Deanna Lund

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Deanna Lund
Lund in Land of the Giants.
Born(1937-05-30)May 30, 1937
DiedJune 22, 2018(2018-06-22) (aged 81)
OccupationActress
Years active1961–2017
Spouse(s)
Wilbur Owen Upson
(m. 1958; div. 1963)

(m. 1970; div. 1980)

James E. Duffy
(m. 1980; div. 19??)
Children3, including Michele Matheson
Websitedeannalund.com

Deanna Lund (May 30, 1937 – June 22, 2018) was an American film and television actress best known for her role in the Irwin Allen television series Land of the Giants, in which she played Valerie Ames Scott.

Early years

[edit]

Lund was the daughter of attorney Arthur Lund, who at one time served in the legislature of Illinois. The family moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, when she was eight. She studied drama at Rollins College, in Winter Park, Florida, but dropped out to get married.[1] Before becoming an actress, she attended modeling school and worked as a secretary. Later, she did commercials on television and became a weather person at a television station.[2]

Career

[edit]

Lund's early career included minor roles in the 1960s spy film parodies Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965) and Dimension 5 (1966), as well as the horror film Sting of Death (1965), the beach film Out of Sight (1966), and the western Johnny Tiger (1966). She appeared as a lesbian stripper in the 1967 Frank Sinatra movie Tony Rome,[3] but Lund was so embarrassed by the role that she had her name removed from the credits. Her performance was favorably received and led to a starring role in Irwin Allen's television series Land of the Giants.[3]: 237  While waiting for filming to start, Lund was offered the part of Rosemary's friend Terry Gionoffrio in Rosemary's Baby but had to decline when, despite Roman Polanski's assurances, Allen did not believe she would be finished in time.[3]: 238 

Valerie in Giantland, a novella written by Lund, is based on the Land of the Giants series, and set ten years later; written from the point of view of Lund's character, Valerie Ames. In 1976, she appeared on the drama General Hospital as Peggy Lowell, the secretary and mistress of Cameron Faulkner, who was played by Lund's husband Don Matheson. Her later films included the Jerry Lewis comedy Hardly Working (1980), Stick (1985) starring Burt Reynolds, and horror movies such as the Christmas horror film Elves (1989), Witch Story (1989),[4] and the comedy Transylvania Twist (1989).

Personal life

[edit]

Lund dropped out of college to marry her high school sweetheart, Wilbur Owen Upson, in 1958; they had two children but divorced in 1963.[5][2]

In 1970, shortly after Land of the Giants was cancelled, she married series co-star Don Matheson, but they were divorced by 1980. Their daughter, Michele Matheson, is also an actress.[6]

In 1980, she married James E. Duffy, but they later divorced.[7]

In 1995, she dated Larry King. The couple were engaged five weeks after they met[8] but the relationship ended before they could be married.[9]

Lund died on June 22, 2018, at her home in Century City, California, of pancreatic cancer, aged 81.[10]

Filmography

[edit]
YearTitleRoleNotes
1965Once Upon a Coffee HouseCorrine
1965Run for Your WifeUnknownUncredited
1965Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini MachineRobot
1966The OscarBikini GirlUncredited
1966Johnny TigerLouise
1966Paradise, Hawaiian StyleNurseUncredited
1966Out of SightTuff Bod
1966SpinoutRedhead BeautyUncredited
1966Sting of DeathJessica, Honey Blond
1966Dimension 5Miss Sweet
1966The SwingerModelUncredited
1967Batman (TV series)Anna Gramyear 2, episodes 45 and 46
1967Tony RomeGeorgia McKayUncredited
1968Panic in the CityBlonde
1968Land of the Giants (TV series)Valerie Scott
1975HustleUnknownUncredited
1978The Incredible Hulk (TV series)Terri AnnSeason 1, episode 3: Of Guilt, Models and Murder
1980Hardly WorkingMillie
1985StickDiane
1987If We Knew ThenUnknown
1987HammerheadDee-Dee
1989StregheHelena
1989ElvesKirsten's Mother
1989Transylvania TwistTeacher
1989Girl TalkDana
1990The Girl I WantMrs. Andrews
1992Roots of EvilMarissa
2001Extreme HonorMartha Brascoe
2015BonedFaye

