biography
Born Beatrice Peterson in Astoria, New York, on September 8, 1914, elegant blond actress Hillary Brooke grew up in Brooklyn.
By the time she was a junior at Columbia University, a chance meeting with Johnny Powers of the Powers Modeling Agency
launched her career as a catalog model. Although successful, she soon tired of modeling and left for England to begin an
acting career on stage. During this time, Brooke picked up an English accent, which she used for the remainder of her career
and life. After returning to the US from England, Brooke was enroute to Australia when she was stranded in Los Angeles. With
nowhere to go, she walked into RKO Studios and landed a small part in the musical New Faces of 1937 (1937; with Milton
Berle and Harriet Hilliard Nelson).After a brief stint at RKO and a short stay on Broadway in a Noel Coward play, she was signed by MGM in 1939, bu her career languished in bit parts. Finally, she landed a solid supporting role in the PRC western Rider of the Plains (1941; with George Houston). Afterward, she freelanced at many studios, including Paramount, Columbia, and 20th Century Fox. On a personal note, in 1941 Brooke married assistant director Jack Voglin, but the couple parted ways in 1948. 
As her career advanced, Brooke excelled at portraying a villainess in a number of film noir thrillers, including Strange
Impersonation (1946; with Brenda Marshall), Big Town Scandal (1948; with Phillip Reed), and Vendetta (1950;
with Faith Domergue). She also acted in several comedies, including The Fuller Brush Man
(1948; with Red Skelton and Adele Jergens) and Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd
(1952; with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello). But today,
audiences remember her best as the mother in the science fiction classic Invaders from Mars (1952; with Arthur Franz
and Helena Carter). |
the films of hillary brookeJane Eyre (1943)
As Blanche Ingram in the gothic romance Jane Eyre, released by 20th Century FoxMinistry of Fear (1944)
Brooke portrays spiritualist Mrs. Bellane in the Paramount film noir Ministry of FearThe Strange Woman (1946)
As Meg Saladine in Edgar Ulmer's thriller The Strange Woman, released by United ArtistsUp Goes Maisie (1946)
With Ann Sothern and George Murphy in the MGM second feature comedy Up Goes MaisieI Cover Big Town (1947) 
LEFT: With Robert Lowery and Phillip Reed in the Paramount mystery I Cover Big Town. RIGHT: With an unidentified actor and Phillip ReedBig Town Scandal (1948)
From the fourth installment of the Paramount mystery Big Town Scandal with Stanley Clements and Phillip ReedVendetta (1950)
With Faith Domergue in the RKO film noir thriller VendettaInvaders from Mars (1953)
With Leif Erickson in the science fiction classic Invaders from Mars, released by 20th Century FoxDragon's Gold (1954)
With John Archer in the low-budget crime drama Dragon's GoldHeat Wave (1954)Perry Mason (1957-1966 TV Series)
With John Archer in an episode of the CBS TV series Perry Mason titled The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece. This was just the second episode of the series, airing on September 28, 1957later yearsAlthough Hillary Brooke's film career slowed in the early 1950s, she successfully made the jump to television, making numerous guest appearances on popular TV programs. She was as well as being a semi-regular on the series My Little Margie (1952-1955) as the love interest for Charles Farrell and on The Abbott and Costello Show (1952-1953), where she portrayed the love interest of Lou Costello. Although she was still a busy actress, Brooke retired from acting in 1960 when she married MGM executive Ray Klune. After their marriage, Brooke never accepted another role, preferring to travel with her wealthy husband. Klune passed away in 1988; Hillary Brooke passed away of natural causes on May 25, 1999, at the age of 84. She was survived by her stepchildren, film and television director Donald Klune (1929-2003) and Carol Klune. |
filmographyFILM
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hillary brooke television appearanceshillary brooke film now showing |
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