Dolly Martin (born Dolly Read; 13 September 1944) is an English

pinup A pin-up model is a model (person), model whose mass-produced pictures and photographs have wide appeal within the popular culture of a society. Pin-up models are usually glamour photography, glamour, actresses, or fashion models whose pictures ...

model and actress. She is best remembered for her appearance in ''

Playboy ''Playboy'' (stylized in all caps) is an American men's Lifestyle journalism, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, available both online and in print. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, funded in part by a $ ...

'' magazine and as the lead character in ''

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls ''Beyond the Valley of the Dolls'' is a 1970 American satire (film and television), satirical Musical film, musical melodrama film starring Dolly Martin, Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom, Phyllis Davis, John LaZar, Michael Blodgett, Er ...

''. She sometimes is credited as Margaret Read, Dolly Read Martin or Dolly Martin.

Biography

Career

Read's first onscreen appearance was in the 1963 film ''

The Kiss of the Vampire ''Kiss of the Vampire'' (also known as ''Kiss of Evil'' on American television) is a 1963 British vampire film directed by Don Sharp and starring Edward de Souza and Jennifer Daniel. It was written by producer Anthony Hinds (as John ...

'', followed by a role in the British TV series ''

Dixon of Dock Green ''Dixon of Dock Green'' is a BBC police procedural television series about daily life at a fictional London police station, with the emphasis on petty crime, successfully controlled through common sense and human understanding. It ran from 1955 ...

'' later that year.IMDb credits for Dolly Read
/ref> She was ''Playboy'' magazine's

Playmate of the Month A Playmate is a female model featured in the centerfold/gatefold of ''Playboy'' magazine as Playmate of the Month (PMOTM). The PMOTM's pictorial includes nude photographs and a centerfold poster, along with a pictorial biography and the "Playm ...

in May 1966. She posed for the magazine again in 1970. She also worked as a

Playboy Bunny A Playboy Bunny is a cocktail waitress who works at a Playboy Club and selected through standardized training. Their costumes were made up of lingerie, inspired by the tuxedo-wearing Playboy rabbit mascot. This costume consisted of a straples ...

at the

Playboy Club The Playboy Club was initially a chain of nightclubs and resorts owned and operated by Playboy Enterprises. The first Playboy Club opened in Chicago in 1960. Each club generally featured a Living Room, a Playmate Bar, a Dining Room, and a Club ...

s in Chicago, London and New York City. After appearing in the low-budget erotic film ''That Tender Touch'' in 1969, she landed the lead role of the sexy but naive rock-and-roll singer Kelly MacNamara in Russ Meyer's comedy ''Beyond the Valley of the Dolls'' the following year. Throughout the 1970s, Read appeared on television with guest-starring roles in shows such as ''

Charlie's Angels ''Charlie's Angels'' is an American crime drama television series created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts for ABC. It originally aired from September 22, 1976, to June 24, 1981, airing for five seasons consisting of 115 episodes. It was produ ...

'', ''

Fantasy Island ''Fantasy Island'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by Gene Levitt. It aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984. The series starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant, Tattoo. ...

'' and ''

Vega$ ''Vegas'' (stylized as ''Vega$'') is an American crime drama television series starring Robert Urich that aired on ABC from September 20, 1978, to June 3, 1981, with the pilot episode airing April 25, 1978. ''Vegas'' was produced by Aaron Spel ...

''. She was a frequent panelist on the game show ''

Match Game ''Match Game'' is an American television panel game show that premiered on NBC in 1962 and has been revived several times over the course of the last six decades. The game features contestants trying to match answers given by celebrity paneli ...

''. In 2006, Read, along with other cast members, provided commentary and was interviewed for the release of a special edition DVD of ''Beyond the Valley of the Dolls''.

Personal life

Read was born in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

, England. She married American comedian Dick Martin in 1971. They divorced in 1974 and were remarried in 1978. Read was a stepmother to his two sons, Richard Martin and actor Cary Martin. Dick Martin died on 24 May 2008."'Laugh-In' comic Dick Martin dead at 86"
,'' Associated Press'' via CNN, 25 May 2008

Filmography

Films

* ''

'' (uncredited, 1963) * ''That Tender Touch'' (1969) * ''

'' (1970)

Television

*''

'' (1 episode, 1963) *''

Tattletales ''Tattletales'' is an American game show produced by Mark Goodson, Goodson-Bill Todman, Todman Productions in association with Fremantle (company), Fremantle. The program had two runs on the CBS daytime schedule between February 1974 and June ...

'' (1977) *''

'' (1 episode, 1978) *''

'' (1975–1981) *''

'' (2 episodes, 1980) *''

The Match Game ''Match Game'' is an American television panel game, panel game show that premiered on NBC in 1962 and has been revived several times over the course of the last six decades. The game features contestants trying to match answers given by celebr ...

'' (1990–1991)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Dolly 1944 births Living people English female models English film actresses English expatriate actresses in the United States English television actresses Models from Bristol 1960s Playboy Playmates 20th-century English actresses Actresses from Bristol