Cliff Robertson Mona Freeman Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon 1961

Monica Elizabeth "Mona" Freeman (June 9, 1926 – May 23, 2014) was an American actress and painter.

Early years

Freeman was born in

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore wa ...

, and grew up in

Pelham, New York Pelham is a suburban town in Westchester County, approximately 10 miles northeast of Midtown Manhattan. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 13,078, an increase from the 2010 census. Historically, Pelham was composed of five villages ...

. A lumberman's daughter, she was a model while in high school, and was selected the first "

Miss Subways "Miss Subways" was a title accorded to individual New York City women between 1941 and 1976. The woman who was Miss Subways at any one time appeared on posters placed on New York City Subway trains, along with a brief description of her. In 1957, i ...

" of the New York City transit system in 1940.

Career

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

signed Freeman to a contract after she moved to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

. She eventually signed a movie contract with

Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American business magnate, record-setting pilot, engineer, film producer, and philanthropist, known during his lifetime as one of the most influential and richest people in t ...

. Her contract was later sold to

. Her first film appearance was in the 1944 film '' Till We Meet Again''. She became a popular teenage movie star. After a series of roles as a pretty, naive teenager, she complained of being typecast. As an adult, Freeman's career slowed and she appeared in mostly

B-movies A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature ...

, though an exception was her role in the

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American '' ...

'' Angel Face'' (1952). She also co-starred in the hit film '' Jumping Jacks'' with the

comedy team A double act (also known as a comedy duo) is a form of comedy originating in the British music hall tradition, and American vaudeville, in which two comedians perform together as a single act. Pairings are typically long-term, in some cases fo ...

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

and

Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian. As his contributions to comedy and charity made him a global figure in popular culture, pop culture ...

. Freeman's appearances in films ended in the 1950s, but she continued to work in television. Among her appearances were seven guest roles on ''

The United States Steel Hour ''The United States Steel Hour'' is an anthology series which brought hour long dramas to television from 1953 to 1963. The television series and the radio program that preceded it were both sponsored by the United States Steel Corporation (U. S ...

'' from 1960 to 1962 and three on '' Perry Mason'', all of them roles as Mason's client: Jane Wardman in "The Case of the Lurid Letter" (1962), Rosanne Ambrose in "The Case of the Illicit Illusion" (1964), and Ellen Payne in "The Case of the 12th Wildcat" (1965). She appeared in two episodes of '' Wanted: Dead or Alive'' starring

Steve McQueen Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the late 1950s, 1960s, and ...

titled "The Fourth Headstone" (Season One, Episode 9, air date 11/1/1958) and "Breakout" (Season 2 Episode 4, aired 9/26/1959), and two episodes of ''

Maverick Maverick, Maveric or Maverik may refer to: History * Maverick (animal), an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick Aviation * AEA Maverick, an Australian single-seat sportsplane design * General Aviation Design Bure ...

'' titled "The Cats of Paradise" (1959) and "Cruise of the Cynthia B." (1960), both starring James Garner, in which she played a recurring role as crazy-eyed swindler Modesty Blaine. She also appeared in an episode of '' Riverboat'' titled "The Boy from Pittsburgh" (1959) starring

Darren McGavin Darren is a masculine given name of uncertain etymological origins. Some theories state that it originated from an Anglicisation of the Irish first name Darragh or Dáire, meaning "Oak Tree". According to other sources, it is thought to come from ...

and

Burt Reynolds Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018) was an American actor, considered a sex symbol and icon of 1970s American popular culture. Reynolds first rose to prominence when he starred in television series such as ' ...

, an episode of ''

Checkmate Checkmate (often shortened to mate) is any game position in chess and other chess-like games in which a player's king is in check (threatened with ) and there is no possible escape. Checkmating the opponent wins the game. In chess, the king is ...

