biography

Beverly Garland Born Beverly Fessenden in Santa Cruz, California on October 17, 1926, beautiful Beverly Garland sustained an acting career for more than 50 years, starring in numerous cult-classic "B" films in the 1950s before switching to television and supporting roles in better pictures in the 1960s. Using her first husband's last name and billed as 'Beverly Campbell' in a few of her early film appearances, she divorced her first husband and married actor Richard Garland in 1952; afterward, she used Garland as her professional name. The couple dissolved the union in 1956, at about the point that Beverly Garland's career was at its busiest.

Beverly GarlandBeverly Garland

LEFT: Early 1950s publicity photo. RIGHT: Universal-International shot from 1956

Throughout the 1950s, Garland worked hard, making more than 20 films and starring in the TV series Decoy, in which she portrayed a female undercover cop. Following her 1959 film The Alligator People, Garland cooled her film career and married businessman and developer Fillmore Crank. By the mid 1960s, Garland began making many television appearances and took roles in several successful series, including The Bing Crosby Show (1964-1965) and the final three seasons of My Three Sons (1960-1972).

Although audiences today largely recognize Garland from her prolific television work from the 1960s through the 1990s, cult film fanatics prize her horror and science fiction films from the 1950s. Her best horror and science fiction titles include It Conquered the World (1956; with Peter Graves and Lee Van Cleef), Not of This Earth (1957; with Paul Birch), and The Alligator People (1959; with Richard Crane and Lon Chaney Jr.). However, Garland was also known for starring in westerns, including Bitter Creek (1954; with Bill Elliott), Gunslinger (1956; with Allison Hayes), Badlands of Montana (1957; with Rex Reason), and The Saga of Hemp Brown (1958; with Rory Calhoun and Russell Johnson).

the films of beverly garland

Killer Leopard (1954)

Beverly Garland and Johnny Sheffield

From the low-budget Allied Artists 'Bomba' outing Killer Leopard with Johnny Sheffield

Sudden Danger (1956)

Beverly Garland, Bill Elliott, and Tom Drake

With 'Wild' Bill Elliott and Tom Drake in the Allied Artists film noir release Sudden Danger

It Conquered the World (1956)

Beverly GarlandBeverly Garland and Lee Van Cleef

LEFT: Garland attempts to save the world by killing the alien life form in AIP's It Conquered the World. RIGHT: Garland argues with husband Lee Van Cleef

Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (1956)

Beverly GarlandBeverly GarlandJohn Bromfield and Beverly GarlandBeverly GarlandBeverly Garland

With John Bromfield in Universal-International's Curucu, Beast of the Amazon

The Steel Jungle (1956)

Beverly Garland

From the Warner Bros. release The Steel Jungle

Badlands of Montana (1957)

Rex Reason and Beverly Garland

With Rex Reason in the western Badlands of Montana

The Joker Is Wild (1957)

Jeanne Crain, Beverly Garland, and Jackie Coogan

From the Paramount musical drama The Joker Is Wild with Jeanne Crain and Jackie Coogan

Naked Paradise (1957)

Beverly Garland and Richard Denning

With Richard Denning in a scene from American International's drama Naked Paradise

Not of This Earth (1957)

Beverly Garland and Morgan JonesBeverly Garland and Morgan Jones

From Roger Corman's Allied Artists science fiction thriller Not of This Earth with Morgan Jones

Decoy (1957-1958 TV Series)

Beverly GarlandBeverly Garland

Publicity photos from Garland's TV series Decoy

The Saga of Hemp Brown (1958)

Trevor Bardette, Beverly Garland, and Rory Calhoun

From the fun Universal-International western The Saga of Hemp Brown with Trevor Bardette and Rory Calhoun. This was one of several westerns in which Garland starred in the late 1950s

The Alligator People (1959)

Beverly GarlandBeverly GarlandBeverly Garland

LEFT and CENTER: Garland discovers that her new husband (Richard Crane) has been turned into a reptile in The Alligator People. RIGHT: Lobby card

The Bing Crosby Show (1964-1965 ABC TV Series)

Beverly Garland

Garland portrayed Bing Crosby's wife in the short-lived ABC situation comedy The Bing Crosby Show

It's My Turn (1980)

Jill Clayburgh and Beverly Garland

With Jill Clayburgh in the Columbia dramedy It's My Turn

later years

Beverly Garland maintained her acting career to through 2004, even with her ownership of the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in Los Angeles, just a few blocks from the entrance of Universal Studios. Garland's hotel is also the Los Angeles site of Ray and Sharon Court's famed autograph conventions. In terms of acting, Garland had a recurring role on the WB's long-running family drama 7th Heaven (1996-2006), and her final film appearance was in Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (2003; with Randy Quaid and Fred Willard). Sadly, Beverly Garland passed away on December 5, 2008, at the age of 82. She was survived by a daughter, a son, two stepsons, and a host of grandchildren.

