The wonderful sexy, sultry singer and actress, Julie London was born Julie Peck on 26th September 1926 in Santa Rosa California. She moved to Los Angeles at the age of fourteen with 
her vaudeville song and dance team parents.
her vaudeville song and dance team parents.She made her acting debut in the B-jungle adventure, "Nabonga" in 1944 opposite former Flash Gordon, Buster Crabbe. She was the relegated to an uncredited role of a chorine in Betty Grable/Dick Haymes' "Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe" (1945). Her role expanded in Unirversal's "On Stage Everybody" (1945 - starring Jack Oakie and Peggy Ryan).
Julie wa
s given a better dramatic role in Edward G. Robinson's thriller, "The Red House" (1945) as Tibby, the girlfriend of Lon McCallister's character. She is wasted in a thankless role in "Tap Roots" (1948) and Gay Cooper's war drama, "Task Force" (1949).
s given a better dramatic role in Edward G. Robinson's thriller, "The Red House" (1945) as Tibby, the girlfriend of Lon McCallister's character. She is wasted in a thankless role in "Tap Roots" (1948) and Gay Cooper's war drama, "Task Force" (1949).She made some second rate movies in the 1950s ("Return Of The Frontiersman" in 1950 starring Gordon MacRae; slueth mystery, "The Fat Man" in 1951, featuring a very young Rock Hudson; "The Fighting Chance" in 1955 and "Crime Against Joe" in 1956). That same year, sh
e appeared as herself in brief appearance singing her hit "Cry Me A River" in Tom Ewell's daydream in "The Girl Can't Help It". She made a couple of westerns in the late 50s - with Jeff Chandler in "Drango" (1957); Robert Taylor's "Saddle The Wind (1958); once again with Gary Cooper in "M
an Of The West" (1958) and with Robert Mitchum in "The Wonderful Country" (1959). Julie had a good role in the racial drama "Night Of The Quarter Moon" (1959).
In 1947, she married actor Jack Webb prior to his fame in televison's Dragnet" (1951), and went into semi-retirement, doing few films and even taking a break between 1951 - 1955. She and Jack divorced in 1953 and became a successful jazz and pop singer. Her singing career was then managed and groomed by jazz musician Bobby Troup. She mar
ried him in 1959. Ironically, when former hubby Jack Webb became the producer of television's "Emergency" (1972 - 1979), he hired not only Julie but her then-husband, Bobby, and they starred together in her most recognizable role. They played a staff doctor (Troup) and a nurse (London) in a hospital emergency room.
She was most popular as a singer was in the late 50s, when she set aside her full-time film career to concentrate on her singing career. Over 40 albums were released, and her vocal style was endeared by many core fans. She was also known in some circles as "The Liberty Girl" for helping establish Liberty Records as a successful label. Her last recording was an excellent cover of the classic tune "My Funny Valentine" on the soundtrack to the Burt Reynolds neo-n
oir detective flick "Sharky's Machine" (1981). After suffering a stroke in 1995, her health beg
an to deteriorate. In 1999, husband Bobby died, and her own passing followed later in October 2000.
e appeared as herself in brief appearance singing her hit "Cry Me A River" in Tom Ewell's daydream in "The Girl Can't Help It". She made a couple of westerns in the late 50s - with Jeff Chandler in "Drango" (1957); Robert Taylor's "Saddle The Wind (1958); once again with Gary Cooper in "M
an Of The West" (1958) and with Robert Mitchum in "The Wonderful Country" (1959). Julie had a good role in the racial drama "Night Of The Quarter Moon" (1959).In 1947, she married actor Jack Webb prior to his fame in televison's Dragnet" (1951), and went into semi-retirement, doing few films and even taking a break between 1951 - 1955. She and Jack divorced in 1953 and became a successful jazz and pop singer. Her singing career was then managed and groomed by jazz musician Bobby Troup. She mar
ried him in 1959. Ironically, when former hubby Jack Webb became the producer of television's "Emergency" (1972 - 1979), he hired not only Julie but her then-husband, Bobby, and they starred together in her most recognizable role. They played a staff doctor (Troup) and a nurse (London) in a hospital emergency room.
She was most popular as a singer was in the late 50s, when she set aside her full-time film career to concentrate on her singing career. Over 40 albums were released, and her vocal style was endeared by many core fans. She was also known in some circles as "The Liberty Girl" for helping establish Liberty Records as a successful label. Her last recording was an excellent cover of the classic tune "My Funny Valentine" on the soundtrack to the Burt Reynolds neo-n
oir detective flick "Sharky's Machine" (1981). After suffering a stroke in 1995, her health beg
an to deteriorate. In 1999, husband Bobby died, and her own passing followed later in October 2000. On her singing voice, she said "It's only a thimbleful 
of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microphone. But it is a kind of over-smoked voice, and it automatically sounds intimate". Whatever, listen to her rendition of "Cry Me A River" and you will know how good Julie London could sound.
of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microphone. But it is a kind of over-smoked voice, and it automatically sounds intimate". Whatever, listen to her rendition of "Cry Me A River" and you will know how good Julie London could sound.(Scanned autographed photo - property of author)
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