biography

Allison Hayes Born Mary Jane Hayes in Charleston, West Virginia, on March 6, 1930, actress Allison Hayes grew up in Washington D.C. and graduated from high school in the area. Winning the title of Miss District of Columbia, Hayes represented D.C. in the 1949 Miss America pageant. She didn't win the competition, but her title afforded her a job in early television before she relocated to California in 1953 to begin an acting career. Signing a contract with Universal-International soon after her arrival, beginning in 1954 she starred in a string of B movies and was a supporting player in a few "A" films. One of her earliest films was the Universal series entry Francis Joins the WACS (1954; with Mamie Van Doren). Universal also cast the young actress in the big budget epic Sign of the Pagan (1954; with Jeff Chandler, Jack Palance, and Jeff Morrow) and The Purple Mask (1955; with Tony Curtis and Colleen Miller).

Myrna Hansen, Mamie Van Doren, Allison Hayes, and Colleen MillerAllison HayesAllison Hayes

LEFT: A mid 1950s photo of Allison Hayes with fellow Universal-International contract players Myrna Hansen, Mamie Van Doren, and Colleen Miller. RIGHT: Photos of Hayes taken around the time of her appearance on Conflict, the 1956-57 ABC series. Conflict aired with Clint Walker's Cheyenne on Warner Bros. Presents

Leaving Universal-International in 1955, Hayes' busiest period came in the late 1950s when she was cast in numerous B film roles, such as Gunslinger (1956; with Beverly Garland and John Ireland), The Unearthly (1957; with Tor Johnson and Sally Todd), The Disembodied (1957; with Paul Burke); Attack of the Fifty-Foot Woman (1958; with Yvette Vickers), and The High Powered Rifle (1960). After 1960, Hayes began taking on more television roles and made films only sporadically thereafter. She counted among her friends Raymond Burr; she made five appearances on Burr's CBS TV series Perry Mason (1957-1966). In addition, Hayes made many other guest appearances on popular TV programs in the 1950s and 1960s, including Bat Masterson and Surfside 6. In her last film, she appeared alongside Elvis Presley in Tickle Me (1965; with Merry Anders and Julie Adams). Hayes is featured in the beginning of Tickle Me as a drunken bar patron who lunges as Elvis as he performs. Viewers will note that she looks thin and gaunt in this, her only scene in the film. For years, Hayes had taken a doctor-prescribed calcium supplement with levels of lead so extreme that she contracted lead poisoning. After the onset of her illness in 1964, she was often too ill to work and was housebound for long periods of time. Her last television appearances came in two 1967 episodes of Gomer Pyle: USMC.

the films of allison hayes

Double Jeopardy (1955)

Allison HayesAllison Hayes

From the Republic film noir release Double Jeopardy with Rod Cameron

Chicago Syndicate (1955)

Allison Hayes and Dennis O'KeefeAllison Hayes, Dennis O'Keefe, Xavier Cugat, and Abbe Lane

From Columbia's noir release Chicago Syndicate. LEFT: With Dennis O'Keefe. RIGHT: With Dennis O'Keefe, Xavier Cugat, and Abbe Lane

Count Three and Pray (1955)

Allison HayesAllison Hayes and John IrelandAllison Hayes and Van Heflin

From Columbia's western Count Three and Pray. LEFT: Allison Hayes cracks the whip as Georgina Decrais, the role which proved to be her favorite. CENTER: With John Ireland. RIGHT: With Van Heflin

Gunslinger (1956)

John Ireland and Allison Hayes

With John Ireland in the Roger Corman western Gunslinger

The Steel Jungle (1956)

Allison Hayes

Hayes as the seductive Mrs. Archer in the Warner Bros. drama The Steel Jungle

Mohawk (1956)

Allison Hayes and Scott BradyAllison Hayes

From the 20th Century-Fox western Mohawk. LEFT: With Scott Brady (thanks to Michael Barnum). RIGHT: Hayes as Greta Jones

The Disembodied (1957)

Allison Hayes

Hayes portrays voodoo priestess Tonda Metz in the campy Allied Artists horror flick The Disembodied

Zombies of Mora Tau (1957)