filmography

FILM
Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (2003) with Randy Quaid, Miriam Flynn, Eric Idle, Fred Willard, and Edward Asner
If (2003)
Blood Song (1995) with Ben Cross
King B: A Life in the Movies (1993) with Julie Adams, Steve Allen, Parley Baer, Vince Edwards, Connie Stevens, and Dwayne Hickman
Death Falls (1991) with Rip Torn
Finding the Way Home (1991) with George C. Scott
The World's Oldest Living Bridesmaid (1990) with Donna Mills
Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983) with Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner
This Girl for Hire (1983) with Bess Armstrong, Celeste Holm, Cliff De Young, Hermione Baddeley, Scott Brady, Howard Duff, and Jose Ferrer
Gamble on Love (1982)
It's My Turn (1980) with Jill Clayburgh, Michael Douglas, and Charles Grodin
Roller Boogie (1979) with Linda Blair, Roger Perry, and James Van Patten
Sixth and Main (1977) with Leslie Nielsen and Roddy McDowall
Airport 1975 (1974) with Charlton Heston, Karen Black, Dana Andrews, George Kennedy, Gloria Swanson, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Linda Blair, and Roy Thinnes
Where the Red Fern Grows (1974) with James Whitmore
The Mad Room (1969) with Stella Stevens and Shelley Winters
Pretty Poison (1968) with Anthony Perkins and Tuesday Weld
Calhoun: County Agent (1964) with Ken Berry, Jackie Cooper, Howard Duff, Robert Lansing, Barbara Luna, and Barbara Stanwyck
Twice-Told Tales (1963) with Vincent Price, Mari Blanchard, Sebastian Cabot, and Brett Halsey
Stark Fear (1961) with Skip Homeier and Kenneth Tobey
The Alligator People (1959) with Bruce Bennett, Richard Crane and Lon Chaney Jr.
Gundown at Sandoval (1959) with Tom Tryon
The Saga of Hemp Brown (1958) with Rory Calhoun, Russell Johnson, and Yvette Vickers
Chicago Confidential (1957) with Brian Keith and Elisha Cook Jr.
Badlands of Montana (1957) with Rex Reason
The Joker Is Wild (1957) with Frank Sinatra, Mitzi Gaynor, Jeanne Crain, Eddie Albert, and Jackie Coogan
Naked Paradise (1957) with Richard Denning
Not of This Earth (1957) with Paul Birch
It Conquered the World (1956) with Peter Graves and Lee Van Cleef. This film was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000
Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (1956) with John Bromfield
The Go-Getter (1956) with Ray Collins
The Gunslinger (1956) with Allison Hayes, John Ireland, and Bruno VeSota. This film was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000
The Steel Jungle (1956) with with Allison Hayes, Kenneth Tobey, and Gregory Walcott
New Orleans Uncensored (1955) with Arthur Franz and Michael Ansara; directed by William Castle
Sudden Danger (1955) with Lyle Talbot and Tom Drake
Swamp Women (1955) with Marie Windsor and Mike Connors. This film was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000
Bitter Creek (1954) with Bill Elliot, Claude Akins, and Dabbs Greer
The Desperado (1954) with Lee Van Cleef, Wayne Morris, Dabbs Greer, and Richard Garland
Killer Leopard (1954) with Johnny Sheffield
The Miami Story (1954) with Barry Sullivan and Adele Jergens
The Rocket Man (1954) with Anne Francis, John Agar, Charles Coburn, and Spring Byington
The Glass Web (1953) with Edward G. Robinson, John Forsythe, Kathleen Hughes, Marcia Henderson, and Richard Denning
The Neanderthal Man (1953) with Robert Shayne and Richard Crane
Problem Girls (1953) with Mara Corday, Helen Walker, Ross Elliot, and Joyce Jameson
Fearless Fagan (1952) with Janet Leigh, Keenan Wynn, Parley Baer, and Anthony Eisley
D.O.A. (1950) with Edmond O'Brien, Pamela Britton, Luther Adler, and Neville Brand

TELEVISION SERIES
7th Heaven, recurring role, 1997-2004
Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, recurring role, 1995-1997
Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-1987)
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, syndicated TV series. Garland portrayed Cookie LaRue during the 1976-1977 season
My Three Sons (1969-1972) Tina Cole, who portrayed Garland's step-daughter-in-law on the show, was at one time Garland's actual step-daughter-in-law.
The Bing Crosby Show (1964-1965)
Decoy (1957) Garland portrayed Casey Jones
Mama Rosa (1950)

