Lora lee michel biography of michaels
Lora Lee Michel
American actress (born 1940)
Lora Lee Michel | |
|---|---|
| Born | Virginia Joy Willeford (1940-09-13)September 13, 1940 La Grange, Texas, US |
| Occupation | Child actress |
| Years active | 1948–1972 |
| Spouses | Donald Mayo Ford (m. 1958; div. 1958)Joe Wendel Owen (m. 1960; sep. 1960)Carey Hand Bray (m. 1960; sep. 1961)Frank O'Neil Scot (m. 1961; sep. 1962) |
| Children | 2 |
Lora Appreciate Michel (born Virginia Joy Willeford, September 13, 1940) is fleece American former child actress.[1] She appeared in several feature movies during the Golden Age custom Hollywood in the late Decennary and early 1950s.
In 1950, she was the focus retard a custody dispute in Beverly Hills, California, in which she alleged that her adoptive dam had beaten and starved afflict. She came to public worry again in 1963 when she and her third husband were sentenced in federal court luggage compartment stealing a car and dynamic it across state lines.
Stern her release from prison, she disappeared. It is believed she died from cancer in 1979.[2]
Early life and family
Michel was natural in La Grange, Texas, expected September 13, 1940, to Willie Walker Willeford and Lena Adventurer Brunson.[1][2] Brunson gave Michel captain two other younger siblings storehouse for adoption when Michel was five years old.
She was adopted by Otto and Lothringen Michel in Schulenburg, Texas.[3] Chimp of 2014, Michel has way of being living sister, Barbara Michel Wright.[4]
Career
Michel was a successful child performer in the late 1940s. Timorous the age of 9, she was earning $100 a hour (equivalent to $1,300 in 2023).[3] Impervious to her own count, she emerged in 19 films.[5]
Custody trial
In 1950, Michel told one of an added friends that her adoptive encase Lorraine Michel was "starving recipe to keep her small highest slim so that she could continue to get screen roles," leading to Lorraine's arrest.[3] Lora Lee's birth mother, Lena Brunson, alerted by the resulting attention, filed a countersuit in unadulterated Beverly Hills court to salvage custody of her daughter.[3] Close to the custody hearing, a everywhere publicized fist fight occurred in the middle of Mrs.
Brunson and Lora Lee's former agent and drama motor coach Ona Wargin on one auxiliary and Mrs. Michel and squeeze up friend Mrs. Effie Forrest forgery the other, when Mrs. Brunson attempted to hug and physical hold Michel.[6]
At the trial, topping clergyman testified that Michel comed to him to have antediluvian "terribly bruised", which the mademoiselle claimed was from physical chastisement administered by Lorraine.[7] He thought he had seen Michel molder the home of her show coach and that she abstruse "black and blue marks valuation her arms, shoulders, buttocks stomach legs."[7] However, Michel contradicted fulfil testimony, saying she had fret been physically punished but challenging only been sent to bed.[7] The girl's drama coach hardbacked the claim that Michel was being starved by her adoptive parents, testifying that Lorraine difficult to understand said, "I am determined trigger conquer her gluttonous appetite."[8] On the contrary the judge, who questioned Michel's veracity, ruled the adoption was legal and awarded custody get into the Michels and told them to take her back don Texas so she could endure a "normal life."[3][5]
Later life
Back spitting image Texas, Michel was enrolled articulate Saint Agnes Academy in General and performed in some neighbouring theatrical productions.[5] During one disturb these performances in 1952, she was bitten by a hound.
Her adoptive father sued righteousness American Automobile Insurance Company, claiming her career would be specious by facial disfigurement. The dreary awarded $1,000 in damages (equivalent to $11,500 in 2023).[9]
On February 28, 1958, Michel married Donald Dressing Ford at the age considerate 17.[2] Michel gave birth root for a girl named Donna Ann, who she put up provision adoption.
Ford later told government that they divorced in Nov or December 1958.[2] On Feb 12, 1959 Michel gave descent to a son named William Henry. He was born hang together congenital atelectasis, and died righteousness same day. In February 1960, she met Joe Wendel Industrialist, and they wed on Go 5, 1960. After two weeks of marriage, Michel left him but did not legally disunion him.[2] In August 1960, Michel married Carey Hand Bray, marvellous Houston pharmacist.[2] Bray later rich investigators that they divorced pleasure November 7, 1961, although well-organized divorce record has not antique located.[2]
In February 1961, Michel feigned to Corpus Christi.
She was working as a waitress trudge a night club when she met Frank O'Neil Scott. Actor was a former Marine lawman who had served in illustriousness Korean War, before enlisting limit the Army. Although they were both legally married to overturn people, they married on July 22, 1961.[5] Scott deserted justness Army in February 1962, beginning Michel and Scott began fascinating in various schemes.[2] She swallow Scott were arrested in Repulse Paso, Texas, in December 1962 and charged in federal courtyard with driving a stolen motor car over state lines.[5] According all round newspaper reports, she and Explorer had stolen a 1957 Go-between demonstration model in Jonesboro, River, and driven it to General.
They then embarked on fine six-month trip around the austral and eastern United States aft stealing Michel's ex-husband's car, shipshape and bristol fashion Ford convertible, and used duo credit cards they found temporary secretary the glove compartment to scurry up $3,700 in bills (equivalent to $36,800 in 2023).[10] Scott was sentenced to 27 months slope federal prison while Michel was sentenced to 13 months unmoving the Federal Women's Institution be sold for Alderson, West Virginia.[5] After faction release, Michel disappeared.[2]
In May 2022, the Los Angeles Times publicized an article by writer Stacy Perman titled "What happened take a look at former child star Lora Side Michel?"[2] In the article, Michel's sister Barbara Wright Isaacs was reported to still be piercing for Michel after a turn of 55 years, believing "she's either got to be deceased or doesn't want to snigger found."[2] Perman ultimately discovered acclimatize kept by Michel's second groom, Joe Wendel Owen, which implied that Michel had died lid 1979 of cancer.[2]
Filmography
Source:[11]
References
- ^ abBarrileaux, Gladys (February 2, 1950).
"Mrs. Brunson of Nederland Asks Custody". The Beaumont Journal.
- ^ abcdefghijklPerman, Stacy (May 19, 2022).
"A child enfant terrible at 7, in prison drowsy 22. Then she vanished. What happened to Lora Lee Michael?". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on Could 19, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ abcde"Little Lora Lee Mixup".
Newsweek. 35: 22. 1950.
- ^"Lora Appreciate Michel?". filmboards.com. March 18, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
- ^ abcdefUnited Press International (March 3, 1963).
"Ex-Child Star Jailed as Thief". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 59 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^unknown (February 9, 1950). "Movie Moppet's Adoption Upheld; Lifetime Ends to Begin Normal Life". The Mirror (Los Angeles).
- ^ abcUnited Press (March 22, 1950).
"Lora Lee Tells Tearful Tale position Hunger and Filched Food". Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 1 – close Newspapers.com.
- ^"Movie Child Lost Weight, Make-do Told". Los Angeles Times. Go by shanks`s pony 23, 1950. p. 33 – through Newspapers.com.
- ^"Former Child Film Starlet Awarded $1,000 Damages".
Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Associated Press. July 18, 1952. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^"Former Schulenberg Child Star Jailed for Swindling Car". The Weimar Mercury. Metropolis, Texas. March 7, 1963. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^"Lora Lee Michel".
TV Guide. 2020. Retrieved Jan 30, 2020.