Anne Neyland

Anne Neyland (August 23, 1934 – April 24, 2019) was an American actress who is best known for her role as Laury Jackson in Jailhouse Rock opposite Elvis Presley. After her film career, she became president of the Hollywood Models League.

Early life Anne Neyland was born August 23, 1934, in Gulfport, Mississippi, and raised in Dallas, Texas. She attended local schools and began modeling as a teenager, eventually entering and winning a number of Texas beauty contests, including the Miss Texas title. She was the cousin of Robert Neyland, athletic director of the University of Tennessee. At sixteen she began work as a fashion model in Dallas and later in New York City before moving to Hollywood to pursue acting.

Career

Neyland made her film debut in an uncredited role in Singin’ in the Rain (1952). In 1956 Neyland, who was recently crowned Miss Dallas, was cast by director André De Toth after a screen test for his 1957 European-set crime drama film Hidden Fear, filmed in Copenhagen and starring John Payne.

Neyland played Laury Jackson in Jailhouse Rock (1957). A July 1957 Charlotte News interview featured her discussing meeting Elvis Presley and filming the movie, calling him “a nice boy but I feel sorry for him.” She was labeled as her one of MGM’s new “Southern discoveries.”

Neyland starred opposite Steve Terrell in Motorcycle Gang (1957). She continued acting through 1960, appearing uncredited in the film Ocean’s 11.

Her other film credits include small or and television guest roles throughout 1958–1960 on series such as The Bob Cummings Show, Sea Hunt, Peter Gunn, Highway Patrol, Yancy Derringer, The Texan, Lock Up, and Men into Space.

Personal life Neyland had an estranged marriage with salesman John Criswell, who was arrested in 1960 after he allegedly tried to kill her with a knife. She later married Eugene Fowler from 1962 and 1964. Neyland married for a third time to Charles Rosher Jr., son of cinematographer Charles Rosher, from 1965 to 1970. She died in 2019 at the age of 84 in Camarillo, California.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1952 Singin’ in the Rain Chorus Girl Uncredited 1957 Hidden Fear Virginia Kelly 1957 Jailhouse Rock Laury Jackson 1957 Motorcycle Gang Theresa “Terry” Lindsay 1960 Ocean’s 11 Dolores Uncredited

Television Year Title Role Notes 1955 Luke and the Tenderfoot Blonde Woman 1 episode 1957 The Thin Man Gerry 1 episode 1958–1959 The Bob Cummings Show Gwendolyn 2 episodes 1959 Sea Hunt Kathy Gilliam 1 episode 1959 Man with a Camera Ellen 1 episode 1959 Lock Up 1 episode 1959 Peter Gunn Jean Clayton 1 episode 1959 Highway Patrol Gloria Tulley 1 episode 1959 Yancy Derringer Wilma 1 episode 1959 The Texan Ruth Avery 1 episode 1960 Men into Space Anne Benson 1 episode