Jill Ireland

Jill Dorothy Ireland (24 April 1936 – 18 May 1990) was an English actress.

Early life Ireland was born in Hounslow, West London, England. She was the daughter of a wine importer. She was educated at Chatsworth Junior School in Hounslow. She lived at 'Chertsey' on Maswell Park Road in Hounslow.

Career Ireland began acting in the mid-1950s with small roles in films such as Simon and Laura (1955) and Three Men in a Boat (1956). She appeared with first husband David McCallum in Robbery Under Arms and five episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.: "The Quadripartite Affair" (season 1, episode 3, 1964), "The Giuoco Piano Affair" (season 1, episode 7, 1964), "The Tigers Are Coming Affair" (season 2, episode 8, 1965), and a two-parter "The Five Daughters Affair" (season 3, episodes 28 and 29, 1967).

She appeared in 16 films with second husband Charles Bronson between 1970 and 1987 and was involved in two of Bronson's other films as a producer. The last of these films, Assassination (1987), was her biggest role in terms of screen time, with Ireland playing the First Lady of the United States and Bronson a Secret Service agent assigned to protect her. During her marriage to Bronson, Ireland appeared in only one TV episode, one made-for-TV movie, and one theatrical film that did not star her husband.

Personal life In 1957, Ireland married Scottish actor David McCallum, whom she met while working on Robbery Under Arms and Hell Drivers. They had two sons including Valentine "Val" McCallum, and adopted a third son. McCallum and Ireland separated in 1965 and divorced in 1967. Their adopted son died of a drug overdose at the age of 27.

Villa Rides marked the first of many appearances by Ireland in films with her future husband Charles Bronson. In 1968, Ireland married Bronson.

Death and legacy Ireland was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984.

In 1990, Ireland died of breast cancer at her home in Malibu, California. when he died in 2003.

For her contribution to the film industry, Jill Ireland has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6751 Hollywood Boulevard.

In 1991, Ireland was portrayed by Jill Clayburgh in the made-for-television film Reason for Living: The Jill Ireland Story. The film, which was based on Ireland's memoir Lifelines and listed her posthumously as an executive producer, received mixed reviews from critics. To prepare for the role, Clayburgh, who had never met Ireland, read Lifelines and listened to Ireland's recorded interviews.

Filmography

Books Life Wish: a Personal Story of Survival (1987) , Lifeline: My Fight to Save My Family (1989) ,