Joey Heatherton is an actress, singer and dancer. A gorgeous, pneumatic blonde and sex symbol of the 1960s and 1970s. Heatherton began her career as a child actress and appeared on her father’s show, The Merry Mailman, a popular children’s show in New York in 1959.
Heatherton’s Television Career
She has been performing from a young age, but her first significant role came in 1960 when she guest-starred as a wealthy, spoiled teen on an early episode of Route 66. In the mid-1960s Heatherton began to gain popularity as a sensual dancer on late-night TV shows, she also appeared on The Tonight Show, where she coached Johnny Carson on the finer points of dancing “The Frug.” Throughout the 60s she continued to inspire people with her appearance on various television series, including Mr. Novak, The Virginian, The Nurses, I Spy, and It Takes a Thief. In 1968 she co-hosted “Dean Martin Presents the Golddiggers” with Frank Sinatra.
The decline of her career and personal life
By the 1970s Heatherton’s career began to decline, she TV ads for RC Cola and Serta mattresses. In 1972 she released her music album titled ‘The Joey Heatherton’ while appearing in the film Bluebeard (1972) with Richard Burton, Raquel Welch, and Sybil Danning. Heatherton didn’t have the greatest luck with the music and film. In April 1969, Heatherton married, football player, Lance Rentzel, but after a year her husband was arrested and charged for exposing himself to a 10-year-old girl. In September 1971, Heatherton filed a divorce. Heatherton was also arrested and charged for several crimes, including charges of drug possession and felonious assault, tax evasion and skipping out on a $4900 hotel bill. In 1990, Heatherton returned to the screen with a small role as a religious fanatic in John Waters’ teen musical comedy film Cry-Baby. Her most recent acting role was in the 2002 Damon Packard film Reflections of Evil.
Here below we have compiled a list of photos from her career and her life. Vote your favorites and don’t forget to share.
