This page will contain additional articles about Mae West, as they become available.Mae WestMae West (August 17, 1893–November 22, 1980) was an American actress. She was born Mary Jane West in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of John Patrick West and Matilda Delker Doelger. Her younger sister and brother were Mildred West, called Beverly, and John Edwin West. Mae West started performing in vaudeville at the age of five. By the time she was twelve she was doing burlesque under the name "The Baby Vamp." Though she had not yet grown into her generous curves, the slinky, dark-haired Mae was already raising eyebrows with a lascivious "shimmy" dance. Eventually, she started writing her own risqué plays using the pen name Jane Mast. Her first starring role on Broadway was in a play titled Sex, which was also written, produced and directed by West. Though critics hated the show, ticket sales were good. The notorious production did not go over well with city officials, however. The theatre was raided and West was arrested along with everyone else in the cast. She was prosecuted on morals charges and, on April 19, 1927, was sentenced to ten days in jail for public obscenity. While incarcerated on Welfare Island, she was allowed to wear her silk panties instead of the scratchy prison issue. She served eight days, with two days off for good behavior. She regarded the freedom to talk about sex as a basic human rights issue; she was also an early advocate of gay rights, pleading against police brutality against homosexuals by saying "A homosexual is a woman's soul in a man's body. You're hitting a woman." When she regained her freedom she set to work on her next creative effort. Her second play was about homosexuality and was titled The Drag. It was a success, but audiences had to go to New Jersey to see it because it was banned from Broadway. She continued to write plays, including The Wicked Age, Pleasure Man and The Constant Sinner. Her productions were plagued by controversy and other problems, however. If they did not get shut down for indecency, they closed because of slow ticket sales. For her next adventure into theatre she had a Broadway hit, Diamond Lil (1928), about a racy, easygoing lady of the 1890s. The show struck box-office gold and heralded the brazen blonde to new heights of fame. It enjoyed an enduring popularity and West would successfully revive it many times through the course of her career. In 1932, she was offered a contract by Paramount Pictures. She signed and went to Hollywood to appear in the motion picture Night After Night starring George Raft. Upon arrival, she moved into an apartment in the Ravenswood at 570 North Rossmore Avenue, not far from the movie studio on Melrose Avenue. She maintained a residence there for the rest of her life. At first, she did not like her small role in Night After Night, but was appeased when she was allowed to rewrite her lines. In her first scene, a coat check girl exclaimed, "Goodness, what lovely diamonds." West became an instant sensation when she replied, "Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie." She brought Diamond Lil, now Lady Lou, to the screen in She Done Him Wrong (1933), personally selecting Cary Grant for the male lead, a role that made him a star. The movie was a huge success and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. In 1934, the Hays Office emerged to enforce censorship of movies and her scripts began to be heavily edited. Her answer was to increase the double-entendre, saying phrases with risqué connotations that could also be taken to mean something else. West starred in eight movies for Paramount before their association came to an end. Then, in 1940 she starred opposite W.C. Fields in My Little Chickadee at Universal. During World War II, allied soldiers called their inflatable life jackets "Mae Wests" from its resemblance to her curvaceous torso. She was apparently married April 11, 1911 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Frank Wallace, a fellow Vaudevillian, who in 1942 showed up with a marriage certificate. She denied ever marrying him, and records showed she had never lived with him, but she still found it necessary to seek a legal divorce. West appeared in her last movie during the studio age with The Heat's On (1943) for Columbia. She remained active during the ensuing years. Among her stage performances was the title role in Catherine Was Great on Broadway. She also starred in her own Las Vegas stage show surrounded by muscle men and singing to delighted crowds. On radio, West appeared on ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's show and did a sexy sketch with Bergen's dummy, Charlie