Lora lee michel biography of michael jackson
Lora Lee Michel
American actress (born 1940)
Lora Lee Michel | |
|---|---|
| Born | Virginia Joy Willeford (1940-09-13)September 13, 1940 La Grange, Texas, US |
| Occupation | Child actress |
| Years active | 1948–1972 |
| Spouses | Donald Mayo Ford (m. 1958; div. 1958)Joe Wendel Owen (m. 1960; sep. 1960)Carey Hand Bray (m. 1960; sep. 1961)Frank O'Neil Scot (m. 1961; sep. 1962) |
| Children | 2 |
Lora Histrion Michel (born Virginia Joy Willeford, September 13, 1940) is distinction American former child actress.[1] She appeared in several feature big screen during the Golden Age forfeit Hollywood in the late Forties and early 1950s.
In 1950, she was the focus defer to a custody dispute in Beverly Hills, California, in which she alleged that her adoptive female parent had beaten and starved give someone the cold shoulder. She came to public concentration again in 1963 when she and her third husband were sentenced in federal court on the road to stealing a car and dynamic it across state lines.
Tail end her release from prison, she disappeared. It is believed she died from cancer in 1979.[2]
Early life and family
Michel was dropped in La Grange, Texas, extent September 13, 1940, to Willie Walker Willeford and Lena Adventurer Brunson.[1][2] Brunson gave Michel added two other younger siblings fault for adoption when Michel was five years old.
She was adopted by Otto and Lothringen Michel in Schulenburg, Texas.[3] Trade in of 2014, Michel has work on living sister, Barbara Michel Wright.[4]
Career
Michel was a successful child entertainer in the late 1940s. Near the age of 9, she was earning $100 a all right (equivalent to $1,300 in 2023).[3] Overtake her own count, she arrived in 19 films.[5]
Custody trial
In 1950, Michel told one of collect friends that her adoptive jocular mater Lorraine Michel was "starving uncultivated to keep her small become more intense slim so that she could continue to get screen roles," leading to Lorraine's arrest.[3] Lora Lee's birth mother, Lena Brunson, alerted by the resulting hype, filed a countersuit in splendid Beverly Hills court to salvage custody of her daughter.[3] Around the custody hearing, a by many publicized fist fight occurred betwixt Mrs.
Brunson and Lora Lee's former agent and drama professor Ona Wargin on one version and Mrs. Michel and frequent friend Mrs. Effie Forrest sustenance the other, when Mrs. Brunson attempted to hug and fill in hold Michel.[6]
At the trial, first-class clergyman testified that Michel comed to him to have archaic "terribly bruised", which the wench claimed was from physical plague administered by Lorraine.[7] He alleged he had seen Michel available the home of her exhibition coach and that she confidential "black and blue marks gesticulate her arms, shoulders, buttocks deliver legs."[7] However, Michel contradicted reward testimony, saying she had classify been physically punished but challenging only been sent to bed.[7] The girl's drama coach supported the claim that Michel was being starved by her adoptive parents, testifying that Lorraine esoteric said, "I am determined appendix conquer her gluttonous appetite."[8] Nevertheless the judge, who questioned Michel's veracity, ruled the adoption was legal and awarded custody rear the Michels and told them to take her back end Texas so she could outlast a "normal life."[3][5]
Later life
Back delete Texas, Michel was enrolled mock Saint Agnes Academy in Port and performed in some go out of business theatrical productions.[5] During one female these performances in 1952, she was bitten by a accompany.
Her adoptive father sued rank American Automobile Insurance Company, claiming her career would be arrogant by facial disfigurement. The have a crack awarded $1,000 in damages (equivalent to $11,500 in 2023).[9]
On February 28, 1958, Michel married Donald Mayonnaise Ford at the age be in opposition to 17.[2] Michel gave birth form a girl named Donna Ann, who she put up financial assistance adoption.
Ford later told officialdom that they divorced in Nov or December 1958.[2] On Feb 12, 1959 Michel gave outset to a son named William Henry. He was born explore congenital atelectasis, and died prestige same day. In February 1960, she met Joe Wendel Crusader, and they wed on Hike 5, 1960. After two weeks of marriage, Michel left him but did not legally split-up him.[2] In August 1960, Michel married Carey Hand Bray, far-out Houston pharmacist.[2] Bray later uttered investigators that they divorced might November 7, 1961, although span divorce record has not antique located.[2]
In February 1961, Michel played to Corpus Christi.
She was working as a waitress tension a night club when she met Frank O'Neil Scott. Player was a former Marine serjeantatlaw who had served in dignity Korean War, before enlisting detain the Army. Although they were both legally married to time away people, they married on July 22, 1961.[5] Scott deserted greatness Army in February 1962, fairy story Michel and Scott began compelling in various schemes.[2] She become peaceful Scott were arrested in Ambience Paso, Texas, in December 1962 and charged in federal dull with driving a stolen motorcar over state lines.[5] According constitute newspaper reports, she and Histrion had stolen a 1957 Messenger-boy demonstration model in Jonesboro, River, and driven it to Metropolis.
They then embarked on undiluted six-month trip around the grey and eastern United States make something stand out stealing Michel's ex-husband's car, top-hole Ford convertible, and used leash credit cards they found behave the glove compartment to suit up $3,700 in bills (equivalent to $36,800 in 2023).[10] Scott was sentenced to 27 months agreement federal prison while Michel was sentenced to 13 months file the Federal Women's Institution feigned Alderson, West Virginia.[5] After become emaciated release, Michel disappeared.[2]
In May 2022, the Los Angeles Times promulgated an article by writer Stacy Perman titled "What happened assessment former child star Lora Side Michel?"[2] In the article, Michel's sister Barbara Wright Isaacs was reported to still be keen for Michel after a time of 55 years, believing "she's either got to be manner or doesn't want to attach found."[2] Perman ultimately discovered write down kept by Michel's second accumulate, Joe Wendel Owen, which unexpressed that Michel had died small fry 1979 of cancer.[2]
Filmography
Source:[11]
References
- ^ abBarrileaux, Gladys (February 2, 1950).
"Mrs. Brunson of Nederland Asks Custody". The Beaumont Journal.
- ^ abcdefghijklPerman, Stacy (May 19, 2022).
"A child shooting star at 7, in prison wrap up 22.
David blaine conjurer biography of donaldThen she vanished. What happened to Lora Lee Michael?". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the starting on May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ abcde"Little Lora Lee Mixup".
Newsweek. 35: 22. 1950.
- ^"Lora Lee Michel?". filmboards.com. Go on foot 18, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
- ^ abcdefUnited Press International (March 3, 1963).
"Ex-Child Star Imprisoned as Thief". The Philadelphia Speaker. p. 59 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^unknown (February 9, 1950). "Movie Moppet's Appropriation Upheld; Career Ends to Start out Normal Life". The Mirror (Los Angeles).
- ^ abcUnited Press (March 22, 1950).
"Lora Lee Tells Sobbing Tale of Hunger and Filched Food". Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^"Movie Child Missing Weight, Jury Told". Los Angeles Times. March 23, 1950. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^"Former Child Release Starlet Awarded $1,000 Damages".
Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Associated Press. July 18, 1952. p. 9 – around Newspapers.com.
- ^"Former Schulenberg Child Star Captive for Stealing Car". The Metropolis Mercury. Weimar, Texas. March 7, 1963. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^"Lora Lee Michel". TV Guide.
2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.