Shelby Grant
| Shelby Grant | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Brenda Thompson October 19, 1936 Orlando, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died |
June 25, 2011 (aged 74) Westlake Village, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Brain aneurysm |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Wagoner High School |
| Alma mater | Northeastern State College |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1963–74 |
| Spouse(s) | Chad Everett (1966–2011; her death) |
| Children | 2 |
Shelby Grant (October 19, 1936 – June 25, 2011), born Brenda Thompson, was an American actress whose credits included Our Man Flint, Fantastic Voyage and Medical Center.[1][2][3]
Early life
Thompson was born on October 19, 1936,[2] in Orlando, Oklahoma to parents, Lawrence and Mae Thompson.[1][2][3] She was raised in Wagoner, Oklahoma, and completed high school at Wagoner High School.[1]
Thompson enrolled at Northeastern State College, now known as Northeastern State University, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where she studied drama and speech.[1] She became Northeastern State's football queen in 1959.[1] She also won the title of Northeastern Oklahoma Dairy Princess in 1959 as well.[1]
Career
Grant appeared in local television commercials for KTUL-TV, based in Tulsa, after college.[1] In 1962, she moved from Oklahoma to southern California to pursue an acting career.[1] She initially worked as a teacher of special education and deaf students at Hollywood High School while trying to enter the entertainment industry.[1]
Thompson was discovered by a 20th Century Fox talent scout.[3] She changed her professional name to Shelby Grant.[3] She "drew Shelby Grant out of a hat", according to an interview she gave to columnist, Hedda Hopper.[3]
She debuted in television in a 1963 episode of Bonanza.[1] She soon became a contracted actor with 20th Century Fox.[1] Her film roles under contract with Fox included The Pleasure Seekers in 1964, the 1966 science fiction film Fantastic Voyage, Our Man Flint in 1966 and The Witchmaker in 1969.[1] Her television credits grew to include Batman (episodes 7 and 8) and Marcus Welby, M.D..[1]
Grant married her husband, actor Chad Everett, in a ceremony held on May 22, 1966, in Tucson, Arizona.[1][2] Chad Everett had been on location in Tucson filming the 1967 movie, Return of the Gunfighter, at the time of their wedding.[2] They had two daughters, Kate and Shannon.[1] Grant appeared in her husband's television series, Medical Center, where he portrayed Dr. Joe Gannon from 1969 to 1976.[1] Grant largely left acting to focus on philanthropy during her later life. She and her husband sponsored more than twenty heart surgeries for children.[1]
Death
Shelby Grant died of a brain aneurysm in Westlake Village, California, on June 25, 2011, at the age of 74.[1] She was survived by her husband of 45 years, actor Chad Everett; their two daughters, Katherine Thorp and Shannon Everett; and six grandchildren.[1][2] Chad died from lung cancer on July 24, 2012, at the age of 75, a little over a year after Shelby's death.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Stanley, Tim (2011-07-02). "Actress from Wagoner led life of fame, philanthropy". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Shelby Grant Everett (1936–2011) obituary". Ventura County Star. 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Lisanti, Tom (2002). "Film fatales: women in espionage films and television, 1962-1973 Shelby Grant (pgs. 135-7)". Film fatales: women in espionage films and television, 1962-1973. Google Books. Retrieved 2011-07-07.