Juliet Prowse

Juliet Anne Prowse (25 September 1936 – 14 September 1996) was a British-American dancer and actress whose four-decade career included stage, television, and film. She was born in Bombay (today's Mumbai) then part of British India, and raised in South Africa. Known for her attractive legs, she was described after her death as having "arguably the best legs since Betty Grable".

Early life

Prowse was born in Bombay, to an English father and a South African mother, Phyllis Donne. After her father's death when she was three years old, her mother returned with her to South Africa. She began studying dance a year later, at the age of four.

Film and television

Prowse met Frank Sinatra on the set of Can-Can when she was 23 and he was 43 years old. Time magazine did not rate the movie highly, but declared Prowse the best thing in it: "In fact, the only thing really worth seeing is Juliet Prowse, a young South African hoofer who puts some twinkle in the stub-toed choreography. And the only thing really worth hearing is the crack that Frank flips back at Juliet when she whips a redoubtable hip in his direction. 'Don't point,' he gasps. 'It's rude. She would also go on to appear with Sinatra and other notable guests such as Ella Fitzgerald, Peter Lawford, Hermione Gingold, the Hi-Lo's, Red Norvo, and Nelson Riddle and his orchestra on the December 1959 Frank Sinatra Show. She at times would sing in the chorus with other guests or Sinatra would sing to her.

Prowse's next major musical and dancing role was alongside Elvis Presley in his film shot partially in West Germany about his recent Army draftee experiences that drew world youth attention for two years in G.I. Blues (1960). During shooting of the film, they had a short and intense romantic fling mirroring the movie plot. "Elvis and I had an affair... We had a sexual attraction like two healthy young people, but he was already a victim of his fans. We always met in his room and never went out," she later described in an interview. Prowse would later go on to headline successful Las Vegas shows, commanding a very high salary. Stating that Las Vegas was the most demanding place she ever worked, she won Entertainer of the Year for the Vegas run of Sweet Charity. She would later show off her famous dancer's legs in a series of lucrative nationwide TV commercials for several advertisers, including L'eggs hosiery and Mannington Flooring.

Prowse was a guest in the first season of The Muppet Show.

In 1987, she was mauled by the same 80-pound leopard on two occasions: the first time while filming a scene for Circus of the Stars, then later while rehearsing a promotional stunt on The Tonight Show. The latter attack was more serious, requiring upwards of twenty stitches to reattach her ear.

Throughout the mid-1980s and 1990s, Prowse hosted the Championship Ballroom Dance Competition on PBS.

Personal life Prowse was living with actor Nico Minardos when Frank Sinatra invited her to join him in Las Vegas. She and Sinatra announced their engagement in 1962, which lasted only six weeks before the relationship ended. Prowse wanted to focus on her career and, shortly before calling off the wedding, she told celebrity columnist Hedda Hopper, "Frank wants me to give up the business," and stated that was a problem for her. Prowse later admitted, "I was as much flattered as I was in love. He (Sinatra) was a complex person, and after a few drinks he could be very difficult."

Prowse married Eddie Frazier, a dancer and choreographer, in 1969. The couple separated after eight months, and then divorced.

Death In 1994, Prowse was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In 1995, she went into remission and was well enough to tour with Mickey Rooney in Sugar Babies, but the cancer subsequently returned. Prowse died on 14 September 1996, 11 days before her 60th birthday.

Filmography Film Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955) as Specialty Dancer (uncredited) Can-Can (1960) as Claudine G.I. Blues (1960) as Lili The Fiercest Heart (1961) as Francina (A.K.A. ' No Right to Love ') The Right Approach (1961) as Ursula Poe The Second Time Around (1961) as Rena Mitchell Run for Your Wife (1965) as Jenny Dingaka (1965) as Marion Davis Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965) as Norah Dain Spree (1967) as herself (documentary)

Television

The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Here's to the Ladies The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (14 March 1960) Adventures in Paradise as Simone (season 2, episode 6 "A Whale of a Tale") The Perry Como Show (12 November 1960) Remember How Great? (9 February 1961) The Bob Hope Buick Show (13 May 1961) The Kraft Music Hall (10 January 1962) Hollywood Melody (19 March 1962) Highways of Melody (22 April 1962) The Red Skelton Show as Daisy June (season 12, episode 2 in 1962) The Bob Hope Show (24 October 1962) Story of a Songwriter (1963) Burke's Law as Angel Crown /(2 episodes, 1963–1964) The Dean Martin Show (3 February 1966, and 14 September 1967) Mona McCluskey as Mona Carroll McCluskey (1965–1966) The Danny Thomas Hour as Aphrodite (1 episode, 1967) The Name of the Game as Aja Fowler (1 episode, 1968) The Carol Burnett Show in London (1970) (TV) as guest performer Second Chance (1972) as Martha Foster Tattletales as herself The Muppet Show as herself (1 episode, 1976) Match Game 77 as herself (5 episodes, 1977) Musical Comedy Tonight II (1981) (TV) The Love Boat as Samantha Bricker (3 episodes, 1979–1984), as Faye Marsh (episode 65 and 66, 1984) Fantasy Island (1 episode, 1983) Glitter (1984) (TV) Murder, She Wrote as Valerie Bechet (1 episode, 1987)

Theatre Kismet (1955) Eddie Fisher at the Winter Garden (1962) Irma La Douce 1963, 1966 (Houston Music Theater), 1968 The Boy Friend as Polly (1966) Sweet Charity as Charity Hope (1967; 1971) Mame as Mame Dennis (1969; 1990; 1994) Damn Yankees as Lola (1972) The Pajama Game as Babe (1973) I Do! I Do! as Agnes (1976, London) The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas as Ms Mona (1982) Funny Girl as Fanny Brice (1984) Company as Joanne (late 1980s) A Little Night Music as Desiree (late 1980s) Follies as Phyllis (1987; 1988; 1990)Juliet Prowse BORN TO DANCE by Juliet E Prowse<> Chicago as Roxie Hart (1992) <>Juliet Prowse BORN TO DANCE by Juliet E Prowse Sugar Babies (1993-1995), second national tour (1984–85)