McCarthy, that shocked the listening audience. She was banned from the airwaves for several years. In order to keep her appeal fresh with younger generations, she recorded a Rock and Roll album titled "Great Balls of Fire." In 1958, she wrote her autobiography titled Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It. West also appeared on television talk shows and, in the early 1960s, she guest starred as herself on the Mister Ed series about a talking horse. After an absence of almost thirty years from the silver screen, she appeared in Myra Breckinridge (1970) with Raquel Welch. And at the age of eighty-five she returned in her last movie, Sextette (1978). Both movies were amusingly terrible and failed at the box-office, in spite of the fact that before the release of Sextette large photographs of her reclining on a chaise longue went up on billboards all over Hollywood proclaiming, "Mae West Is Coming." In November 1980, she suffered a stroke and was rushed to the hospital, but the prognosis was not good and she was sent home. She died at her home in the Ravenswood apartment building on Rossmore Avenue. She is entombed in the Cypress Hills Cemetery at 833 Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. Mae West has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street in Hollywood. Filmography
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Mae West has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street in Hollywood. Notable TV Guest Appearances:. She is entombed in the Cypress Hills Cemetery at 833 Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. Writer Filmography:. She died at her home in the Ravenswood apartment building on Rossmore Avenue. Director Filmography:. In November 1980, she suffered a stroke and was rushed to the hospital, but the prognosis was not good and she was sent home. According to fellow A-Team actor and friend, Dwight Schultz, Benedict claims to have been diagnosed with prostate cancer by a psychic in Italy who discovered the cause of Benedict's ailment by examining a photograph of him. Both movies were amusingly terrible and failed at the box-office, in spite of the fact that before the release of Sextette large photographs of her reclining on a chaise longue went up on billboards all over Hollywood proclaiming, "Mae West Is Coming.". In 1998, Benedict learned that he also has another son, John (born 1968), from a youthful relationship. And at the age of eighty-five she returned in her last movie, Sextette (1978). They divorced in 1995. After an absence of almost thirty years from the silver screen, she appeared in Myra Breckinridge (1970) with Raquel Welch. In 1986, he married Toni Hudson, an actress, with whom he has two sons, George and Roland. West also appeared on television talk shows and, in the early 1960s, she guest starred as herself on the Mister Ed series about a talking horse. Benedict starred in the television series, Chopper One, but his career break came when he appeared as Lieutenant Starbuck in the movie and television series Battlestar Galactica. In 1958, she wrote her autobiography titled Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It. He next played the psychotic wife-beating husband of Twiggy in her American film debut, W. In order to keep her appeal fresh with younger generations, she recorded a Rock and Roll album titled "Great Balls of Fire.". The producers of a psycho-thriller called Sssssss saw Benedict's performance in Hawaii-Five-O and promptly cast him as the lead in that movie. She was banned from the airwaves for several years. While there, he appeared as a guest lead on Hawaii Five-O. On radio, West appeared on ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's show and did a sexy sketch with Bergen's dummy, Charlie McCarthy, that shocked the listening audience. When the New York run ended, he received an offer to repeat his performance in Hawaii, opposite Barbara Rush. She also starred in her own Las Vegas stage show surrounded by muscle men and singing to delighted crowds. On his return to New York, Benedict replaced Keir Dullea in Butterflies Are Free on Broadway where he worked with Gloria Swanson as his mother. Among her stage performances was the title role in Catherine Was Great on Broadway. This film about draft resisters, shot entirely in Sweden, was written by Maya Angelou. She remained active during the ensuing years. Two weeks after the show closed on Broadway, he was winging across the Atlantic to Sweden for his first movie, Georgia, Georgia in which he co-starred with Diana Sands. West appeared in her last movie during the studio age with The Heat's On (1943) for Columbia. An agent sent him to an audition which resulted in a co-starring