Juliet Prowse

Born: 1936-09-25

Juliet Anne Prowse was a dancer, whose four-decade career included stage, television and film. She was raised in South Africa, where her family emigrated after World War II. Known for her attractive legs, she was described after her death as having "... arguably the best legs since Betty Grable." 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 role of Claudine in the 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 Prowse performed a rather saucy can-can for the Russian leader, he proclaimed her dance immoral. The publicity brought Prowse considerable attention in the United States. Prowse met Frank Sinatra on the set of Can-Can. 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 go on to appear with Sinatra 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 sing to her. Sinatra invited Prowse to join him in Las Vegas, even though she was living with the actor Nico Minardos at the time. Sinatra and Prowse announced their engagement in 1962. Soon afterwards they broke up, reportedly because Prowse wanted to concentrate on her career. 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 co-starred alongside Elvis Presley in G.I. Blues. During shooting of the film, they had a short and 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." Prowse also made a brief cameo appearance in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer documentary film, Elvis: That's the Way. She starred with Denny Scott Miller on her own NBC sitcom in the 1965-1966 season: Mona McCluskey, which was produced by George Burns. The series was based on the idea that the couple, Mike and Mona McCluskey, would live on his military salary, rather than her lucrative earnings as an actress. In the late 1980s, she was mauled by an 80-pound leopard – twice. Once, while filming a scene for Circus of the Stars in 1987 and later that same year rehearsing a promotional stunt on The Tonight Show, when the same leopard attacked her. The later attack was more serious, requiring upwards of twenty stitches to reattach her ear.


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G.I. Blues

as Lili
Released: 1960-11-23

Stationed in West Germany, soldier Tulsa McLean hopes to open up a nightclub when he gets out of...

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That's Dancing!

as From 'Can-Can' (archive footage)
Released: 1985-01-18

A documentary film about dancing on the screen, from it's orgins after the invention of the...

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The Second Time Around

as Rena Mitchell
Released: 1961-12-22

In 1911, a widow with two children leaves New York City for territorial Arizona and becomes a...

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Who Killed Teddy Bear?

as Norah Dain
Released: 1965-09-01

A grim police detective embarks on a one-man crusade to track down a depraved sex maniac when a...

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Can-Can

as Claudine
Released: 1960-03-09

Parisian nightclub owner Simone Pistache is known for her performances of the can-can, which...

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Night of 100 Stars II

as Self
Released: 1985-03-10

This special is the second "Night of 100 Stars" to benefit The Actors Fund of America. Edited...

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Tom Jones | Duets by Invitation Only

as Self
Released: 2001-01-01

On this unique DVD Tom Jones sings duets with some of the greatest stars of the music world,...

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Run for Your Wife

as Jenny
Released: 1965-04-29

Riccardo, an unhappily married middle aged Italian working for a shoe factory, goes to America...

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Elvis: #1 Hit Performances

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2007-11-12

Elvis fans, thank your lucky stars. This jam-packed collection of pulse-raising performances...

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Second Chance

as Martha Foster
Released: 1972-02-08

A rich stockbroker buys a Nevada ghost town as a community for people who need a second chance...

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Ladies Night - Most Famous Hits

as uncredited
Released: 2003-01-01

Video collection of songs by female performers.

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Spree

as Self
Released: 1967-06-21

This documentary on the nightlife of Las Vegas was filmed primarily at the Topicana and Dunes...

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Elvis: The King of Rock 'n' Roll

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2007-11-12

Elvis fans, thank your lucky stars. This jam-packed collection of pulse-raising performances...

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Musical Comedy Tonight II

as Self
Released: 1981-02-11

A tribute to American musical theater, featuring scenes from "Show Boat", "South Pacific,"...

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The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: An Afternoon with Frank Sinatra

as Self - Dancer / Singer
Released: 1959-12-13

At the beginning of the program, Peter Lawford explains that Frank Sinatra's plans to film his...

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Dingaka

as Marion Davis
Released: 1964-10-28

An African tribesman seeks revenge against the people who murdered his daughter.

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The Right Approach

as Ursula Poe
Released: 1961-05-17

An opportunistic young Hollywood singer, loyal only to himself, steps on everyone he meets in...

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The Frank Sinatra Timex Show - To the Ladies

as Self - Singer / Dancer
Released: 1960-02-15

Surrounded by a mix of talented ladies, host Frank Sinatra does his thing.

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The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as Self
First aired: 1962-10-01

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight...

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The Mike Douglas Show

as Self
First aired: 1961-12-11

The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that...

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The Love Boat

as Samantha Bricker
First aired: 1977-09-24

Passengers who search for romantic nights aboard a beautiful ship travelling to tropical or...

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Murder, She Wrote

as Valerie Bechet
First aired: 1984-09-30

An unassuming mystery writer turned sleuth uses her professional insight to help solve real-life...

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Burke's Law

as Angel Crown
First aired: 1963-09-20

Burke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on...

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Burke's Law

as Renee De Armand
First aired: 1963-09-20

Burke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on...

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The Name of the Game

as Aja Fowler
First aired: 1968-09-20

The Name of the Game is an American television series starring Tony Franciosa, Gene Barry, and...

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The Carol Burnett Show

as Self - Guest
First aired: 1967-09-11

The Carol Burnett Show is an American variety/sketch comedy television show starring Carol...

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The Carol Burnett Show

as Guest Performer
First aired: 1967-09-11

The Carol Burnett Show is an American variety/sketch comedy television show starring Carol...

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Adventures in Paradise

as Simone Hall
First aired: 1959-10-05

Adventures in Paradise is an American television series created by James Michener which ran on...

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The Steve Allen Show

as Self - Dancer
First aired: 1956-06-24

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The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self
First aired: 1948-06-20

The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...

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The Muppet Show

as Self - Special Guest Star
First aired: 1976-09-05

Go behind the curtains as Kermit the Frog and his muppet friends struggle to put on a weekly...

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Dinah!

as Self
First aired: 1974-10-21

Dinah's show premiered 9 September 1974 and continued through to 4 September 1981. She started...

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The Danny Kaye Show

as Self
First aired: 1963-09-25

The Danny Kaye Show is an American variety show hosted by Danny Kaye that aired on CBS from 1963...

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The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

as Self
First aired: 1973-09-14

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts is a NBC television special show hosted by entertainer Dean...

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The Hollywood Palace

as Self - Dancer
First aired: 1964-01-04

The Hollywood Palace is an hour-long American television variety show that was broadcast weekly...

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Password

as uncredited
First aired: 1961-10-02

Password is an American television game show which was created by Bob Stewart for Goodson-Todman...

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The Big Show

as Self
First aired: 1980-03-04

The Big Show is an American comedy-variety-musical television series produced and broadcast by...

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Glitter

as uncredited
First aired: 1984-09-13

Glitter is an American television drama series broadcast by the ABC network during the 1984-1985...

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The Danny Thomas Hour

as Aphrodite
First aired: 1967-09-11

The Danny Thomas Hour is an American anthology television series that was broadcast on NBC...

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