Joel Ashley, Allison Hayes, Morris Ankrum, Gregg Palmer, Marjorie Eaton, and Autumn RussellJoel Ashley, Allison Hayes, and Morris Ankrum

From Columbia's horror release Zombies of Mora Tau. LEFT: With Joel Ashley, Morris Ankrum, Gregg Palmer, Marjorie Eaton, and Autumn Russell. RIGHT: With Joel Ashley and Morris Ankrum

Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman (1958)

Allison HayesAllison HayesAttack of the 50 Foot Woman Poster

From the campy Allied Artists science fiction thriller Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman. LEFT: Hayes as the beautiful but doomed Nancy Archer, her most famous role. CENTER A: Photo used for a projection shot. RIGHT: Poster for Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman

Wolf Dog (1958)

Allison Hayes, Jim Davis, and Tony Brown

With Jim Davis and Tony Brown in the Canadian-made western Wolf Dog, released by 20th Century-Fox

Counterplot (1959)

Allison Hayes

From the United Artists crime drama Counterplot

Pier 5, Havana (1959)

Allison Hayes

Hayes as Monica Gray in the United Artists adventure Pier 5, Havana

The High Powered Rifle (1960)

Allison Hayes and Willard Parker

From the 20th Century-Fox late noir feature The High Powered Rifle with Willard Parker

The Hypnotic Eye (1960)

Allison Hayes and Jacques Bergerac

Climactic scene from the cult horror favorite The Hypnotic Eye with Jacques Bergerac

later years

Sadly, the original 50-foot woman passed away just a few days before her 47th birthday on February 27, 1977, following a 13-year illness that forced her into retirement. Historian Jack Randall Earles writes: Her lead poisoning and subsequent leukemia were the direct result of a health food supplement that was sold to her over a period of many years. Its contents gave her lead poisoning. Her efforts at reform caused the FDA to reexamine its policy on health food supplements. Hayes is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California and was survived by her mother, who passed away in October 1977.

the allison hayes gallery

Allison HayesAllison HayesAllison HayesAllison HayesAllison Hayes

Allison HayesAllison HayesAllison Hayes on the cover of TempoAllison HayesAllison HayesAllison Hayes

filmography

FILM
Tickle Me (1965) with Elvis Presley, Julie Adams, Bill Williams, and Merry Anders
The Crawling Hand (1963) with Kent Taylor, Peter Breck, Richard Arlen, and Alan Hale Jr.
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (1963) with Elizabeth Montgomery and Dean Martin
The High Powered Rifle (1960) with Willard Parker
The Hypnotic Eye (1960) with Merry Anders, Jacques Bergerac, and Marcia Henderson
Counterplot (1959) with Forrest Tucker
A Lust to Kill (1959) with Jim Davis and Rickie Sorenson
Pier 5, Havana (1959) with Cameron Mitchell
Wolf Dog (1958) with Jim Davis
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) with William Hudson and Yvette Vickers
Hong Kong Confidential (1958) with Gene Barry
The Disembodied (1957) with Paul Burke
The Undead (1957) with Richard Garland, Bruno VeSota, and Dick Miller
The Unearthly (1957) with Sally Todd, Tor Johnson, Myron Healey, and John Carradine
Zombies of Mora Tau (1957) with Gregg Palmer, Autumn Russell, Joel Ashley, Morris Ankrum, and Ray 'Crash' Corrigan
The Gunslinger (1956) with Beverly Garland, John Ireland, Bruno VeSota, Jonathan Haze, and Dick Miller
Mohawk (1956) with Lori Nelson, Scott Brady, Neville Brand, John Hoyt, and Mae Clark
The Steel Jungle (1956) with Beverly Garland and Gregory Walcott
The Prodigal (1955) with Lana Turner and Edmund Purdom
The Purple Mask (1955) with Colleen Miller, Tony Curtis, and Gene Barry
Chicago Syndicate (1955) with Dennis O'Keefe, Abbe Lane, and Xavier Cugat
Count Three and Pray (1955) with Van Heflin, Joanne Woodward, Philip Carey, Raymond Burr, and Myron Healey
Francis Joins the Wacs (1954) with Mamie Van Doren, Julie Adams, and Zasu Pitts
Double Jeopardy (1954) with Robert Armstrong, Rod Cameron, and Jack Kelly
Sign of the Pagan (1954) with Jeff Chandler, Jeff Morrow, and Jack Palance
So This Is Paris (1954) with Tony Curtis, Corrine Calvet, and Mara Corday

