May Heatherly

May Heatherly
Heatherly in 1964
Born
Mary Gay Prindle

(1942-05-13)May 13, 1942
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedOctober 6, 2015(2015-10-06) (aged 73)
Madrid, Spain
OccupationActress
Years active1961–2015

May Heatherly (born Mary Gay Prindle; May 13, 1942 – October 6, 2015) was an American actress who worked primarily in Spain. A native of Los Angeles, California, Heatherly spent her childhood there before relocating with her family to Spain. After working as an actress in Spain, she went on to appear in some U.S. television, including a recurring guest role on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964). Her film credits include The Cups of San Sebastian (1967), Open Season (1974), From Hell to Victory (1979), Pieces (1982), and Edge of the Axe (1988).

In addition to her acting career, Heatherly also trained in bullfighting in the 1960s, and at one time considered making a career in it. She died in Madrid in October 2015, aged 73.

Early life

Heatherly was born Mary Gay Prindle[1] on May 13, 1942, in Los Angeles, California.[2][3] When she was eleven years old, she relocated with her family to Spain, where her businessman father took a job opportunity.[2]

Career

In the early 1960s, Heatherly began working in Spain as an actress, appearing in the films Ella y el miedo (1962), Los muertos no perdonan (1963), and Torrejón City (1964). During this period in Spain, Heatherly also trained to be a bullfighter,[4] and considered making a career of it.[5] Heatherly returned to the United States in later 1964 to appear in a recurring guest role as Heather McNabb on The Man from U.N.C.L.E..[4]

She subsequently appeared in the Spanish-based production The Cups of San Sebastian (1967) alongside Tab Hunter, followed by a small role in the American drama film Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing (1973) directed by Alan J. Pakula and starring Maggie Smith.[6] Heatherly also had roles in the European-based thrillers The Killer Is One of 13 (1973) and The Student Connection (1974), followed by Open Season (1974), which starred Peter Fonda and William Holden.[7]

After appearing in a number of Spanish-based productions, Heatherly was cast in José Ramón Larraz's slasher film Pieces (1982), portraying the overbearing, abusive mother of the film's killer villain.[8] She subsequently had a supporting role in the drama Crystal Heart (1986), starring Tawny Kitaen. She later reunited with director José Ramón Larraz, appearing in his 1988 slasher film Edge of the Axe.[9]

In 2006, Heatherly has a minor part in the Miloš Forman-directed drama Goya's Ghosts.[2]

Death

Heatherly underwent a hip replacement surgery in 2013.[2] She died two years later on October 6, 2015, in Madrid, aged 73.[2]

Selected filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1962 Torrejón City Ruth
1963 The Dead Don't Forgive Marta Spanish title: Los muertos no perdonan
1964 Edge of Fear Laura Berke Spanish title: Ella y el miedo [10]
1967 The Cups of San Sebastian Jane Spanish title: El dedo del destino
1973 Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing Melanie Elbertson
1974 The Student Connection Marina Spanish title: Un par de zapatos del '32
1974 Open Season Alicia Rennick [7]
1975 Blood Stains in a New Car María Rovira Spanish title: Manchas de sangre en un coche nuevo
1976 Ambitious Margarita Spanish title: Ambiciosa
1979 From Hell to Victory WAAF Lt. Mary Jennings
1980 Cannibals in the Streets Nurse Helen
1982 Pieces Mrs. Reston Spanish title: Mil gritos tiene la noche [8]
1986 Crystal Heart Diana Newley
1987 Beaks: The Movie Olivia
1989 Edge of the Axe Anna Bixby Spanish title: Al filo del hacha [9]
1999 The Long Kill Mrs. Preble Television film
2000 One of the Hollywood Ten Thug's Wife
2005 The Feast of the Goat Nurse
2006 Goya's Ghosts Harlot's Dueña
2015 Vampyres Woman

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1961 Hawaiian Eye Julie Talbot Episode: "The Stanhope Brand"
1961 My Three Sons Mary Hawkins Episode: "The Lostling"
1961 The Tom Ewell Show Diane Episode: "The Prying Eye"
1961–1962 The Real McCoys Maxine / Barbara 2 episodes
1962 Gunsmoke Molly Episode: "The Boys"
1964 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Heather McNabb 4 episodes
1977 Curro Jiménez Leonor Episode: "El míster"
1991 Farmacia de guardia Maggie Episode: "La novia del abuelo"
1996 Médico de familia Vera Episode: "Los Martín conquistan Manhattan"

References

  1. ^ "Obituario: Muere la actriz May Heatherly". Unión de actores (in Spanish). 2015. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e "May Heatherly". Moviefone. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ "The Birth of Mary Gay Prindle". California Birth Index. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Tuesday Highlights". Kansas City Star. October 18, 1964. p. 14B – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "TV series wins over bullring". The Shreveport Journal. December 4, 1964. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Canby, Vincent (April 20, 1973). "Fun of 'Love and Pain' Yields to Ethic". The New York Times. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Senn 2013, p. 77.
  8. ^ a b Stine 2015, p. 188.
  9. ^ a b Stine 2015, p. 118.
  10. ^ "Movies". Tampa Times. January 9, 1973. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.

Sources

  • Senn, Bryan (2013). The Most Dangerous Cinema: People Hunting People on Film. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-476-61357-4.
  • Stine, Scott Aaron (2015) [2003]. The Gorehound's Guide to Splatter Films of the 1980s. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 9781476611327.
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