'' titled "Don't Believe a Word She Says" (1961) starring Doug McClure and Sebastian Cabot, and an episode of '' The Tall Man'' titled "Petticoat Crusade" (1961) starring

Barry Sullivan Barry Sullivan may refer to: *Barry Sullivan (American actor) (1912–1994), US film and Broadway actor *Barry Sullivan (stage actor) (1821–1891), Irish born stage actor active in Britain and Australia *Barry Sullivan (lawyer) Barry Sullivan is ...

as Pat Garrett and

Clu Gulager William Martin Gulager (; November 16, 1928 – August 5, 2022), better known as Clu Gulager, was an American television and film actor and director born in Holdenville, Oklahoma. He first became known for his work in television, appearing in ...

Billy the Kid Billy the Kid (born Henry McCarty; September 17 or November 23, 1859July 14, 1881), also known by the pseudonym William H. Bonney, was an outlaw and gunfighter of the American Old West, who killed eight men before he was shot and killed at th ...

, along with numerous other

leading lady A leading actor, leading actress, or simply lead (), plays the role of the protagonist of a film, television show or play. The word ''lead'' may also refer to the largest role in the piece, and ''leading actor'' may refer to a person who typica ...

roles in various television series, including anthologies. Freeman was a portrait painter and concentrated on painting after 1961. Her best-known portrait is that of businesswoman Mary See, founder of See's Candies.

Personal life and death

Freeman married Pat Nerney, a car dealer, in Los Angeles in 1945. The couple had one daughter, Mona. They divorced in 1952. In 1961, she married H. Jack Ellis, a businessman from Los Angeles. Freeman died on May 23, 2014, at the age of 87 after a long illness, at her

Beverly Hills Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. ...

home.

Partial filmography

Mona Freeman, husband Pat Nerney, and Phyllis Thaxter, 1949

* '' Till We Meet Again'' (1944) - Elise * '' National Velvet'' (1944) - Schoolgirl (uncredited) * '' Here Come the Waves'' (1944) - Fainting Girl (uncredited) * '' Together Again'' (1944) - Diana Crandall * ''

Roughly Speaking ''Roughly Speaking'' is the sixteenth studio album by the Canadian rock band April Wine, released in November 2006. The album was recorded without computerized modern digital recording techniques. Instead, the group employed the same type of a ...

'' (1945) - Barbara, ages 15–20 * '' Junior Miss'' (1945) - Lois Graves * '' Danger Signal'' (1945) - Anne Fenchurch * '' Our Hearts Were Growing Up'' (1946) - Girl (uncredited) * '' Black Beauty'' (1946) - Anne Wendon * ''

That Brennan Girl ''That Brennan Girl'', also known as ''Tough Girl'', is a 1946 melodrama film produced and directed by Alfred Santell and starring James Dunn, Mona Freeman, William Marshall, and June Duprez. The story concerns a young woman raised in an unwhol ...

'' (1946) - Ziggy Brennan * '' Dear Ruth'' (1947) - Miriam Wilkins * '' Mother Wore Tights'' (1947) - Iris * ''

Variety Girl ''Variety Girl'' is a 1947 American musical comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Mary Hatcher, Olga San Juan, DeForest Kelley, Frank Ferguson, Glenn Tryon, Nella Walker, Torben Meyer, Jack Norton, and William Demarest. It was ...

'' (1947) - Mona Freeman * '' Isn't It Romantic?'' (1948) - Susie Cameron * '' Streets of Laredo'' (1949) - Rannie Carter * '' The Heiress'' (1949) - Marian Almond * ''

Dear Wife ''Dear Wife'' is a 1949 comedy film starring Joan Caulfield and William Holden. It is the sequel to ''Dear Ruth'', which was based on the Broadway play of the same name by Norman Krasna. Plot Miriam Wilkins is a teenage girl who is campaigning ...

'' (1949) - Miriam Wilkins * ''

I Was a Shoplifter ''I Was a Shoplifter'' is a 1950 American film noir crime film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Scott Brady and Mona Freeman. Plot A shoplifter, Faye Burton, is being watched by Herb Klaxon, a security guard at a Los Angeles department st ...

'' (1950) - Faye Burton * '' Copper Canyon'' (1950) - Caroline Desmond * '' Branded'' (1950) - Ruth Lavery * ''

Dear Brat ''Dear Brat'' is a 1951 American comedy film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Mona Freeman and Billy De Wolfe. It is the third in a series following '' Dear Ruth'' (1947) and '' Dear Wife'' (1949). Plot Miriam Wilkins has founded an a ...

