Sheree North
Biography
Sheree North was an American actress, singer, and dancer who worked as a chorus girl and stage performer before 20th Century-Fox groomed her as a possible successor to Marilyn Monroe. Born in Los Angeles, she moved from a small uncredited film part in Excuse My Dust to Broadway, where her performance in Hazel Flagg brought her a Theatre World Award and led to the film Living It Up (1954). Signed by Fox in 1954, she took the lead in How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955) and appeared in the critically acclaimed melodrama No Down Payment (1957). After her Fox contract ended she became a character actress, appearing in Don Siegel's Madigan (1968), Charley Varrick (1973), and The Shootist (1976), where she played John Wayne's long-lost love, as well as in The Outfit (1973) and Breakout (1975). She also worked in television for decades, earning Emmy nominations for Marcus Welby, M.D. and Archie Bunker's Place.
73years old at death
- Born Los Angeles
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
- Dawn Shirley Crang (birth name)Also credited as Dawn Shirley Bethel
Movie Career
- Films
- 19
- Career span
- 44 years1954 to 1998
First and latest
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A role that slipped away
Fox hoped to groom North as a replacement for Marilyn Monroe, its leading female star. The studio tested her for The Girl in Pink Tights and There's No Business Like Show Business, both offered to Monroe, while she wore Monroe's studio wardrobe, but neither role went to her.
Big break
In 1955, North was given the lead in How to Be Very, Very Popular opposite Betty Grable, a part Marilyn Monroe had turned down. As Monroe was suspended and North was hired, the media noticed, and North landed on the cover of Life with the line "Sheree North Takes Over from Marilyn Monroe".
First role
North's Broadway debut came in the musical Hazel Flagg, and she won a Theatre World Award for it. She played the same part again in the 1954 film Living It Up.
About the name
North adopted the stage name Sheree North around the time she was cast as a chorus girl in Here Come the Girls.
Beyond film
In a 1965 Los Angeles staging of Dutchman, North replaced Shirley Knight. The production, tied to the Watts riots, faced picketing, blocked newspaper ads and a fire set on her car, yet it still ran for a year.
Sheree North movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Don Siegel directed four of these films, John Flynn two. Robert Duvall appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Robert Duvall's page
John Carradine's page
Burt Lancaster's page
Robert Ryan's page
All films by Don Siegel
John FlynnDirector, 2 films, 1973 to 1980
All films by John Flynn
Also two films together8 more actors
- Bill McKinneyThe Shootist (1976) and The Outfit (1973)
- Joe Don BakerCharley Varrick (1973) and The Outfit (1973)
- Woodrow ParfreyCharley Varrick (1973) and Madigan (1968)
- Bill ZuckertThe Gypsy Moths (1969) and The Trouble with Girls (1969)
- Charlie BriggsA Real American Hero (1978) and Charley Varrick (1973)
- Jacqueline ScottTelefon (1977) and Charley Varrick (1973)
- Kathleen O'MalleyTelefon (1977) and The Shootist (1976)
- Frank MarthTelefon (1977) and Madigan (1968)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1953 | Theatre World Award | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.