Tribute to Juliet Prowse & Elvis Presley

Juliet Anne Prowse (September 25, 1936 September 14, 1996) was a South African dancer, whose four decade career included stage, television and film, but dancing remained her true love. She was known for her striking beauty, sultry smile and famous long legs.

Early life -- Juliet Prowse was born in Bombay, India and raised in South Africa. She began studying dance at the age of four. In her early twenties she was dancing at a club in Paris when she was spotted by a talent agent and eventually signed to play the part of "Claudine" in the 1960 Walter Lang film, Can-Can.

It was during the filming of "Can-Can" in 1959 that she captured the international spotlight. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visited the set of the film and after Juliet performed a rather saucy can-can for the Russian leader, he proclaimed her dance "immoral." Little did Khrushchev know that he was a great press agent, because the publicity brought Prowse considerable attention in the United States. From there, her career took off.[1]

Film and television career -- She met Frank Sinatra on the set of Can-Can. Time magazine did not care for the movie but said the beautiful young dancer was 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."[2] She would go on to appear with him and other notable guests such as Ella Fitzgerald, Peter Lawford, Hermione Gingold, The Hi-Lo's, Red Norvo, Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra on the 1959, Frank Sinatra Show. She at times would sing in the chorus with other guests or Sinatra would adoringly sing to her.[3]

Sinatra and Prowse announced their engagement in 1962. Soon afterwards, they called it quits. They broke up, according to publicity handouts, because Prowse wanted to concentrate on her career. Actually, she 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."[4]

Juliet went on to co-star alongside Elvis Presley in G.I. Blues (release date: 23 November 1960, USA). During shooting of the film they had a short but intense fling. "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."[4]

She starred in her own NBC sitcom for one season: 1965's Mona McCluskey, which was produced by George Burns. She also did other feature films, including The Fiercest Heart (1961) and Who Killed Teddy Bear? with Sal Mineo (1965).

Battle with cancer and 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. The cancer subsequently returned and she succumbed to the disease on September 14, 1996, two weeks before her sixtieth birthday.

She was survived by her son and her mother. Her ex-husband, TV actor John McCook, who is the father of her only child (Seth McCook), reconciled with her shortly before her passing after many years of acrimony.[6]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juliet_Prowse

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• tribute
• juliet
• anne
• prowse
• born
• bombay
• india
• south
• africa
• elvis
• presley
• g.i._blues
• arch
• johnson
• scotty
• moore
• dj
• fontana
• jordanaires
• norman
• taurog
• 1960
• john
• mccook
• seth
• bold_and_the_beautiful

[JimColyer]

Prowse had great legs. But her small head looked like a pea.

[manfreadstraw]

@JimColyer Ooooh, nasty... :(

[moproducer]

For a long-legger who boffed Elvis, Frank Sinatra and gawd knows who else, she sure didn't make much of a mark on history.

[manfreadstraw]

@moproducer Frank had aims to marry her i think, but she spurned him. Why Elvis didn't marry her i'll never understand... she was a great looking woman for mine, terrific dancer.

[moproducer]

@manfreadstraw I'd bet that if Sinatra married everyone he proposed to, his alimony checks would have required a papermill. But Juliet did seem to have a reputation herself. The answer to the Elvis question is simple: He never wanted marriage. It was only after Col. Parker arranged the wedding and called in the press that Elvis married Priscilla.

[manfreadstraw]

@moproducer Apparently he took to Priscilla because she looked or reminded him of Deborah Paget, and yes apparently the Colonel controlled everything, even his stint in the army. Juliet i don't know that much about, but she did South Africa proud. Have you seen The Dark Star documentary on Sinatra ? He certainly did have mafia contacts, they even threatened to kill him at one stage.

[moproducer]

@manfreadstraw I don't know about what attracted Elvis to his wife, I guess anything's possible. As far as Sinatra, I think he was probably connected everywhere; certainly around here, where some of the mob oldtimers are willing to talk a little about it.

[manfreadstraw]

@pgh45rpms I imagine she would've been a very professional lady, and a really sweet one too !! Pity in a sense she didn't marry Elvis, because they would've made a very good couple, though it seems he coudln't help himself with so many ladies throwing themselves at him... what terrible rotten luck ! lol She would've been great as Irma I'm sure... in '68 I was only young and used to dream of catching these people in concert... saw Peter Ustinov in Sydney once... lol !! He was excellent.

[pgh45rpms]

I had the opportunity to see Juliet Prowse perform in the 1968 summer stock production of "Irma la Douce" in Warren, Ohio. Quite a professional lady!

[manfreadstraw]

@TheAllcroft thank you.