biography

Julie London Born Julie Peck in Santa Clara, California, on September 26, 1926, sultry actress and singer Julie London enjoyed a long career in films and the recording industry. Her parents had a vaudeville act and when the act moved to radio in the 1930s, London began singing on the show. In 1943, while still a teenager, she was discovered by agent and former actress Sue Carol and landed her first film role in Nabonga (1944; with Buster Crabbe). At the same time, London pursued a singing career with the Matty Malnech Orchestra. Several more films followed, but when London married actor/producer/director Jack Webb in 1947, she cooled her career to raise a family. After having two daughters, the couple parted ways in 1954, and London eventually went back to acting and embarked upon a highly successful singing career.

Julie LondonJulie London

LEFT: Beautiful 1940s photo of Julie London. RIGHT: Late 1950s photo

By chance songwriter/actor Bobby Troup heard London sing at a party. Later, he convinced her to build a nightclub act and then set about securing a recording contract. London signed with Liberty in 1955. An early recording session produced the Billboard smash Cry Me A River, which was followed by a string of hits. London went on to record more than 30 albums on the Liberty label, mostly produced by Troup. Her film career was aided by her popularity as a vocalist, and she starred in a number of memorable films in the late 1950s and early 1960s. After a lengthy courtship, London and Troup married on New Year's Eve 1959. By the early 1960s, London retired again from films, concentrating on her singing career and raising a family with Troup.

Julie London
With the success of Julie London's nightclub singing act, Bobby Troup set out to land her a recording contract. However, all the major labels turned London down. She ended up at the newly formed Liberty label, and her signature song, Cry Me a River (Liberty single 55006), was released in 1955 as only the sixth record released by the fledgling label. The song proved to be a huge hit, eventually selling a staggering three million copies. Cry Me a River was also released as a track on her first album, Julie Is Her Name, which kicked off a thirteen-year recording spree at Liberty yielding more than 30 albums. But when Liberty was purchased by Transamerica Corporation (United Artists) in late 1968, London's contract ended and she virtually abandoned her singing career. Her last recording was done in 1980 as an entry on the soundtrack of the action film Sharky's Machine (1981; with Burt Reynolds and Rachel Ward).

the films of julie london

Tap Roots (1948)

Julie London

Promotional still from Tap Roots

The Fat Man (1951)

Julie London and Rock HudsonJulie London and Rock HudsonJulie London

From the Universal-International mystery The Fat Man, directed by William Castle. LEFT and CENTER: With Rock Hudson. RIGHT: London as Pat Boyd

The Great Man (1956)

Jose Ferrer and Julie London

With Jose Ferrer in the drama The Great Man. Ferrer also directed this film, which is one of London's best

Saddle the Wind (1958)

Robert Taylor and Julie London

With Robert Taylor in the MGM western Saddle the Wind

Voice in the Mirror (1958)

Arthur O'Connell and Julie LondonRichard Egan and Julie LondonArthur O'Connell, Richard Egan, and Julie LondonArthur O'Connell and Julie London

From Voice in the Mirror, which features London's best performance. LEFT: With Arthur O'Connell. CENTER A: Richard Egan as the alcoholic Jim Burton whose wife Ellen (Julie London) helps him recover and reform. CENTER B: Tense scene with Aruthur O'Connell and Richard Egan. RIGHT: With Richard Egan

Night of the Quarter Moon (1959)

Julie London and John Drew Barrymoore

With John Drew Barrymoore in the scandalous MGM release Night of the Quarter Moon

The Wonderful Country (1959)

Gary Merrill, Jack Oakie, and Julie London

With Gary Merrill and Jack Oakie in the United Artists western The Wonderful Country

The George Raft Story (1961)

Julie London and Ray Danton

With Ray Danton in The George Raft Story. This was London's final theatrically released film

Emergency! (1972-1979 NBC TV Series)

Robert Fuller and Julie London

With co-star Robert Fuller in the long-running NBC drama Emergency!, produced by Jack Webb's Mark VII Ltd.

