Elaine Elizabeth Shepard (April 2, 1913 – September 6, 1998) was a Broadway and film actress in the 1930s and 1940s. She was also the author of ''The Doom Pussy'', a semi-fictional account of aviation in the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

Film and stage

Shepard worked as a model on the West Coast before she became active in films. Her first film appearance was in the 1936

Republic A republic, based on the Latin phrase ''res publica'' ('public affair' or 'people's affair'), is a State (polity), state in which Power (social and political), political power rests with the public (people), typically through their Representat ...

serial '' Darkest Africa'', in which she played Valerie Tremaine, the heroine of the film. This was followed with a series of leading roles in other minor films, such as '' You Can't Fool Your Wife'', a 1940 comedy starring

Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedian, producer, and studio executive. She was recognized by ''Time (magazine), Time'' in 2020 as one of the most influential women of the 20th century for h ...

. She then had several minor roles in major films, including playing a secretary in '' Topper'' and uncredited roles in '' Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo'' and the 1946 ''

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' were a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934, 1936, 1943, and 1957. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as '' The Ziegfeld Foll ...

''. A more prominent role came in ''

Seven Days Ashore ''Seven Days Ashore'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by John H. Auer and written by Edward Verdier, Irving Phillips and Lawrence Kimble. The film stars Wally Brown, Alan Carney, Marcy McGuire, Virginia Mayo, Elaine Shepard, Gordon Oliver ...

'', a musical in which she plays the principal love interest for the band of sailors on shore leave. Shepard's Broadway credits included performing in the ensemble in ''Nina Rosa'' (1931) and portraying Mildred Hunter in '' Panama Hattie'' (1940) and a maid in ''The Land Is Bright'' (1942).

Freelance journalism

Shepard abandoned acting and turned to freelance journalism, reporting from international trouble spots including the Congo and Northern Ireland. She interviewed international leaders, and in 1959 she was the only female reporter accredited to travel with President Dwight Eisenhower when he toured the Middle East. She is best known in this role for her

coverage, which became the basis for her 1967 book ''The Doom Pussy'', recounting her experiences with aviators in the early part of the war. This book includes use of the phrase " the whole nine yards", an old American colloquialism.

Personal life

Shepard was married to George Hartmann.

Films

* '' Darkest Africa'' (1936) - Valerie Tremaine * '' I Cover Chinatown'' (1936) - Gloria Watkins * '' Law of the Ranger'' (1937) - Evelyn Polk * '' The Fighting Texan'' (1937) - Judy Walton * '' Topper'' (1937) - Secretary * '' Night 'n' Gales'' (1937) (an

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, who also pr ...

short) - Mrs. Hood, Darla's mother * '' Professor Beware'' (1938) - Anebi (uncredited) * '' There Goes My Heart'' (1938) - Customer (uncredited) * '' You Can't Fool Your Wife'' (1940) - Peggy * '' The Falcon in Danger'' (1943) - Nancy Palmer * ''

'' (1944) - Annabelle Rogers * '' Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo'' (1944) - Girl in Officers' Club (uncredited) * ''

'' (1945) - Ziegfeld Girl (uncredited) * '' Fiamme sulla laguna'' (Italian, 1951) - Patricia (Last appearance)

Books

*''Forgive Us Our Press Passes'' (Prentice-Hall, 1962) *''The Doom Pussy'' (Trident Press, 1967) *''The Doom Pussy II'' (Rockoon Press, 1992)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Shepard, Elaine American film actresses American stage actresses American people of the Vietnam War 1913 births 1998 deaths 20th-century American actresses American women in the Vietnam War American women war correspondents American war correspondents 20th-century American women writers 20th-century American writers People from Olney, Illinois