| Jody Lawrance | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nona Josephine Goddard October 19, 1930 Fort Worth, Texas, USA |
| Died | July 10, 1986 (aged 55) Ojai, California, USA |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1949–1962 |
| Spouse | Robert Wolf Herre |
| Children |
Victoria P. Tilton Robert Wolf Herre, Jr. Chrissy A Herre |
Jody Lawrance (October 19, 1930–July 10, 1986), whose birth name was Nona Josephine Goddard , was an American actress who starred in many Hollywood adventures during the '50s through the early '60s.
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Born Nona Josephine Goddard in Fort Worth, Texas, to Ervin Silliman "Doc" and Eleanor Goddard, née Roeck. In 1935 Marilyn Monroe moved in with newlyweds Grace McKee and Ervin Goddard in Van Nuys, California and became her foster sister.
As a teenager, Jody attended Beverly Hills High School and the Hollywood Professional School training as an actress with Bento Schneider. In 1946, Jody performed as a swimmer in the Larry Crosby Water Show.
In 1949 she adopted the Screen name Jody (short for Josephine) Lawrance (her maternal Grandmother's maiden name) for her first role as Mary on The Silver Theater television show.
Her first big break came in 1949 when she was signed to a 7 year contract with Columbia Pictures, earning $250 per week. In 1951, Jody made her screen debut in Mask of the Avenger starring John Derek. The Family Secret was her second film, again starring John Derek, as well as Lee J. Cobb. Ten Tall Men starring Burt Lancaster premiered in October 1951. As the leading lady in three major movies, Jody was on her way to becoming a star. In 1952 she won the lead role in The Son of Dr. Jekyll with Louis Hayward and The Brigand starring Anthony Dexter.
In 1953 Columbia Pictures asked Jody to make a musical, All Ashore with Mickey Rooney. Unsure of her singing ability, Jody asked to be replaced by another actress who would be better suited for the role. Columbia refused, and Jody reluctantly made the movie, but the damage had been done. Jody was marked as a trouble maker, and in 1953 she was released from her contract.
Wanting to continue working, Jody took the role of Pocahontas in the independent film Captain John Smith and Pocahontas. Jody, on a budget, dyed her own hair black and suffered a horrible allergic reaction, but persevered and delivered one of her most memorable performances. It is interesting to note that she changed her last name to Lawrence for this film. It is unknown if it was because of contractual obligations, or just a spelling error.
In 1954, in order to make ends meat, Jody took jobs as a waitress at Robb's Restaurant in Westwood, California and at Blum's Ice Cream and Candy Shop in Beverly Hills. During one of her shifts, she waited on Burt Lancaster, her former co-star in Ten Tall Men. Burt exclaimed "What is Jody Lawrance, a movie star, doing working as a waitress?" Jody explained her situation, and Burt vowed to help get her back into show business. A few weeks later, true to his word, Burt introduced Jody to his friend and director of Casablanca Michael Curtiz, who cast Jody in the film The Scarlet Hour with Carol Ohmart and Tom Tryon.
Now a blonde, Jody's career was reignited and Paramount Studios signed her to a contract, earning $300 a week. In October Jody was named as one of the Deb Stars of '55 along with Anita Ekberg and Cathy Crosby. 1956 brought the release of The Leather Saint reuniting her with John Derek and starring Cesar Romero.
In 1957, just as her career was getting back on track, Paramount Studios suddenly released Jody from her contract. Studio Executives found out that she had secretly married Bruce Michael Tilton, an airplane parts company executive, in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 7, 1956, and was pregnant with their first child.
Her daughter, Victoria, was born in Los Angeles on October 6, 1957.
Jody’s career and home life were at a crossroads, she still held on to the belief that she could once again resurrect her career, but her husband wanted a wife and mother to stay home and raise their family. Unsure about what path to choose, in April, 1958 Jody travels to Las Vegas twice to file, then dismiss a divorce complaint.
Both citing emotional cruelty, Bruce Tilton was granted a divorce from Jody Lawrance on March 26, 1958, and asked for custody of their daughter, Victoria, now 2 years old.
Jody continued to find work, even though her personal life was in turmoil, and landed a minor role opposite Shirley McLaine in The Hot Spell, and the lead in an episode of Perry Mason "Case of the Perjured Parrot".
In 1959 Jody found another minor role in the mobster movie The Purple Gang starring Barry Sullivan and Robert Blake.
On June 3, 1960 Jody temporarily lost custody of Victoria, after testimony in which each parent claimed to be the fit and proper guardian, but neither claimed the other was unfit.
Jody continued to try and find work, but the roles became increasingly smaller, and she resigned herself to bit parts in television programs like The Loretta Young Show, The Red Skelton Hour and The Rebel. Her last film The Stagecoach to Dancer’s Rock starring Martin Landau was released in 1962
It was during this time that Jody met and fell in love with Robert Wolf Herre. Unlike her previous relationships, Bob was not blinded by the limelights of Hollywood. Instead he was an avid outdoorsman who appealed to Jody’s adventurous side. Playing golf, camping and going on fishing trips, were a regular part of their lives together for almost 25 years.
Josephine Lawrance married Robert Wolf Herre on November 1, 1962 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On May 16, 1961 Jody Lawrence gave birth to Robert Wolf Herre, Jr. Abigail Christian "Chrissy" Herre was born on October 10, 1963.
As Josephine Lawrance Herre, she died at age 55 in Ojai, California on July 10, 1986.[1]
– Episode #17.21 (1968) … Baton Twirler (as Jody Lawrence)
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