Leigh Snowden
Encyclopedia
Leigh Snowden was an American actress in motion pictures and television
.
. She began her career as a model for household appliances. A publicity photo of Snowden appeared in the July 1956 issue of Golf Digest
; she was identified as a "movie starlet." Earlier in the year she had served as queen of the Tournament of Champions pro golf event in Las Vegas. Snowden was blond with a southern accent. She was first noticed on a Jack Benny
television Christmas show when she walked across the stage before ten thousand sailors. A newspaper piece with the headline Sailors Whistles Blow Blond Into Film Studio, followed. The column revealed that the morning after the show, agents for eleven Hollywood studios either phoned or came to Snowden's door bidding for her attention. Universal Pictures
won the right to sign Snowden. There followed voice lessons to correct her southern accent and acting classes. She was instructed along with Mara Corday
, Pat Crowley
, Clint Eastwood
, James Garner
, and John Saxon
. There was a seemingly endless number of dates with men arranged by Universal.
, The Square Jungle, The Creature Walks Among Us
, and Hot Rod Rumble
. Her screen career was a brief one, enduring only from 1954 – 1961. Her last performance in movies was an uncredited part as Evie in The Comancheros
(1961). Her last TV roles came in episodes of This is Alice
(1958) and Tightrope (1960).
She married accordionist Dick Contino
who was once romantically involved with Piper Laurie
. She met him at a party given by Tony Curtis
to celebrate the first TV show performance of Rory Calhoun
. Within three months Snowden and Contino wed. After a year, with the arrival of their first child, Snowden's career was all but over. She chose to be a stay-at-home mom who cared mostly about her family.
She hated housework but enjoyed cooking.
by Tennessee Williams
. She claimed to be nervous about having to appear in her slip during most of the play's second act. Even though briefly embarrassed, the actress professed a love of the stage. She liked it more in some respects than either television or films because of "the feeling of being more in touch with people."
Leigh Snowden died in 1982 of cancer in North Hollywood, California.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
.
Studios bid for a young actress
Snowden was from Covington, TennesseeCovington, Tennessee
Covington is a city in central Tipton County in the State of Tennessee. Covington is the largest city and county seat of, Tipton County. Covington is located in one of just five counties of West Tennessee that are located along the Mississippi River, thus it is in extreme western Tennessee.This...
. She began her career as a model for household appliances. A publicity photo of Snowden appeared in the July 1956 issue of Golf Digest
Golf Digest
Golf Digest is a monthly golf magazine published by Condé Nast Publications in the United States. It is a generalist golf publication covering recreational golf and men's and women's competitive golf. Condé Nast Publications also publishes the more specialized , and Golf World Business. The...
; she was identified as a "movie starlet." Earlier in the year she had served as queen of the Tournament of Champions pro golf event in Las Vegas. Snowden was blond with a southern accent. She was first noticed on a Jack Benny
Jack Benny
Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
television Christmas show when she walked across the stage before ten thousand sailors. A newspaper piece with the headline Sailors Whistles Blow Blond Into Film Studio, followed. The column revealed that the morning after the show, agents for eleven Hollywood studios either phoned or came to Snowden's door bidding for her attention. Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
won the right to sign Snowden. There followed voice lessons to correct her southern accent and acting classes. She was instructed along with Mara Corday
Mara Corday
Mara Corday is a showgirl, model, actress, Playboy Playmate and a 1950s cult figure....
, Pat Crowley
Pat Crowley
Patricia "Pat" Crowley is an American film and television actress.Crowley was often confused with her acting contemporary Kathleen Crowley, who appeared as guest leading lady in different episodes of many of the same television series and is not related.Pat Crowley appeared in The Untouchables...
, Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
, James Garner
James Garner
James Garner is an American film and television actor, one of the first Hollywood actors to excel in both media. He has starred in several television series spanning a career of more than five decades...
, and John Saxon
John Saxon (actor)
John Saxon is an American actor who has worked on over 200 projects during the span of sixty years. Saxon is most known for his work in horror films such as A Nightmare on Elm Street and Black Christmas, both of which feature Saxon as a policeman in search of the killer...
. There was a seemingly endless number of dates with men arranged by Universal.
Actress in sci-fi classics
Snowden became an actress in B-movies like All That Heaven AllowsAll That Heaven Allows
All That Heaven Allows is a romance feature film starring Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson in a tale about a well-to-do widow and a younger landscape designer falling in love. The screenplay was written by Peg Fenwick based upon a story by Edna L. Lee and Harry Lee...
, The Square Jungle, The Creature Walks Among Us
The Creature Walks Among Us
The Creature Walks Among Us is the third and final installment of the Creature from the Black Lagoon horror film series from Universal Pictures, following 1955's Revenge of the Creature. The film was released April 26, 1956, in the United States....
, and Hot Rod Rumble
Hot Rod Rumble
Hot Rod Rumble is a 1957 crime film directed by Leslie H. Martinson. It stars Leigh Snowden and Richard Hartunian.-Cast:*Leigh Snowden as Terri Warren*Richard Hartunian as Arnie Crawford*Wright King as Ray Johnson*Joey Forman as Benny...
. Her screen career was a brief one, enduring only from 1954 – 1961. Her last performance in movies was an uncredited part as Evie in The Comancheros
The Comancheros
The Comancheros is a 1961 western Deluxe CinemaScope color film directed by Michael Curtiz and John Wayne based on a 1952 novel by Paul Wellman starring John Wayne and Stuart Whitman. When health troubles prevented Curtiz from finishing the film, Wayne directed the remainder of the movie, though...
(1961). Her last TV roles came in episodes of This is Alice
This is Alice
This is Alice was an early American television program starring nine-year-old Patty Ann Garrity. The program aired from 1958 to 1959 on the NTA syndicated network....
(1958) and Tightrope (1960).
She married accordionist Dick Contino
Dick Contino
Dick Contino is an American accordionist and singer.Contino studied accordion primarily with San Francisco-based Angelo Cognazzo, and occasionally with Los Angeles-based Guido Deiro. Early on he exhibited great virtuosity on the instrument...
who was once romantically involved with Piper Laurie
Piper Laurie
Piper Laurie is an American actress of stage and screen known for her roles in the television series Twin Peaks and the films The Hustler, Carrie, and Children of a Lesser God, all of which brought her Academy Award nominations...
. She met him at a party given by Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama...
to celebrate the first TV show performance of Rory Calhoun
Rory Calhoun
Rory Calhoun was an American television and film actor, screenwriter and producer, best known for his roles in Westerns.-Early life:...
. Within three months Snowden and Contino wed. After a year, with the arrival of their first child, Snowden's career was all but over. She chose to be a stay-at-home mom who cared mostly about her family.
She hated housework but enjoyed cooking.
Return to acting
In 1971 Snowden made a comeback of sorts. She played the role of Maggie in the Fresno Community Theater production of Cat On A Hot Tin RoofCat on a Hot Tin Roof
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a play by Tennessee Williams. One of Williams's best-known works and his personal favorite, the play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955...
by Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
. She claimed to be nervous about having to appear in her slip during most of the play's second act. Even though briefly embarrassed, the actress professed a love of the stage. She liked it more in some respects than either television or films because of "the feeling of being more in touch with people."
Leigh Snowden died in 1982 of cancer in North Hollywood, California.