), Debralee (

Debra Paget Debra Paget (born Debralee Griffin; August 19, 1933) is a retired American actress and entertainer. She is perhaps best known for her performances in Cecil B. DeMille's epic '' The Ten Commandments'' (1956) and in Elvis Presley's film debut, '' ...

), and Frank (Ruell Shayne), all entered the business as either cast or crew. She attended Hollywood's Professional School.

Career

Gaye made her first professional film appearance at the age of 7. At 17, she signed a seven-year contract with

Universal Studios Universal Studios may refer to: * Universal Studios, Inc., an American media and entertainment conglomerate ** Universal Pictures, an American film studio ** Universal Studios Lot, a film and television studio complex * Various theme parks operat ...

and was enrolled in the studio's professional school for actors and actresses. She began her acting career with two uncredited cameos in 1953–54. Her first starring role was in '' Drums Across the River'' (1954). She appeared in 13 films between 1954 and 1967, including ''

Ten Thousand Bedrooms ''Ten Thousand Bedrooms'' is a 1957 American romantic comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Dean Martin, Anna Maria Alberghetti and Eva Bartok. Shot in Metrocolor and CinemaScope, it was Martin's first film in the wake of the dis ...

'' (1957), and television shows such as ''

Hawaiian Eye ''Hawaiian Eye'' is an American detective television series that ran from October 1959 to April 1963 on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television network. Premise Private investigator Tracy Steele (Anthony Eisley) and his half-Hawaiian ...

'' (1959) and ''

How to Marry a Millionaire ''How to Marry a Millionaire'' is a 1953 American romantic comedy film directed by Jean Negulesco and written and produced by Nunnally Johnson. The screenplay was based on the plays ''The Greeks Had a Word for It'' (1930) by Zoe Akins and '' ...

'' (1957). On stage, Gaye acted in a production of ''Merry Wives of Windsor'' when she was 12 years old. In 1957, she made her adult stage debut in ''Darling, I'm Yours'' in San Francisco.

Television

Among Gaye's television appearances were three episodes of ''

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show ''The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show'', sometimes called ''The Burns and Allen Show'', is a half-hour television sitcom broadcast from 1950 to 1958 on CBS. It starred George Burns and Gracie Allen, one of the most enduring acts in entertainm ...

'' in 1956, 13 episodes of ''

The Bob Cummings Show ''The Bob Cummings Show'' (also known in reruns as ''Love That Bob'') is an American sitcom starring Bob Cummings, which was broadcast from January 2, 1955, to September 15, 1959. The program began with a half-season run on NBC, then ran for ...

'' as Colette Dubois, five episodes each of the ABC/

Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

detective series, ''

'' and ''

77 Sunset Strip ''77 Sunset Strip'' is an American private detective crime drama television series created by Roy Huggins and starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Roger Smith, Richard Long (from 1960 to 1961) and Edd Byrnes (billed as Edward Byrnes). Each epis ...

'', two episodes of another ABC-WB series, '' Bourbon Street Beat'', seven episodes of

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...

's ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and four short stories, all of which involve a ...

'', and eleven episodes of the syndicated

anthology series An anthology series is a written series, radio, television, film, or video game series that presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a different ca ...

, ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American Western (genre), Western anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was ...

'', along with several episodes of ''

Sea Hunt ''Sea Hunt'' is an American action adventure television series that aired in syndication from 1958 to 1961 and was popular for decades afterwards. The series originally aired for four seasons, with 155 episodes produced. It stars Lloyd Bridges ...

'' and an episode of '' Colt .45''. She appeared as Susan Marno in '' Wanted Dead or Alive'' with Steve McQueen. She appears in one episode of ''Zorro'' in the 1957 episode "Constance". She appeared twice in '' Have Gun - Will Travel'' in 1957 as Helen in "Helen of Abajinian", and as Nancy in "Gun Shy" (along with

Dan Blocker Bobby Dan Davis Blocker (December 10, 1928 – May 13, 1972) was an American television actor and Korean War veteran, who played Hoss Cartwright in the NBC Western fiction, Western television series ''Bonanza''. Biography Early life Blocker was ...

, Corey Allen and

Jeanette Nolan Jeanette Nolan (December 30, 1911 – June 5, 1998) was an American actress. Nominated for four Emmy Awards, she had roles in the television series '' The Virginian'' (1962–1971) and '' Dirty Sally'' (1974) and in films such as ''Macbeth'' ...

