Julie London

Birthday: 26 September 1926, Santa Rosa, California, USA

Birth Name: Julie Peck

Height: 157 cm

Julie London was born Julie Peck on September 26, 1926 in Santa Rosa, California. She was an actress and sultry singer who starred in a number of movies in the 1940s and 1950s before beginning a popular singing career, but is probably best remembered for her role as Nurse Dixie McCall on Emergency! (1972) in the 1970s. Known for her wonderful sex appeal throughout her career, even well up into her late 40s, she had a career most people can only dream of.Julie started out by playing small roles in the early 1940s and quickly became a leading actress and G.I. pin-up girl. In 1947, she married actor Jack Webb prior to his fame on Dragnet (1951), and went into semi-retirement, doing few films and even taking a break between 1951 and 1955. After she and Jack divorced in the mid-1950s, she became a jazz/pop singer, managed and groomed by jazz musician/actor Bobby Troup who became her second husband in 1959 and later, partner on the small screen. When former husband Jack Webb became the producer of Emergency! (1972), he hired not only Julie but her then-husband, Bobby, and they starred together in her most recognizable role. Many people also remember Julie and Bobby's appearances together in the 1970s on the television game show featuring Hollywood married couples, Tattletales (1974) with host Bert Convy.She was most popular as a singer in the late 1950s, when she set aside her full-time film career to concentrate on her singing career. Over 40 albums were released, and her vocal style was endeared by many core fans. Her last recording was an excellent cover of the classic tune "My Funny Valentine" on the soundtrack to the Burt Reynolds neo-noir detective film Sharky's Machine (1981).After suffering a stroke in 1995, her health began to deteriorate. In 1999, husband Bobby died, and her own passing followed later on October 18, 2000. She left a legacy of a satisfying screen career and a great deal of wonderful music that will live forever. Julie had two daughters with Jack Webb and a daughter and twin sons with Bobby Troup. Show less «

I was really stupid about it. I thought, "Oh, that's nice." My first song, "River", was No. 1 for fo...Show more »

I was really stupid about it. I thought, "Oh, that's nice." My first song, "River", was No. 1 for four months, but I didn't know the business then; I didn't know what it meant. Show less «

[on the singers she enjoyed listening to]: I think Roberta Flack is sensational. The only music I do...Show more »

[on the singers she enjoyed listening to]: I think Roberta Flack is sensational. The only music I don't really like is country and western. Except when Ray Charles does it. I think Barbra Streisand's great. I love her when she sings softly. Talk, about control; I never had the kind of discipline for voice training. But I think it's great to be identified with one song, like I was with "Cry Me a River": Fifteen years later, Streisand did it and sang the hell out of it. Show less «

[on her stage fright]: Before I sing at a club, I feel so awful, I think, "I'm going to get out of t...Show more »

[on her stage fright]: Before I sing at a club, I feel so awful, I think, "I'm going to get out of this business. Nothing is worth it." I'm terrified of the camera. I don't like to watch the dailies. When an old movie of mine appears on TV, I crawl under a chair and hide. Show less «

[In 1944, on her role in Nabonga (1944) that lurched into camera view and the monkey screamed, jumpe...Show more »

[In 1944, on her role in Nabonga (1944) that lurched into camera view and the monkey screamed, jumped for the nearest tree, and fled, chattering and gibbering that it was some time before the monkey was calmed and shooting resumed]: I can't believe it's not all a dream. It's just like a dream though. Show less «

I may have to revise my ideal weight if this pace keeps up. I don't think anyone could gain weight f...Show more »

I may have to revise my ideal weight if this pace keeps up. I don't think anyone could gain weight filming and action television series like Emergency! (1972). Show less «

Sometimes you kind of lose yourself in someone else's personality.

