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Kathleen Case

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kathleen Case
Born
Catherine Walker

(1933-07-31)July 31, 1933
DiedJuly 22, 1979(1979-07-22) (aged 45)
OccupationActress
Years active1951–1961

Kathleen Case (born Catherine Walker, also credited as Cathy Case, Kathy Case, and Cassie Case; July 31, 1933 – July 22, 1979) was an American film and television actress[1] and a ballerina.[2]

Early life and career

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Case was born on July 31, 1933,[3] in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and she grew up in Cincinnati.[4] Her mother died three days after Case's birth, and she was raised by her grandmother, Mrs. Ira Hamilton Case.[3]

When she was 11 years old she first performed professionally, dancing in Cincinnati as part of the Metropolitan Opera's summer season. She later danced with the Ballet Theater[4] and was ballerina with the San Carlo Opera Company.[2]

Columbia Pictures signed Case to a term contract in 1954.[4] During her acting career she performed in films such as Human Desire (1954), Last of the Pony Riders (1953), and Running Wild (1955). She also appeared in a variety of American television series produced in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Personal life and death

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Case was seriously injured in a power boat accident in February 1959 and was in the hospital for more than two months.

On February 5, 1967, Case was driving in Hollywood, California, when her car collided head-on with a vehicle driven by actor Dirk Rambo, the twin brother of actor Dack Rambo. A car fire resulted. Dirk Rambo was killed, and his passenger, Horace H. Hester, was seriously injured. A Los Angeles municipal court judge dismissed felony drunken driving and manslaughter charges against her two months later.

Case died in North Hollywood, California, shortly before her 46th birthday.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1951 Two Tickets to Broadway Ad-Lib Woman Uncredited
1952 Junction City Penny Clinton
1953 Last of the Pony Riders Katie McEwen
1953 Flight Nurse Florence Uncredited
1953 The Eddie Cantor Story Francey Uncredited
1954 Human Desire Ellen Simmons
1955 The Second Greatest Sex Tilda Bean
1955 Running Wild Leta Novak
1956 Calling Homicide Donna Graham

References

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  1. ^ Blottner p.169
  2. ^ a b "Crawford to sing in Metro musical". The New York Times. March 18, 1953. p. 39. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Kathleen Case Takes Side of Stage Mothers". The Virginian-Pilot. Virginia, Norfolk. November 27, 1955. p. 15 - C. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c "Columbia Signs Kathleen Case". Valley Times. California, North Hollywood. January 6, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

Bibliography

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  • Blottner, Gene. Columbia Pictures Movie Series, 1926-1955: The Harry Cohn Years. McFarland, 2011.
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