), and in the ''

Science Fiction Theatre ''Science Fiction Theatre'' is an American science fiction anthology television series that was produced by Ivan Tors and Maurice Ziv and originally aired in syndication. It premiered on April 9, 1955, and ended on February 9, 1957, with a to ...

'' episode "Gravity Zero" as Elisabeth. She made a single appearance in the 1959 episode "The Peace Offering" of the syndicated western series, ''

Pony Express The Pony Express was an American express mail service that used relays of horse-mounted riders between Missouri and California. It was operated by the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company. During its 18 months of opera ...

'', starring Grant Sullivan. Among her seven appearances on ''

'', Gaye played Rita Magovern and Lola Bronson in the 1961 episodes, "The Case of the Traveling Treasure" and "The Case of the Guilty Clients". In 1964 she played as Pamela Blair in "The Case of the Nautical Knot". Also in 1961, Gaye appeared as a Spanish woman tied up in a revolution against the United States in an episode of ''Maverick'' titled "State of Siege". She appeared in several episodes of ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the late 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was bo ...

'': in "Sharpshooter", she played Laurie LaRue, the stage assistant and wife of stage sharpshooter, Danny Dowling; in the 1959 episode "Buffalo Kill" as Susan; and in the 1961 episode, "The Fatal Garment", she portrayed Elena, a Mexican Cantina owner. In 1961, she also appeared in an episode of The Tales of Wells Fargo entitled “The Dowery”.

Personal life

Gaye was married in 1955 to Bently C. Ware; the marriage ended with his death in 1977; the couple had one daughter, Janelle. She died in Houston, Texas, on July 14, 2016. Because her husband had served as a corporal in the U.S. Army, she was interred at Houston National Cemetery.

Selected filmography

* ''

The Glenn Miller Story ''The Glenn Miller Story'' is a 1954 American biographical film about the eponymous American band-leader, directed by Anthony Mann. It stars James Stewart as Miller (in his second non-western collaboration with Mann), alongside June Allyson. ...

'' (1954) - Bobbysoxer (uncredited) * '' Yankee Pasha'' (1954) - Harem Girl (uncredited) * '' Drums Across the River'' (1954) - Jennie * '' Magnificent Obsession'' (1954) - Switchboard Girl (uncredited) * '' Ain't Misbehavin''' (1955) - Chorine (uncredited) * ''

Rock Around the Clock "Rock Around the Clock" is a rock and roll song in the 12-bar blues format written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers (the latter being under the pseudonym "Jimmy De Knight") in 1952. The best-known and most successful rendition was reco ...

'' (1956) - Lisa Johns * '' Shake, Rattle & Rock!'' (1956) - June Fitzdingle * ''

'' (1957) - Ana Martelli * ''Sweethearts'' (1957) * ''Night of Evil'' (1962) - Dixie Ann Dikes * ''La cara del terror'' (1962) - Norma Borden * '' Castle of Evil'' (1966) - Carrol Harris * ''

The Violent Ones ''The Violent Ones'' is a 1967 film directed by and starring Fernando Lamas. The story was written and created by Charles Davis, Fred Freiberger, Herman Miller, and Doug Wilson. The film was shot in the Alabama Hills, Mojave Desert and Lone Pin ...

'' (1967) - Dolores

Other television credits

* ''

'' (1955–1959) - Collette DuBois (recurring role) * ''

Annie Oakley Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) was an American marksman, sharpshooter and folk heroine who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West. Oakley developed hunting skills as a child to provide for her impoveris ...

'' (1956) - Vera Barker * ''

'' (1956) - Carol Rogers / Felicia Norris / Mary Brewster * ''

The Adventures of Jim Bowie ''The Adventures of Jim Bowie'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from 1956 in television, 1956 to 1958 in television, 1958. Its setting was the 1830s-era Louisiana T ...

'' (1956, 1957) - Maria Miro / Jeanne Brasseaur * ''

Have Gun – Will Travel ''Have Gun – Will Travel'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series that was produced and originally broadcast by CBS on both television and radio from 1957 through 1963. The television version of the series starring Ri ...

'' (1957, 1958) - Nancy Warren / Helen Abajinian * ''

The Walter Winchell File ''The Walter Winchell File'' is a television crime drama series that initially aired from 1957 to 1958, dramatizing cases from the New York City Police Department that were covered in the ''New York Daily Mirror''. The series featured columnist ...

'' (1958) - Doris Carter * ''

Tombstone Territory ''Tombstone Territory'' is an American Western television series starring Pat Conway and Richard Eastham. The first two seasons aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. The first season was sponsored by Bristol-Myers (consumer products) and the seco ...

