LISA GAYE

(6 March 1935 - 14 July 2016)

The American actress, singer and dancer was the daughter of actress Margaret Griffin.  Her sisters were Debra Paget and Teala Loring, her brother Ruell Shayne and all three were in showbusiness. Lisa won a Universal contract at 17 and from 1954 to 1970 she made over ninety appearances on TV or in pictures, although most of her films were exploitationers. On TV she appeared with George Burns & Gracie Allen, Robert Cummings and in many popular drama series – 77 Sunset Strip, Perry Mason, Black Saddle, Colt 45, Sea Hunt, Wagon Train, Laramie, Maverick, Rawhide, Have Gun – Will Travel and Cheyenne etc. Her first films in 1954 included The Glenn Miller Story, Yankee Pasha and Magnificent Obsession, all uncredited except for Drums Across the River with Audie Murphy. Lisa will always be remembered for her dancing in Rock Around the Clock and for Shake, Rattle & Rock!, both from 1956 and both cashing in on the new rock ‘n’ roll sounds. She appeared with Dean Martin in Ten Thousands Bedrooms (1957); with William Campbell in Night of Evil and with Fernando Rey in Face of Terror (both 1962); with Scott Brady in Castle of Evil (1966); and with Fernando Lamas in The Violent Ones (1967). After I Dream of Jeannie, The Flying Nun and the Mod Squad TV series, Lisa retired in 1970 to look after her family.

MICHAEL DARVELL