Joey Heatherton Biography: Age, Movies, Is She Still Alive?

Joey Heatherton Biography: Age, Movies, What Is She Up To Now?

Table of Contents

Profile Summary

Name: Joey Heatherton
Year of Birth: 1944
Occupation: Actress, Singer
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: White

Joey Heatherton was famously referred to as the sex symbol of the 1960s and 1970s.

She is an American actress, dancer, and singer who rose to fame for her physical appearance and roles as a variety show performer.

How old is Joey Heatherton today? Joey Heatherton Age

Davenie Johanna Heatherton, known as Joey Heatherton, was born on September 14, 1944, in Rockville Centre, New York, U.S.

She got the nickname “Joey” while growing up. She is the daughter of Broadway star and television pioneer Ray Heatherton and dancer, Davenie.

The couple met while performing in “Babes in Arms.” Joey’s father was quite famous as the star of the popular children’s television show, “The Merry Mailman.

At the age of six, the young actress began studying ballet at Dixon McAfee School of Dance.

She also attended Saint Agnes Academy, a Catholic high school.

After graduation, Joey went on to study George Balanchine for four years before studying modern jazz dance and dramatics.

Career

Joey first started as a child actress, making appearances in her father’s television show “The Merry Mailman,” popular children’s show in New York.

At the age of 15, she became a member of the original Broadway production of “The Sound of Music” as an understudy in 1959.

It was later followed by a semi-regular appearance on “The Perry Como Show, ” later named Perry Como’s Kraft Music Hall.

That same year, Joey debuted her single ” That’s How It Goes” with the release of her other singles.

But, unfortunately, none of them were a hit.

In 1960, she co-starred in “There Was A Little Girl” alongside Jane Fonda.

That same year she made her television debut role with the drama “Route 66”, where she played the role of a wealthy spoilt teenager.

Due to her perfectly she delivered her role, Joey was cast for more roles as a troubled teenager.

In the mid-1960s, Joey began getting attention as a sensual dancer on television.

However, this development was not positively received as critics referred to it as “sleazy eroticism.”

In 1963, she had her film debut in “Twilight of Honor,” later followed by a role in “Where Love Has Gone” as Susan Hayward in 1964.

Read also: Victoria Pedretti Bio: Age, Height, Ethnicity, Husband, Net worth

Then, in 1965, Joey was cast in “My Blood Runs Cold,” her first leading role in a film.

In 1965, she made a guest appearance in several episodes of “Hullabaloo,” a teen dance show.

Her appearances in the show did her career much good as the actress and dancer received significant publicity.

Following her participation in the show, she released ” Hullabaloo,” a song which she had earlier performed on the show, under Coral Records.

Joey later made appearances in “The Dean Martin Show,” following an invitation from Dean Martin.

In 1968, from June to September, she co-hosted the musical comedy hour “Dean Martin Presents the Golddiggers” alongside Frank Sinatra.

Between 1965 to 1977, she performed live with Bob Hope’s, touring the USO troupe.

She also had appearances in various shows, including the television series:- It Takes a Thief, Mr. Novak, The Nurses, The Virginian.

By the 1970s, Joey’s acting career was slowing down as she got fewer film and television roles.

However, due to her popularity, she got television ad roles for RC Cola and Serta mattresses.

In 1972, she appeared alongside Richard Burton in the thriller ” Bluebeard.”

That same year, the talented actress released her debut studio album, “The Joey Heatherton Album.”

Read also: Janie Liszewski Bio: Facts About Eddie Van Halen’s Widow

The first single, a cover of Ferlin Husky’s ” Gone,” was a hit, spending 15 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100, charting at No.24, and at 38 in Australia.

The second single, “I’m sorry,” was equally a commercial success peaking at No.87. In 1997, Joey posed nude in one of the famous magazines “Playboy.”

Her appearance in the magazine caused quite a controversy.

In 2004, the actress and dancer re-released her album, “The Joey Heatherton Album,” this time with a topless picture of her, taken while filming “Bluebeard” as the album cover.

Who did Joey Heatherto marry?

Joey Heatherton got married to Dallas Cowboy’s wide receiver, Lance Rentzel, in 1969.

One year into the marriage, Lance was arrested for exposing himself to a ten years old girl.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and underwent psychiatric treatment. The following year 1971, Joey filed for a divorce, which was finalized in 1972.

Controversies

In July 1985, Joey was charged and arrested with theft for refusing to pay a service bill of $4,906 after staying in a hotel and spa in Long Island in 1984.

That same year she was also arrested for interfering with government agents’ duties and disturbing the public’s peace.

The actress had allegedly slapped and pull the hair of a U.S. Passport Agent in Manhattan.

She, however, was acquitted of both charges in September of the following year.

After being acquitted of the previous charges, Joey was again re-arrested on August 30, 1986, to stab her ex-boyfriend and former manager Jerry Fisher in hand with a steak knife while arguing.

Her ex-boyfriend, Jerry, later on, dropped the charges against the actress.