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
The Guardian, episode Indian Summer, originally aired October 30, 2001
The Simple Life, episode The Other Mother, originally aired June 17, 1998
Teen Angel, episode The Un-Natural, originally aired February 6, 1998
Teen Angel, episode Back to DePolo, originally aired January 30, 1998
Diagnosis Murder, episode Hard-Boiled Murder, originally aired February 13, 1997
Ellen, episode She Ain't Friendly, She's My Mother, originally aired November 8, 1995
Friends, episode The One with All the Poker, originally aired March 2, 1995
P.S.I. Luv U, episode Where There's a Will, There's a Dani, originally aired December 7, 1991
Crazy Like a Fox, episode Rosie, originally aired April 12, 1986
Finder of Lost Loves, episode Surrogates, originally aired March 16, 1985
Hotel, episode New Beginnings, originally aired January 23, 1985
Remington Steele, episode Sting of Steele, originally aired April 5, 1983
Matt Houston, episode The Good Doctor, originally aired December 12, 1982
(1982) TV episode .... Mrs. Chapman Remington Steele, episode Thou Shalt Not Steele, originally aired November 5, 1982
Magnum, P.I., episode Three Minus Two, originally aired April 1, 1982
Flamingo Road, episode Heatwave, originally aired January 19, 1982
Hart to Hart, episode The Hartbreak Kid, originally aired December 15, 1981
Trapper John, M.D., episodes Girl Under Glass: Parts 1 and 2, originally aired November 23 and November 30, 1980
Charlie's Angels, episode Cruising Angels, originally aired December 12, 1979
How the West Was Won, episode The Slavers, originally aired April 23, 1979
The Tony Randall Show, episode The Sylvia Needleman Experience, originally aired December 24, 1977
Lanigan's Rabbi, episode Say It Ain't So, Chief, originally aired April 17, 1977
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, episode Mystery of the Fallen Angels, originally aired April 17, 1977
Switch, episode The Argonaut Special, originally aired October 12, 1976
Mary Tyler Moore, Lou Douses an Old Flame, originally aired November 15, 1975
Marcus Welby, M.D., episode To Live Another Day, originally aired October 14, 1975
Medical Center, episode The Invisible Wife, originally aired February 10, 1975
Kung Fu, episode Battle Hymn, originally aired February 8, 1975
Wide World Mystery, episode The Death Volley, originally aired January 27, 1975
Ironside, episode The Over-the-Hill Blues, originally aired December 5, 1974
Planet of the Apes, episode The Interrogation, originally aired November 15, 1974
Medical Center, episode The World's Balloon, originally aired March 25, 1974
Doc Elliot, episode A Small Hand of Friendship, originally aired February 6, 1974
Love, American Style, episode Love and the Big Top/Love and the Locksmith/Love and the Odd Couples/Love and the Unwedding, originally aired November 16, 1973
Mannix, episode Little Girl Lost, originally aired October 7, 1973
The New Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Prodigal Prophet, originally aired September 23, 1973
Cannon, episode Deadly Heritage, originally aired March 21, 1973
The Rookies, episode Three Hours to Kill, originally aired February 12, 1973
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law, episode Sometimes Tough Is Good, originally aired January 17, 1973
Temperatures Rising, episode RX: Love, originally aired November 14, 1972
The Mod Squad, episode Eyes of the Beholder, originally aired October 19, 1972
Marcus Welby, M.D., episode A Fragile Possession, originally aired September 12, 1972
Then Came Bronson, episode The Mary R, originally aired March 25, 1970
Gunsmoke, episode The Badge, originally aired February 2, 1970
Lancer, episode Devil's Blessing, originally aired April 22, 1969
The Wild Wild West, episode The Night of the Bleak Island, originally aired March 14, 1969
Gunsmoke, episode Time of the Jackals, originally aired January 13, 1969
The Mothers-In-Law, episode Jealousy Makes the Heart Grow Fonder, originally aired April 7, 1968
Mannix, episode Deadfall: Parts 1 and 2, originally aired January 20 and 27, 1968
Gunsmoke, episode The Victim, originally aired January 1, 1968
The Wild Wild West, episode The Night of the Cut-Throats, originally aired November 17, 1967
Judd for the Defense, episode The Deep End, originally aired September 15, 1967
Pistols 'n' Petticoats, episode Touch and Ross, originally aired November 5, 1966
The Loner, episode Incident in the Middle of Nowhere, originally aired February 19, 1966
Laredo, episode Lazyfoot, Where Are You?, originally aired September 16, 1965
A Man Called Shenandoah, episode The Onslaught, originally aired September 13, 1965
Kraft Suspense Theatre, episode Charlie, He Couldn't Kill a Fly, originally aired May 7, 1964
The Eleventh Hour, episode What Did She Mean by Good Luck?, originally aired November 13, 1963
The Farmer's Daughter, episode The Stand-In, originally aired November 1, 1963
The Fugitive, episode Smoke Screen, originally aired October 29, 1963
Gunsmoke, episode The Odyssey of Jubal Tanner, originally aired May 18, 1963
The Dakotas, episode The Chooser of the Slain, originally aired April 22, 1963
Sam Benedict, episode Image of a Toad, originally aired February 23, 1963
Rawhide, episode Incident of the Gallows Tree, originally aired February 22, 1963
Rawhide, episode Incident at Sugar Creek, originally aired November 23, 1962
Rawhide, episode Incident of the Roman Candles, originally aired September 25, 1959

beverly garland links

The Garland, Near Universal Studios Hollywood
Visit this web site for more information about Beverly Garland's hotel.

beverly garland trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for Beverly Garland's 1959 horror film The Alligator People

beverly garland television appearances

Watch the pilot episode of Beverly Garland's syndicated 1957-1958 TV series Decoy (originally aired October 14, 1957)

Watch a 1963 episode of the game show Stump the Stars featuring Beverly Garland

beverly garland film now showing

Watch Beverly Garland's 1956 crime drama Swamp Women
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This page premiered March 25, 1999.
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