later years

After Emergency left the air in 1978, London retired from show business. In 1995, two serious setbacks---a stroke and the death of her daughter, Stacy---left London in poor health. On February 7, 1999, Bobby Troup passed away at age 80. London passed away on October 18, 2000 at age 74. She is survived by two sons, two daughters, and grandchildren.

filmography

FILM
The Helicopter Spies (1968) with Robert Vaughn and David McCallum
The George Raft Story (1961) with Jayne Mansfield, Barbara Nichols, and Ray Danton
The Third Voice (1960) with Edmund O'Brien and Laraine Day
Night of the Quarter Moon (1959) with John Drew Barrymoore, Agnes Moorehead, Nat 'King' Cole, and Ray Anthony
A Question of Adultery (1959) with Anthony Steel
The Wonderful Country (1959) with Robert Mitchum, Gary Merrill, and Jack Oakie
Man of the West (1958) with Gary Cooper, Lee J. Cobb, and Jack Lord
Saddle the Wind (1958) with Robert Taylor and John Cassavetes
Voice in the Mirror (1958) with Richard Egan, Troy Donahue, and Peggy Converse
Drango (1957) with Jeff Chandler, Joanne Dru, and John Lupton
Crime Against Joe (1956) with John Bromfield, Joyce Jameson, and Rhodes Reason
The Great Man (1956) with Jose Ferrer and Dean Jagger
The Girl Can't Help It (1956) with Jayne Mansfield, Tom Ewell, Ray Anthony, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, and Eddie Cochran
The Fighting Chance (1955) with Rod Cameron and Mel Welles
The Fat Man (1951) with Rock Hudson, J. Scott Smart, Jayne Meadows, and John Russell
Return of the Frontiersman (1950) with Gordon MacRae and Rory Calhoun
Task Force (1949) with Gary Cooper and Bruce Bennett
Tap Roots (1948) with Van Heflin, Susan Hayward, Boris Karloff, and Richard Long
The Red House (1947) with Edward G. Robinson and Rory Calhoun
A Night in Paradise (1946) with Merle Oberon and Turhan Bey
Diamond Horseshoe (1945) with Betty Grable, Dick Haymes, and Margaret Dumont
On Stage Everybody (1945) with Peggy Ryan and Jack Oakie
Nabonga (1944) with Buster Crabbe, Fifi D'Orsay, and Ray 'Crash' Corrigan

TELEVISION SERIES
Emergency, 1972-1977 NBC TV series. London portrayed Nurse Dixie McCall
Frances Langford Presents, 1959-1960 TV series

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
The Match Game, 1973-1981 CBS-TV game show. London appeared several times during the 1975-1976 season
Tattletales, 1974-1978 CBS-TV game show. London appeared with husband Bobby Troup numerous times.
Adam-12, episode Lost and Found, originally aired October 4, 1972
The Big Valley, episode They Called Her Delilah, originally aired September 30, 1968
The Man from U.N.C.L.E., episode The Prince of Darkness Affair: Part II, originally aired October 9, 1967
I Spy, episode Three Hours On a Sunday, originally aired December 8, 1965
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, episode Crimson Witness, originally aired January 4, 1965
The Dick Powell Show, episode Charlie's Duet, originally aired March 19, 1963
The Eleventh Hour, episode Like a Diamond in the Sky, originally aired February 13, 1963
Follow the Sun, episode Night Song, originally aired November 26, 1961
Checkmate, episode Goodbye Grief, originally aired April 15, 1961
The Barbara Stanwyck Show, episode Night Visitors, originally aired January 9, 1961
Hong Kong, episode Suitable For Framing, originally aired January 4, 1961
Rawhide, episode Incident at Rojo Canyon, originally aired September 30, 1960
Laramie, episode Queen of Diamonds, originally aired September 20, 1960
Adventures in Paradise, episode Mission to Manila, originally aired November 30, 1959
Zane Grey Theater, episode A Time to Live, originally aired April 5, 1957
Additionally, London made many appearances on variety series and game shows in the 1960s and 1970s.

julie london trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for Julie London's 1958 western Man of the West

julie london television appearances

Watch Julie London in a 1963 episode of Stump the Stars

julie london film now showing

Watch Julie London's 1951 crime drama The Fat Man
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This page premiered October 18, 2001.
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