Lola Albright Biography

Lola Jean Albright (born July 20, 1925, Akron, Ohio) is an American singer and actress.

Albright worked as a model before moving to Hollywood. She began her motion picture career with a bit part in the 1947 film The Unfinished Dance, and followed it (after several unbilled parts) with an important role in the acclaimed 1949 hit Champion. For the next several years, she appeared in secondary roles in over twenty films, including several 'B' Westerns. Albright also acted in guest roles in several television series, including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The People's Choice, My Three Sons, The Beverly Hillbillies, Bonanza, Medical Center, McMillan & Wife, Columbo. The Incredible Hulk, The Dick Van Dyke Show – in which she played the petulant and manipulative actress, "Paula Marshall" – Quincy, M.E. and the murderous bail bonds woman, Lola Turkel, in the first season (Episode 22) of Starsky and Hutch entitled "The Bounty Hunter."

In 1958, she won the role of Edie Hart on Peter Gunn, a television detective series produced by Blake Edwards and with the theme music that made Henry Mancini famous. Albright played a nightclub singer who was the romantic interest of Peter Gunn, played by Craig Stevens. In 1959 she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series. Her role required singing and led to the 1957 release of her music album Lola Wants You, as well as her album 1959 Dreamsville, in which her songs were accompanied by Henry Mancini and his orchestra.

Albright's popularity led to several major film roles, including Elvis Presley's 1962 film, Kid Galahad; the 1964 French film Les Felins by director René Clément; and the epic western The Way West.

In 1964, she appeared as Duff Daniels in the episode "Sticks and Stones Can Break My Bones" with her former Peter Gunn co-star Craig Stevens in his short-lived CBS drama Mr. Broadway.

In 1966, she won the Silver Bear for Best Actress award at the 16th Berlin International Film Festival for her role in Lord Love a Duck.

Albright temporarily replaced Dorothy Malone as Constance Mackenzie on the hit primetime soap opera Peyton Place, when Malone had to undergo emergency surgery. Albright continued to perform both in films and as a television guest actor until her retirement in the mid 1980s.

Family life

Albright married three times. The name of her first husband is unknown. Her second husband was actor Jack Carson from 1951 to 1958. That marriage ended in divorce. Her third and final marriage was to Bill Chadney, a co-star on Peter Gunn. The ceremony took place on May 20, 1961 at the Tropicana Las Vegas. That marriage ended in divorce in 1975. She has no children.

Filmography

Features:

• The Unfinished Dance (1947)
• The Pirate (1948)
• Easter Parade (1948)
• Julia Misbehaves (1948)
• Champion (1949)
• Tulsa (1949)
• The Girl from Jones Beach (1949)
• Bodyhold (1949)
• The Good Humor Man (1950)
• Beauty on Parade (1950)
• When You're Smiling (1950)
• He's a Cockeyed Wonder (1950)
• The Killer That Stalked New York (1950)
• Sierra Passage (1950)
• Arctic Flight (1952)
• The Silver Whip (1953)
• Treasure of Ruby Hills (1955)

• The Magnificent Matador (1955)
• The Tender Trap (1955)
• Pawnee (1957)
• Oregon Passage (1957)
• The Monolith Monsters (1957)
• Seven Guns to Mesa (1958)
• A Cold Wind in August (1961)
• Joy House (1964)
• Lord Love a Duck (1966)
• The Way West (1967)
• The Money Jungle (1967)
• Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? (1968)
• The Impossible Years (1968)

Short Subjects:

• The Soundman (1950)
• Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Cowboy Stars (1955)
• Filmmaking on the Riviera (1964)