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hollywood Xpo 2010: List of Guests from www.hollywoodxpo.com
  2. ^ a b Lewis, Dan (August 19, 1968). "Deanna Lund in 'Land of Giants'". Detroit Free Press. Michigan, Detroit. p. 16. Retrieved September 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b c Tom Lisanti (2001). Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema: Interviews with 20 Actresses from Biker, Beach, and Elvis Movies. McFarland. pp. 234–. ISBN 978-0-7864-0868-9.
  4. ^ Della Casa, Steve; Giusti, Marco (2013). "Il Grande Libro di Ercole". Edizione Sabinae. Page 338. ISBN 978-88-98623-051
  5. ^ Barnes, Mike (June 25, 2018). "Deanna Lund, Actress on 'Land of the Giants,' Dies at 81". The Hollywood Reporter.
  6. ^ "Deanna Lund - The Private Life and Times of Deanna Lund. Deanna Lund Pictures". www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com.
  7. ^ Leitereg, Neal J. (9 April 2019). "Longtime Century City home of actress Deanna Lund sells for $1.45 million". baltimoresun.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  8. ^ Adams, Kathleen; Lofaro, Lina; Quinn, Michael; Rubin, Jeffery C.; Sanders, Alain L.; Urquhart, Sidney (April 3, 1995). "Time Milestones Apr. 3, 1995". Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  9. ^ "The Wedding is Off: Larry King Gets Big Hang-Up From Fiance". Daily News. New York. August 17, 1995. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021.
  10. ^ "Deanna Lund, Actress on 'Land of the Giants,' Dies at 81". The Hollywood Reporter. June 25, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
[edit]
    Deanna Lund
    Lund in Land of the Giants.
    Born(1937-05-30)May 30, 1937
    DiedJune 22, 2018(2018-06-22) (aged 81)
    OccupationActress
    Years active1961–2017
    Spouse(s)
    Wilbur Owen Upson
    (m. 1958; div. 1963)

    (m. 1970; div. 1980)

    James E. Duffy
    (m. 1980; div. 19??)
    Children3, including Michele Matheson
    Websitedeannalund.com

    Deanna Lund (May 30, 1937 – June 22, 2018) was an American film and television actress best known for her role in the Irwin Allen television series Land of the Giants, in which she played Valerie Ames Scott.

    Early years

    Lund was the daughter of attorney Arthur Lund, who at one time served in the legislature of Illinois. The family moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, when she was eight. She studied drama at Rollins College, in Winter Park, Florida, but dropped out to get married.[1] Before becoming an actress, she attended modeling school and worked as a secretary. Later, she did commercials on television and became a weather person at a television station.[2]

    Career

    Lund's early career included minor roles in the 1960s spy film parodies Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965) and Dimension 5 (1966), as well as the horror film Sting of Death (1965), the beach film Out of Sight (1966), and the western Johnny Tiger (1966). She appeared as a lesbian stripper in the 1967 Frank Sinatra movie Tony Rome,[3] but Lund was so embarrassed by the role that she had her name removed from the credits. Her performance was favorably received and led to a starring role in Irwin Allen's television series Land of the Giants.[3]: 237  While waiting for filming to start, Lund was offered the part of Rosemary's friend Terry Gionoffrio in Rosemary's Baby but had to decline when, despite Roman Polanski's assurances, Allen did not believe she would be finished in time.[3]: 238 

    Valerie in Giantland, a novella written by Lund, is based on the Land of the Giants series, and set ten years later; written from the point of view of Lund's character, Valerie Ames. In 1976, she appeared on the drama General Hospital as Peggy Lowell, the secretary and mistress of Cameron Faulkner, who was played by Lund's husband Don Matheson. Her later films included the Jerry Lewis comedy Hardly Working (1980), Stick (1985) starring Burt Reynolds, and horror movies such as the Christmas horror film Elves (1989), Witch Story (1989),[4] and the comedy Transylvania Twist (1989).

