Beverly Michaels (December 28, 1928 â€" June 9, 2007) was an American
B-movie actress and cheesecake model of the 1950s.Arriving in
Hollywood in 1948 at the age of 19 and standing 5 feet 9 inches tall,
Michaels quickly found modeling jobs. Initially, she was mistakenly
credited in that work as "Beverley Michaels." Later the same year, she
had a brief role in the film East Side, West Side, and two years later
had a minor role in the film version of Three Little Words.In 1951,
Michaels caught the attention of independent film director and
producer Hugo Haas. Haas showcased Michaels in the 1951 film noir
Pickup. The movie was a surprise hit, albeit a secondary B feature,
and launched Haas's career as a Hollywood director and had a large
part in starting the cycle of bad girl movies of the 1950s, which
usually starred blonde sex symbols. Their follow-up release, The Girl
on the Bridge (1951), was not a success, however, and Haas dropped
Michaels in favor of newcomer Cleo Moore as his regular female star.
Michaels was now a free agent and had uncredited roles in The Marrying
Kind and No Holds Barred, both 1952 releases. She returned to film
noir projects with a lead role in Wicked Woman (1953), which today is
perhaps her mostly widely seen movie.
B-movie actress and cheesecake model of the 1950s.Arriving in
Hollywood in 1948 at the age of 19 and standing 5 feet 9 inches tall,
Michaels quickly found modeling jobs. Initially, she was mistakenly
credited in that work as "Beverley Michaels." Later the same year, she
had a brief role in the film East Side, West Side, and two years later
had a minor role in the film version of Three Little Words.In 1951,
Michaels caught the attention of independent film director and
producer Hugo Haas. Haas showcased Michaels in the 1951 film noir
Pickup. The movie was a surprise hit, albeit a secondary B feature,
and launched Haas's career as a Hollywood director and had a large
part in starting the cycle of bad girl movies of the 1950s, which
usually starred blonde sex symbols. Their follow-up release, The Girl
on the Bridge (1951), was not a success, however, and Haas dropped
Michaels in favor of newcomer Cleo Moore as his regular female star.
Michaels was now a free agent and had uncredited roles in The Marrying
Kind and No Holds Barred, both 1952 releases. She returned to film
noir projects with a lead role in Wicked Woman (1953), which today is
perhaps her mostly widely seen movie.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.