[In 1963]: We're opposite types. Marilyn [Monroe] was the sex symbol... I'm strictly the housewife-m...Show more »

[In 1963]: We're opposite types. Marilyn [Monroe] was the sex symbol... I'm strictly the housewife-mother type. Show less «

[Of Robert Fuller]: I'm already best buds with Bobby Fuller. The fact reviewers said I looked a deca...Show more »

[Of Robert Fuller]: I'm already best buds with Bobby Fuller. The fact reviewers said I looked a decade older than him is all right with me, I am older. And signing a Western star (to play) a doctor was one of Jack's best moves. Bob has the humanity an ER doctor must carry at all times. Show less «

[on her singing voice]: It's only a thimbleful of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microph...Show more »

[on her singing voice]: It's only a thimbleful of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microphone. But it is a kind of over-smoked voice, and it automatically sounds intimate. Show less «

[Who talked about being a part of Emergency! (1972)]: I feel pride when strangers tell me the show h...Show more »

[Who talked about being a part of Emergency! (1972)]: I feel pride when strangers tell me the show has helped save someone else's life because they've been made aware of paramedics' services, but I'm not fulfilled creatively. I guess I've never been content with what I've accomplished. I think I have excellent taste in what I do, but I keep hoping there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. There's always something just around the corner for people to run into. But I haven't the foggiest what or where my corner is. Show less «

[In 1945]: I'll be with you as soon as I paint on my beach shoes.

[In 1961]: Just as long as they buy the records, I don't care why they buy 'em, we spent more time o...Show more »

[In 1961]: Just as long as they buy the records, I don't care why they buy 'em, we spent more time on the covers than the music. Show less «

[In 1997]: I'm a girl who needs amplification.

[Of Jack Webb]: I'm friendly with Jack. It's just a business relationship. It's not embarrassing at ...Show more »

[Of Jack Webb]: I'm friendly with Jack. It's just a business relationship. It's not embarrassing at all. The divorce happened 19 years ago. That part of my life is all behind. Bobby is very friendly with Jack. I'd never worked with Jack before, but Bobby has done several Dragnets and Adam-12s. Show less «

[In 1981]: Mainly it's been a royal treat for the two of us, being able to spend a lot of time with ...Show more »

[In 1981]: Mainly it's been a royal treat for the two of us, being able to spend a lot of time with the kids, which is really important to us both, and which we're still doing. Show less «

[on the series Emergency! (1972), which seemed meaningless than in retrospect]: A show of that kind ...Show more »

[on the series Emergency! (1972), which seemed meaningless than in retrospect]: A show of that kind takes away your creativity, your motivation. The dialog was mainly surgical and medical; there was no chance to really play a scene with anyone. That moment when you do a scene and you know you've played the hell out of it -- well, this can urge you on to do more and better; but when you do the same thing all the time, you lose that drive. Show less «

[on her popularity while playing the forty-five something nurse Dixie McCall on Emergency! (1972)]: ...Show more »

[on her popularity while playing the forty-five something nurse Dixie McCall on Emergency! (1972)]: Of course, I knew nothing about nursing and Bobby has seldom been near a doctor. The only experience I've had with emergencies have been with the kids. One is always getting cut on glass or falling out of a tree, so I'm an old hand at taking them to the accident ward of the Valley Hospital. I guess if I had to, though, I could take your blood pressure. Show less «

[When asked if she had any weight problems]: No, I never do, but I guess it's a lack of sleep. I sho...Show more »

[When asked if she had any weight problems]: No, I never do, but I guess it's a lack of sleep. I should eat more protein, but I like to eat what I like. Show less «

I'm the world's worst. I dislike women in large groups, and as individuals.