    Personal life

    Lund dropped out of college to marry her high school sweetheart, Wilbur Owen Upson, in 1958; they had two children but divorced in 1963.[5][2]

    In 1970, shortly after Land of the Giants was cancelled, she married series co-star Don Matheson, but they were divorced by 1980. Their daughter, Michele Matheson, is also an actress.[6]

    In 1980, she married James E. Duffy, but they later divorced.[7]

    In 1995, she dated Larry King. The couple were engaged five weeks after they met[8] but the relationship ended before they could be married.[9]

    Lund died on June 22, 2018, at her home in Century City, California, of pancreatic cancer, aged 81.[10]

    Filmography

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    1965Once Upon a Coffee HouseCorrine
    1965Run for Your WifeUnknownUncredited
    1965Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini MachineRobot
    1966The OscarBikini GirlUncredited
    1966Johnny TigerLouise
    1966Paradise, Hawaiian StyleNurseUncredited
    1966Out of SightTuff Bod
    1966SpinoutRedhead BeautyUncredited
    1966Sting of DeathJessica, Honey Blond
    1966Dimension 5Miss Sweet
    1966The SwingerModelUncredited
    1967Batman (TV series)Anna Gramyear 2, episodes 45 and 46
    1967Tony RomeGeorgia McKayUncredited
    1968Panic in the CityBlonde
    1968Land of the Giants (TV series)Valerie Scott
    1975HustleUnknownUncredited
    1978The Incredible Hulk (TV series)Terri AnnSeason 1, episode 3: Of Guilt, Models and Murder
    1980Hardly WorkingMillie
    1985StickDiane
    1987If We Knew ThenUnknown
    1987HammerheadDee-Dee
    1989StregheHelena
    1989ElvesKirsten's Mother
    1989Transylvania TwistTeacher
    1989Girl TalkDana
    1990The Girl I WantMrs. Andrews
    1992Roots of EvilMarissa
    2001Extreme HonorMartha Brascoe
    2015BonedFaye

    References

    1. ^ Hollywood Xpo 2010: List of Guests from www.hollywoodxpo.com
    2. ^ a b Lewis, Dan (August 19, 1968). "Deanna Lund in 'Land of Giants'". Detroit Free Press. Michigan, Detroit. p. 16. Retrieved September 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
    3. ^ a b c Tom Lisanti (2001). Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema: Interviews with 20 Actresses from Biker, Beach, and Elvis Movies. McFarland. pp. 234–. ISBN 978-0-7864-0868-9.
    4. ^ Della Casa, Steve; Giusti, Marco (2013). "Il Grande Libro di Ercole". Edizione Sabinae. Page 338. ISBN 978-88-98623-051
    5. ^ Barnes, Mike (June 25, 2018). "Deanna Lund, Actress on 'Land of the Giants,' Dies at 81". The Hollywood Reporter.
    6. ^ "Deanna Lund - The Private Life and Times of Deanna Lund. Deanna Lund Pictures". www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com.
    7. ^ Leitereg, Neal J. (9 April 2019). "Longtime Century City home of actress Deanna Lund sells for $1.45 million". baltimoresun.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
    8. ^ Adams, Kathleen; Lofaro, Lina; Quinn, Michael; Rubin, Jeffery C.; Sanders, Alain L.; Urquhart, Sidney (April 3, 1995). "Time Milestones Apr. 3, 1995". Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
    9. ^ "The Wedding is Off: Larry King Gets Big Hang-Up From Fiance". Daily News. New York. August 17, 1995. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021.
    10. ^ "Deanna Lund, Actress on 'Land of the Giants,' Dies at 81". The Hollywood Reporter. June 25, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
    • Deanna Lund at IMDb
    • Deanna Lund at the TCM Movie Database
    • Deanna Lund Official Website
    • Deanna Lund at Sixties Cinema
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Deanna_Lund&oldid=1321501673"