Yvette Vickers
Encyclopedia
Yvette Iola Vickers (August 26, 1928 – circa 2010, Los Angeles) was an American actress, pin-up model and singer.
, the daughter of jazz musician Charles Vedder. During her youth she traveled with her parents on the road. She decided to become a writer and took classes at the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA) in journalism. As a filler she took a class in acting and discovered she enjoyed it, so she changed her major to drama. While at UCLA she was discovered by the advertising industry and began making commercials. She moved to New York City to become the White Rain Girl but decided to return to California in order to enter the film industry.
Her first movie appearance was as Yvette Vedder in Sunset Boulevard (1950). The role was uncredited. She made her first movie appearance under her own name in Short Cut to Hell (1957), directed by James Cagney
. In 1958, she appeared in Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
as Honey Parker. The following year she played the role of Liz Walker in Attack of the Giant Leeches
. During the same period she also made a number of appearances in TV shows.
In 1959, she appeared as the Playboy
Playmate of the Month for the July issue. Her centerfold
was photographed by Russ Meyer
. She also appeared in several other men's magazines. Her film career began to wind down at about that point. She did play some small parts in films from 1962 onward, including a small role in Hud
(1963). Her last role was in Evil Spirits, a 1991 horror film
.
Vickers was also a singer, and in the 1990s she released a jazz tribute to her parents on CD called A Tribute to Charlie and Maria. In 2005, she visited Canada for the first time to appear at the Toronto Classic Movie Festival
. With interviewer Tom Weaver, she is on the audio commentary track of the 2007 Warner Brothers DVD release of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
. She had been writing her autobiography prior to her death.
.
Early life and career
Vickers was born Yvette Vedder in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, the daughter of jazz musician Charles Vedder. During her youth she traveled with her parents on the road. She decided to become a writer and took classes at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
(UCLA) in journalism. As a filler she took a class in acting and discovered she enjoyed it, so she changed her major to drama. While at UCLA she was discovered by the advertising industry and began making commercials. She moved to New York City to become the White Rain Girl but decided to return to California in order to enter the film industry.
Her first movie appearance was as Yvette Vedder in Sunset Boulevard (1950). The role was uncredited. She made her first movie appearance under her own name in Short Cut to Hell (1957), directed by James Cagney
James Cagney
James Francis Cagney, Jr. was an American actor, first on stage, then in film, where he had his greatest impact. Although he won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of performances, he is best remembered for playing "tough guys." In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him eighth...
. In 1958, she appeared in Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman is a 1958 American science fiction feature film produced by Bernard Woolner for Allied Artists Pictures. It was directed by Nathan H. Juran from a screenplay by Mark Hanna, and starred Allison Hayes, William Hudson and Yvette Vickers. The original music score was...
as Honey Parker. The following year she played the role of Liz Walker in Attack of the Giant Leeches
Attack of the Giant Leeches
Attack of the Giant Leeches is a low-budget 1959 science fiction film from American International Pictures. It was directed by Bernard L. Kowalski, produced by Gene Corman, and the screenplay was written by Leo Gordon. The film is in black and white, and runs for 62 minutes...
. During the same period she also made a number of appearances in TV shows.
In 1959, she appeared as the Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
Playmate of the Month for the July issue. Her centerfold
Centerfold
The centerfold of a magazine refers to a gatefolded spread, usually a portrait such as a pin-up or a nude, inserted in the middle of the publication, or to the model featured in the portrait...
was photographed by Russ Meyer
Russ Meyer
Russell Albion "Russ" Meyer was a U.S. motion picture director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, actor and photographer....
. She also appeared in several other men's magazines. Her film career began to wind down at about that point. She did play some small parts in films from 1962 onward, including a small role in Hud
Hud (film)
Hud is a 1963 western film whose title character is an embittered and selfish modern-day cowboy. With screenplay by Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank, Jr., based on Larry McMurtry's 1961 novel Horseman, Pass By, it was directed by Martin Ritt and stars Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Neal and...
(1963). Her last role was in Evil Spirits, a 1991 horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
.
Vickers was also a singer, and in the 1990s she released a jazz tribute to her parents on CD called A Tribute to Charlie and Maria. In 2005, she visited Canada for the first time to appear at the Toronto Classic Movie Festival
Toronto Classic Movie Festival
The Toronto Classic Movie Festival or ClassicFest is an annual event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada which features nostalgia movies from the 1950s and earlier, especially B-movies and film noir classics. The first festival was held in 2004 at the Regent Theatre in Toronto...
. With interviewer Tom Weaver, she is on the audio commentary track of the 2007 Warner Brothers DVD release of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman is a 1958 American science fiction feature film produced by Bernard Woolner for Allied Artists Pictures. It was directed by Nathan H. Juran from a screenplay by Mark Hanna, and starred Allison Hayes, William Hudson and Yvette Vickers. The original music score was...
. She had been writing her autobiography prior to her death.
Personal life
In 1953, Vickers married Don Prell, but they were divorced by 1957. Her second marriage was in 1959 to Leonard Burns, but they were divorced the same year. She had no children. Although she never remarried, Vickers had a long-term relationship with actor Jim HuttonJim Hutton
Dana James Hutton , usually credited as Jim Hutton, was an American actor in film and television probably best remembered for his role as Ellery Queen in the 1970s TV series of the same name.-Early life and career:...
.