Joanna Cameron
Encyclopedia
Joanna Kara Cameron, sometimes listed as JoAnna Cameron, (born September 20, 1951) is an American actress who played the title role in the children's television program The Secrets of Isis.
, and was raised in rural northern Colorado. She attended the University of California, Riverside
where she earned a degree in Marketing
.
. When she was introduced to the famous comedian, he cast her in the film How to Commit Marriage
in 1969. This led to a series of film and television roles throughout the 1970s. Cameron was reportedly considered for the Love Story
role that made Ali McGraw a star, and went on to play in the early 1970s films, B.S. I Love You
and the black comedy Pretty Maids All in a Row
.
Cameron appeared in such television programs as The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
, Columbo, and several episodes of Marcus Welby, MD. She also had a prolific career in commercials and claims at one time to have held the record for having done the most commercials in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Cameron played a young High School teacher named Andrea Thomas who discovers an enchanted amulet
while in Egypt
. The amulet, which originally belonged to the ancient queen Hatshepsut
, bestows the supposed powers of the goddess Isis
on her when she invokes them by uttering the phrase, "O mighty Isis..." These powers include super strength and speed, the ability to fly, and telekinesis, all of which she uses to fight crime.
The Secrets of Isis ran for two seasons from September 6, 1975 to September 3, 1977. Twenty-two episodes were produced and Isis also appeared in three episodes of the related Saturday morning super-hero drama Shazam!
Despite the show's popularity, it was not renewed for a third season. The character of Isis later appeared in a cartoon called Tarzan and the Super 7
, in segments dealing with a super-team called "The Freedom Force," but with Isis's voice provided by a different actress.
. She also was host of the Navy Network, a TV series produced by the United States Navy
about aspects of Naval life, and directed a commercial for the Naval Academy titled Razor Sharp. Cameron's last known role was in the 1980 TV movie Swan Song.
Following her acting career Cameron worked in the home health care industry for ten years, and followed that with a career in marketing for several hotels.
Early life
Joanna Cameron was born in Aspen, ColoradoAspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
, and was raised in rural northern Colorado. She attended the University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
where she earned a degree in Marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
.
Career
While at college Cameron became friends with Linda Hope, the daughter of Bob HopeBob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
. When she was introduced to the famous comedian, he cast her in the film How to Commit Marriage
How to Commit Marriage
How to Commit Marriage is a 1969 comedy film directed by Norman Panama, featuring Bob Hope and Jackie Gleason in their only movie together. The film also stars Jane Wyman as Hope's wife, Tina Louise as record-producer Gleason's love interest, Leslie Nielsen as the straight man, and Irwin Corey as...
in 1969. This led to a series of film and television roles throughout the 1970s. Cameron was reportedly considered for the Love Story
Love Story (1970 film)
Love Story is a 1970 romantic drama film written by Erich Segal and based on his novel Love Story. It was directed by Arthur Hiller. The film, well known as a tragedy, is considered one of the most romantic of all time by the American Film Institute , and was followed by a sequel, Oliver's Story...
role that made Ali McGraw a star, and went on to play in the early 1970s films, B.S. I Love You
B.S. I Love You
B.S. I Love You is an American comedy-drama film from 1971. It was directed and written by Steven Hilliard Stern, and starred Peter Kastner. The supporting cast included Gary Burghoff, Louise Sorel, Joanna Cameron and Joanna Barnes...
and the black comedy Pretty Maids All in a Row
Pretty Maids All in a Row
Pretty Maids All in a Row is an American mystery film starring Rock Hudson and Angie Dickinson that is part dark comedy, part murder mystery. It was released on April 28, 1971, directed by Roger Vadim, and written and produced by Gene Roddenberry based on a novel by Francis Pollini.Pretty Maids was...
.
Cameron appeared in such television programs as The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
The Bold Ones
The Bold Ones is the umbrella title for several television series. It was produced by Universal Television and broadcast on NBC from 1969 to 1973...
, Columbo, and several episodes of Marcus Welby, MD. She also had a prolific career in commercials and claims at one time to have held the record for having done the most commercials in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The Shazam!/Isis Hour, The Secrets of Isis
In 1975, Cameron was cast as the Egyptian-themed super-hero Isis in the Saturday morning children's TV show The Shazam!/Isis Hour. When the character proved to be popular, Isis was spun off as a separate series titled The Secrets of Isis.Cameron played a young High School teacher named Andrea Thomas who discovers an enchanted amulet
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
while in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. The amulet, which originally belonged to the ancient queen Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut also Hatchepsut; meaning Foremost of Noble Ladies;1508–1458 BC) was the fifth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt...
, bestows the supposed powers of the goddess Isis
Isis
Isis or in original more likely Aset is a goddess in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. She was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well as the matron of nature and magic...
on her when she invokes them by uttering the phrase, "O mighty Isis..." These powers include super strength and speed, the ability to fly, and telekinesis, all of which she uses to fight crime.
The Secrets of Isis ran for two seasons from September 6, 1975 to September 3, 1977. Twenty-two episodes were produced and Isis also appeared in three episodes of the related Saturday morning super-hero drama Shazam!
Shazam! (TV series)
Shazam! is a half-hour live-action television program produced by Filmation , based upon DC Comics' superhero Captain Marvel....
Despite the show's popularity, it was not renewed for a third season. The character of Isis later appeared in a cartoon called Tarzan and the Super 7
Tarzan and the Super 7
Tarzan and the Super 7, was a Saturday morning cartoon series, produced by Filmation and originally airing from 1978–1980 on CBS.The show consisted of separate installments featuring seven groups of adventurers;* Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle...
, in segments dealing with a super-team called "The Freedom Force," but with Isis's voice provided by a different actress.
Later career
After her role as Isis, Cameron played television roles in McMillan & Wife and The Amazing Spider-ManThe Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
. She also was host of the Navy Network, a TV series produced by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
about aspects of Naval life, and directed a commercial for the Naval Academy titled Razor Sharp. Cameron's last known role was in the 1980 TV movie Swan Song.
Following her acting career Cameron worked in the home health care industry for ten years, and followed that with a career in marketing for several hotels.
Movies
- How to Commit Marriage (1969) as Nancy Benson
- I Love My Wife (1970) as Nurse Sharon
- Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971) as Yvonne Millick
- B.S. I Love You (1971) as Marilyn/Michele
- Great American Beauty Contest (1973 TVM) as Gloria Rockwell
- A Time for Love (1973 TVM)
- Sorority Kill (1974 TVM)
- Night Games (1974 TVM) as Thelma Lattimer
- Columbo: Negative Reaction (1974 TVM) as Lorna McGrath
- It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy (1974 TVM) as Wanda Olivia Wellman
- High Risk (1976 TVM) as Sandra
- Swan Song (1980 TVM) as Karen