role with Diana Rigg and Keith Mitchell in Abelard and Heloise, first on Broadway, then in Los Angeles. She denied ever marrying him, and records showed she had never lived with him, but she still found it necessary to seek a legal divorce. Benedict then played repertory theatre in Seattle and in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he played such roles as Edmund in King Lear, Tarleton in Misalliance, Ensign Pulver in Mister Roberts, and the lead in Neil Simon's Star-Spangled Girl. She was apparently married April 11, 1911 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Frank Wallace, a fellow Vaudevillian, who in 1942 showed up with a marriage certificate. At that time he started to use the stage name 'Benedict'; supposedly, whilst searching for a catchier, more American name, he agreed to the suggestion of "Benedict" by his agent, who was inspired by Dirk eating Eggs Benedict for breakfast during their early morning conversation. During World War II, allied soldiers called their inflatable life jackets "Mae Wests" from its resemblance to her curvaceous torso. Upon graduation, Benedict began a two-year training program under John Fernald, who had headed London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London for fifteen years. Fields in My Little Chickadee at Universal. The next three years were filled with many more musical productions. Then, in 1940 she starred opposite W.C. He also joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity that year, which he credits with supporting his endeavors, and encouraging his development. West starred in eight movies for Paramount before their association came to an end. At Whitman College, in Walla Walla, Washington, Dirk became interested in acting. During his freshman year, he accepted a dare to audition for the Spring musical and won the lead role of Gaylord Ravenal in Show Boat. Her answer was to increase the double-entendre, saying phrases with risqué connotations that could also be taken to mean something else. He was born Dirk Niewoehner, in Helena, Montana, USA. In 1934, the Hays Office emerged to enforce censorship of movies and her scripts began to be heavily edited. Dirk Benedict (born March 1, 1945) is a movie and television actor, perhaps best known for playing the character "Face" in the television series The A-Team. The movie was a huge success and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Hawaii Five-O (1968) playing "Walter Clyman" in episode: "Chain of Events" (episode # 5.7) 10/24/1972. She brought Diamond Lil, now Lady Lou, to the screen in She Done Him Wrong (1933), personally selecting Cary Grant for the male lead, a role that made him a star. Donny and Marie (1976). In her first scene, a coat check girl exclaimed, "Goodness, what lovely diamonds." West became an instant sensation when she replied, "Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie.". Charlie's Angels (1976) in episode: "Angels on Wheels" (episode # 1.12) 12/22/1976. At first, she did not like her small role in Night After Night, but was appeased when she was allowed to rewrite her lines. Charlie's Angels (1976) playing "Barton" in episode: "Blue Angels, The" (episode # 1.22) 5/4/1977. She maintained a residence there for the rest of her life. Charlie's Angels (1976) playing "Denny Railsback" in episode: "Jade Trap, The" (episode # 2.24) 3/1/1978. Upon arrival, she moved into an apartment in the Ravenswood at 570 North Rossmore Avenue, not far from the movie studio on Melrose Avenue. Galactica 1980 (1980) playing "Starbuck" in episode: "Return Of Starbuck, The" (episode # 1.10) 5/4/1980. She signed and went to Hollywood to appear in the motion picture Night After Night starring George Raft. The Love Boat (1977) in episode: "Captain's Bird, The/That's My Dad/Captive Audience" (episode # 4.91) 12/20/1980. In 1932, she was offered a contract by Paramount Pictures. The Love Boat (1977) in episode: "Putting on The Dog/Going to The Dogs/Women's Best Friend/Whose Dog Is It Anyway?" 3/26/1983. It enjoyed an enduring popularity and West would successfully revive it many times through the course of her career. Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense (1984) playing "Frank Rowlett" in episode: "Mark of the Devil" 1984. The show struck box-office gold and heralded the brazen blonde to new heights of fame. Amazing Stories (1985) in episode: "Remote Control Man" (episode # 1.10) 12/8/1985. For her next adventure into theatre she had a Broadway hit, Diamond Lil (1928), about a racy, easygoing lady of the 1890s. Hotel (1983) in episode: "Prized Possessions" 1987. If they did not get shut down for indecency, they closed because of slow ticket sales. David Latimer" in episode: "Smooth Operators" (episode # 5.12) 2/12/1989. Her productions were plagued by controversy and other problems, however. Murder, She Wrote (1984) playing "Dr. She continued to write plays, including The Wicked Age, Pleasure Man and The Constant Sinner. Rush" in episode: "In the Name of Science" (episode # 4.13) 3/11/1989. It was a success, but audiences had to go to New Jersey to see it because it was banned from Broadway. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985) playing "Dr. Her second play was about homosexuality and was titled The Drag. Baywatch (1989) playing "Aaron Brody" in episode: "Rookie of the Year" (episode # 3.4) 10/5/1992. When she regained her freedom she set to work on her next creative effort. The Commish (1991) playing "Gil Higgins" in episode: "All That Glitters" (episode # 3.9) 11/27/1993. You're hitting a woman.". Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) playing "Blair" in episode: "Case Closed" (episode # 3.19) 4/29/1995. She regarded the freedom to talk about sex as a basic human rights issue; she was also an early advocate of gay rights, pleading against police brutality against homosexuals by saying "A homosexual is a woman's soul in a man's body. Murder, She Wrote (1984) playing "Gary Harling" in episode: "Frozen Stiff" (episode # 12.10) 11/30/1995. She served eight days, with two days off for good behavior. Cahoots (2000). While incarcerated on Welfare Island, she was allowed to wear her silk panties instead of the scratchy prison issue. Christina's Dream (1994). She was prosecuted on morals charges and, on April 19, 1927, was sentenced to ten days in jail for public obscenity. Cahoots (2000). The theatre was raided and West was arrested along with everyone else in the cast. Michael Winters. The notorious production did not go over well with city officials, however. Georgia, Georgia (1972) ... Though critics hated the show, ticket sales were good. David Blake. Her first starring role on Broadway was in a play titled Sex, which was also written, produced and directed by West. SSSSSSS (1973) ... Eventually, she started writing her own risqué plays using the pen name Jane Mast. Officer Gil Foley. By the time she was twelve she was doing burlesque under the name "The Baby Vamp." Though she had not yet grown into her generous curves, the slinky, dark-haired Mae was already raising eyebrows with a lascivious "shimmy" dance. Chopper One (1974) TV Series ... Mae West started performing in vaudeville at the age of five. William Caulder. Her younger sister and brother were Mildred West, called Beverly, and John Edwin West. W (1974) ... She was born Mary Jane West in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of John Patrick West and Matilda Delker Doelger. Bill. Mae West (August 17, 1893–November 22, 1980) was an American actress. Journey from Darkness (1975) (TV) ... Marlo Manners. Simon. Sextette (1978) (Crown International Pictures) .. Cruise Into Terror (1978) (TV) ... Leticia Van Allen. Lieutenant Starbuck. Myra Breckinridge (1970) (20th Century Fox) .. Battlestar Galactica (1978) (TV) ... Fay Lawrence. Battlestar Galactica (1978) TV Series .... Lieutenant Starbuck. The Heat's On (1943) (Columbia) .. Lieutenant Starbuck. Flower Belle Lee. Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack (1978) (TV) ... My Little Chickadee (1940) (Universal) .. Parker's nephew. Peaches O'Day. Jeff Stevens, Mr. Every Day's A Holiday (1938) (Paramount) .. Scavenger Hunt (1979) ... Mavis Arden. Dusty Tyree. Go West, Young Man (1936) (Paramount) .. The Georgia Peaches (1980) (TV) ... The Frisco Doll (Rose Carlton). Pete Huffman. Klondike Annie (1936) (Paramount) .. Underground Aces (1980) ... Cleo Bordon. Spider Elliott. Goin' To Town (1935) (Paramount) .. Scruples (1981) (TV) ... Ruby Carter. Kyle Hanson. Belle Of The Nineties (1934) (Paramount) .. Ruckus (1982) ... Tira. Matt Malone. I'm No Angel (1933) (Paramount) .. Family in Blue (1982) (TV) ... Lady Lou. Lieutenant Templeton 'Face' Peck. She Done Him Wrong (1933) (Paramount) .. The A-Team (1983) TV Series ... Maudie Triplett. Frank Rowlett. Night After Night (1932) (Paramount) .. Mark of the Devil (1984) (TV) ... M. Harry Smilac. Body Slam (1987) ... Eddie Mazda. Trenchcoat in Paradise (1989) (TV) ... Gordon. Bejewelled (1991) (TV) ... Alex Long. Blue Tornado (1991) ... Rick Kelly. Shadow Force (1993) ... Dan Lerner. Col. Lt. Official Denial (1994) ... John Mackie. The Feminine Touch (1994) ... Alexander Harris. Demon Keeper (1994) ... Jake Barnes. Alaska (1996) ... Robert Steves. Abduction of Innocence (1996) (TV) ... Antharia Jack. Zork: Grand Inquisitor (1997) (Video Game) ... Host. Steel Stomachs (1997) ... Waking Up Horton (1998). |