'' (1951) - Miriam Wilkins * ''

Darling, How Could You! ''Darling, How Could You!'' is a 1951 American period comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Joan Fontaine and John Lund. The script is based on the 1905 J. M. Barrie play ''Alice Sit-by-the-Fire''. Plot In late 1906, brother and ...

'' (1951) - Amy * '' The Greatest Show on Earth'' (1952) - Spectator (uncredited) * '' Flesh and Fury'' (1952) - Ann Hollis * '' Jumping Jacks'' (1952) - Betsy Carter * '' Thunderbirds'' (1952) - Lt. Ellen Henderson * '' Angel Face'' (1953) - Mary Wilton * ''

Battle Cry A battle cry or war cry is a yell or chant taken up in battle, usually by members of the same combatant group. Battle cries are not necessarily articulate (e.g. "Eulaliaaaa!", "Alala"..), although they often aim to invoke patriotic or religious ...

'' (1955) - Kathy - later Mrs. Danny Forrester * '' Before I Wake'' (1955) - April Haddon * '' The Road to Denver'' (1955) - Elizabeth Sutton * '' Dial 999'' (1955) - Terry Moffat Carradine * '' Huk!'' (1956) - Cindy Rogers * ''

Hold Back the Night Hold may refer to: Physical spaces * Hold (ship), interior cargo space * Baggage hold, cargo space on an airplane * Stronghold, a castle or other fortified place Arts, entertainment, and media * Hold (musical term), a pause, also called a Ferma ...

'' (1956) - Anne Franklin McKenzie * '' Dragoon Wells Massacre'' (1957) - Ann Bradley * '' The World Was His Jury'' (1958) - Robin Carson

Partial television credits

* '' Wanted: Dead or Alive'' (2 episodes) *: "The Fourth Headstone" (1958) - Jackie Harris *: "Breakout" (1959) - Margaret Dunn * ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings ...

'' *: "The Monty Britton Story" (1958) - Betty Britton * '' The Red Skelton Hour'' (2 episodes) *: "San Fernando's Singing Sensation" (1958) - Guest *: "Freddie Gets a Job" (1959) - Kathy * '' Pursuit'' *: "Calculated Risk" (1958) - Nina Hodges * ''

Playhouse 90 ''Playhouse 90'' was an American television anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of th ...

'' (3 episodes) *: "Sizeman and Son" (1956) - Marie Sizeman *: " Three Men on a Horse" (1957) - Audrey Trowbridge *: "The Long March" (1958) - Betsy * ''

The DuPont Show with June Allyson ''The DuPont Show with June Allyson'' (also known as ''The June Allyson Show'') is an American anthology drama series which aired on CBS from September 21, 1959, to April 3, 1961, with rebroadcasts continuing until June 12, 1961. The series wa ...

'' *: "The Pledge" (1959) - Sandra McAllen * ''

'' (2 episodes) *: " The Cats Of Paradise" (1959) - Modesty Blaine *: " The Cruise of the Cynthia B" (1960) - Modesty Blaine * ''

Johnny Ringo John Peters Ringo (May 3, 1850 – July 13, 1882), known as Johnny Ringo, was an American Old West outlaw loosely associated with the Cochise County Cowboys in frontier boomtown Tombstone, Arizona Territory. He took part in the Mason County ...

'' *: "Mrs. Ringo" (1960) - Marilyn Barber * '' United States Steel Hour'' *: " The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon" (1961) * '' Perry Mason'' (3 episodes) *: " The Case of the Lurid Letter" (1962) - Jane Wardman *: " The Case of the Illicit Illusion" (1964) - Rosanne Ambrose *: " The Case of the 12th Wildcat" (1965) - Ellen Payne

References

External links

*
Mona Freeman; Aveleyman.com
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Freeman, Mona 1926 births 2014 deaths American film actresses American television actresses American portrait painters American women painters Actresses from New York (state) Artists from New York (state) Painters from New York (state) Paramount Pictures contract players 20th-century American actresses 20th-century American painters 20th-century American women artists Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) 21st-century American women