TELEVISION SERIES
General Hospital, 1963-present ABC daytime drama. Hayes portrayed Priscilla Longsworth from 1963 to 1964
Ripcord, 1962-1963 TV series. Also featured on the series were Larry Pennell and Ken Curtis
Acapulco, 1961 TV series. Also featured were Ralph Taeger, Telly Savalas, and Bobby Troup

TELEVISION GUEST SHOTS
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., episode A Child Shall Lead Them, originally aired October 27, 1967
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., episode Gomer Says 'Hey' to the President, originally aired October 20, 1967
The Iron Horse, episode Death by Triangulation, originally aired March 20, 1967
The F.B.I., episode The Contaminator, originally aired December 4, 1966
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Laughing Lady, originally aired September 12, 1965
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Deadly Debt, originally aired April 1, 1965
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Bogus Books, originally aired September 27, 1962
Kraft Mystery Theater, episode Change of Heart, originally aired September 12, 1962
77 Sunset Strip, episode The Parallel Caper, originally aired February 23, 1962
Bachelor Father, episode Summer Love, originally aired February 20, 1962
Ripcord, episode Para-Nurse, originally aired February 1, 1962
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Captain's Coins, originally aired January 13, 1962
Surfside 6, episode Prescription for Panic, originally aired December 4, 1961
Laramie, episode The Fatal Stop, originally aired October 24, 1961
Zane Grey Theater, episode Jericho, originally aired May 18, 1961
The Case of the Dangerous Robin, episode Design for Death, originally aired May 8, 1961
Bat Masterson, episode Murder Can Be Dangerous, originally aired November 3, 1960
The Untouchables, episode The Rusty Heller Story, originally aired October 13, 1960
Bat Masterson, episode The Elusive Baguette, originally aired June 2, 1960
Bat Masterson, episode The Reluctant Witness, originally aired March 31, 1960
Tombstone Territory, episode Memory, originally aired March 25, 1960
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Singing Skirt, originally aired March 12, 1960
Men Into Space, episode Moon Cloud, originally aired February 17, 1960
Bat Masterson, episode Deadly Diamonds, originally aired February 11, 1960
Richard Diamond, Private Detective, episode Dead to the World, originally aired January 11, 1960
The Alaskans, episode Starvation Stampede, originally aired November 1, 1959
Rawhide, episode Incident at the Buffalo Smokehouse, originally aired October 30, 1959
Tombstone Territory, episode The Writer, originally aired October 30, 1959
World of Giants, episode The Pool, originally aired October 24, 1959
Tombstone Territory, episode Red Terror of Tombstone, originally aired October 9, 1959
Mike Hammer, episode Mere Maid, originally aired October 5, 1959
Captain David Grief, episode The Little White Church on Goboto, originally aired September 20, 1959
Markham, episode Vendetta in Venice, originally aired June 27, 1959
Bat Masterson, episode The Secret Is Death, originally aired May 27, 1959
Bat Masterson, episode License to Cheat, originally aired February 4, 1959
The Rough Riders, episode An Eye for an Eye, originally aired January 15, 1959
Bat Masterson, episode Dude's Folly, originally aired November 26, 1958
Tombstone Territory, episode A Bullet for an Editor, originally aired November 13, 1957
The Web, episode The Gambler, originally aired July 21, 1957
The Millionaire, episode The Dr. Alan March Story, originally aired April 3, 1957
Death Valley Days, episode Lady Engineer, originally aired April 1, 1957
The Ford Television Theatre, episode Fate Travels East, originally aired March 13, 1957
Warner Brothers Presents, episode Deep Freeze, originally aired May 8, 1956
Four Star Playhouse, episode Here Comes the Suit, originally aired November 17, 1955

allison hayes links

An Internet Biography of Allison Hayes
Allison Hayes has a super fan in Jack Randall Earles---read his in-depth biography of Allison Hayes at this site.

allison hayes trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for Allison Hayes' 1958 sci-fi thriller Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman

allison hayes film now showing

Watch Allison Hayes' 1957 horror film The Undead

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