'' (1958, 1959) - Nancy Cooley / Miss Lizette * ''

'' (1958–1959) - Gwen Kirby (main cast, season 2) * ''

'' (1958–1966) - Laraine Keely / Pamela Blair / Joyce Hadley / Alyssa Laban / Rita Magovern / Lola Bronson / Juror * ''

'' (1959) - Ann Barry / June Leeds / Philana / Louise Wiley / Blaze Green * ''

'' (1959, 1961) - Lori Dowling / Susan Carver / Elena * '' Men into Space'' (1960) - Joyce Lynn * '' Wanted Dead or Alive'' (1960) season 3 episode 3 (''Journey for Josh '') - Susan Marno * ''

Cheyenne The Cheyenne ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Great Plains. The Cheyenne comprise two Native American tribes, the Só'taeo'o or Só'taétaneo'o (more commonly spelled as Suhtai or Sutaio) and the (also spelled Tsitsistas, The term for th ...

'' (1960) - Francie Scott / Jenny Beaumont * ''

Rawhide Rawhide may refer to: *Rawhide (material), a hide or animal skin that has not been tanned * Whip made from rawhide Entertainment * ''Rawhide'' (1926 film), a Western directed by Richard Thorpe * ''Rawhide'' (1938 film), a Western starring baseball ...

'' (1960) - Odette Laurier * ''

'' (1960–1969) - Lisa Tracy / Lottie Deno / Mystic Maude / Rosie Winters / Gypsy / Faith Turner / Lena / Tacilia - Healing Woman / Delores / Raquel / Yvonne Benet * ''

'', The Desert Spa Caper (1961) - Janet Hubbell * '' Maverick'' (1961) - Soledad Lozaro * ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western television series that aired for eight seasons, first on the NBC television network (1957–1962) and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and reached the top of the ...

'' (1961) - Alma Mendez * ''

Tales of Wells Fargo ''Tales of Wells Fargo'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series starring Dale Robertson in 201 episodes that aired from 1957 to 1962 on NBC. Produced by Revue Productions, the series aired in a half-hour format until i ...

'' (1961) - Sunset / Michelle Bovarde * '' Laramie'' (1962) - Winona * ''

Going My Way ''Going My Way'' is a 1944 American musical comedy drama film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. Written by Frank Butler and Frank Cavett, based on a story by McCarey, the film is about a new young priest ...

'' (1962) - Rosa Pavone * ''

The Wild Wild West ''The Wild Wild West'' is an American Western (genre), Western, spy film, spy, and science fiction on television, science fiction television series that ran on the CBS television network for four seasons from September 17, 1965, to April 11, 19 ...

'' (1966, 1967) - Lana Benson / Lorelei * ''

The Time Tunnel ''The Time Tunnel'' is an American color science-fiction television series written around a theme of time travel adventure; it starred James Darren and Robert Colbert. The show was creator-producer Irwin Allen's third science-fiction televisi ...

'' (1967) - Ahza * ''

Get Smart ''Get Smart'' is an American comedy television series parodying the Spy fiction, secret agent genre that had become widely popular in the first half of the 1960s with the release of the ''James Bond'' films. It was created by Mel Brooks and Bu ...

'' (1967) - Miss Smith * ''

I Dream of Jeannie ''I Dream of Jeannie'' is an American Fantasy television, fantasy sitcom television series created by Sidney Sheldon and starring Barbara Eden as a beautiful but guileless 2,000-year-old Jinn, genie and Larry Hagman as an astronaut with whom s ...

'' (1968) - Daisy Lou * ''

The Flying Nun ''The Flying Nun'' is an American fantasy television, fantasy sitcom television series about a community of nuns, which included one who could fly when the wind caught her cornette. It was produced by Screen Gems for American Broadcasting Comp ...

'' (1969) - Rosita / Elena * ''

The Mod Squad ''The Mod Squad'' is an American crime drama series, originally broadcast for five seasons on ABC from September 24, 1968, to March 1, 1973. It starred Michael Cole as Peter "Pete" Cochran, Clarence Williams III as Lincoln "Linc" Hayes, Pegg ...

'' (1970) - Yolanda (final appearance)

References

External links

*
The Private Life and Times of Lisa Gaye
at glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Gaye, Lisa 1935 births 2016 deaths Actresses from Los Angeles Actresses from Denver American female dancers American dancers American film actresses American television actresses Actresses from Greater Los Angeles 20th-century American actresses American stage actresses Western (genre) film actresses 21st-century American women Burials at Houston National Cemetery