[on having both daughters following in their mother's footsteps - as actresses]: It really doesn't m...Show more »

[on having both daughters following in their mother's footsteps - as actresses]: It really doesn't matter how I feel. They'll do what they damn well please anyhow. My 10-year-old daughter Kelly was on an Emergency!. She'd read my script and found a part for someone her age. She asked me to call and see if she could play it. I said, "No way. You want it badly enough, you call." She did, and got the part. She was on the road with me when she was two weeks old. I thought: "I'll be damned if I'll let her stay home; later, she'll wonder who the hell I am." I love it when we're on hiatus. From February to June, I just cook and do crazy things like that. I even try to help the kids with that new math. But forget it. Bobby's a Phi Beta Kappa, but he can't do their homework. They use phrases in the textbooks that I never heard of. Show less «

You have to set standards for yourself. I have a strong feeling about not letting myself go. If you ...Show more »

You have to set standards for yourself. I have a strong feeling about not letting myself go. If you keep busy, you can take your mind off food. If you don't plan activity, eating will be the only thing you think about. Show less «

[In 1972]: I'm not crazy about sexual activities so explicitly shown. Sex is a terribly personal thi...Show more »

[In 1972]: I'm not crazy about sexual activities so explicitly shown. Sex is a terribly personal thing. It shouldn't be exploited. Show less «

[In 1973]: I got a letter from some dame who criticized my demeanor on the show. She said it wasn't ...Show more »

[In 1973]: I got a letter from some dame who criticized my demeanor on the show. She said it wasn't proper for me to wear a padded bra. I've never worn a padded bra in my life. I visited some hospitals when we started Emergency! Some of the gals are wearing shag haircuts and earrings. Things have changed. Show less «

I think our emotions contribute most to staying young. You can't fight life or yourself and feel or ...Show more »

I think our emotions contribute most to staying young. You can't fight life or yourself and feel or look well. Show less «

If I had to cook three times a day, I wouldn't be entranced with it, but I do love to cook breakfast...Show more »

If I had to cook three times a day, I wouldn't be entranced with it, but I do love to cook breakfast. I make a 10-minute or a 45-minute breakfast, depending upon my mood and appetite. I'm a great bacon fan, our favorite eggs are basted with bacon fat, and I mean the drippings from the bacon I've just fried. I hate the taste of burned butter. Frequently I make bacon gravy by browning flour in the drippings. Then I add milk and coarsely ground pepper and cook it until its rich and thick. I make ham gravy the same way, it's my husband's favorite, and my kids adore it. Show less «

[In 1966]: I really learned to cook by watching my mother. I'm a Southern cook of sorts, as my mothe...Show more »

[In 1966]: I really learned to cook by watching my mother. I'm a Southern cook of sorts, as my mother once lived in Arkansas. I always helped her in the kitchen. She was a marvelous cook. The only trouble I have is trying to repeat her dishes. She never used a recipe. Show less «

[In 1974]: One is trying for accurate pronunciation of medical terms... especially when there is a d...Show more »

[In 1974]: One is trying for accurate pronunciation of medical terms... especially when there is a difference of opinion. Then there's the problem of those darned rubber gloves. I always try to have the gloves on before they start shooting a scene, because I've had too many times when the cameras were rolling and I couldn't "pop" them on, which meant the scene had to be done over again. Show less «

[on her divorce from Jack Webb]: I was unsettled, I think anybody would be if the way they had been ...Show more »

[on her divorce from Jack Webb]: I was unsettled, I think anybody would be if the way they had been living for seven years was suddenly upset. Show less «

[When she was offered the female lead role of Dixie McCall]: It was news to me. First I knew about i...Show more »

[When she was offered the female lead role of Dixie McCall]: It was news to me. First I knew about it, Jack called before Thanksgiving and said this part was right for me and he needed an answer before I saw the script and that Bobby would be in it and he had to start shooting in four weeks. I had a three-week commitment to sing in Las Vegas at the Tropicana. Bobby was in Las Vegas writing the lyrics to Billy May's music for the new edition of the Follies Bergère, which opened January 1 in the Tropicana. We did it. But I don't know how. Show less «

[When she became an actress]: I wasn't going to, but the store was filled with actors, working there...Show more »

[When she became an actress]: I wasn't going to, but the store was filled with actors, working there between jobs. They said, "Go on, See her.". Show less «

[When she made that transition from singer to actress]: That was a roughie. Basically, you see, I'm ...Show more »

[When she made that transition from singer to actress]: That was a roughie. Basically, you see, I'm a night person... all those years working in clubs and in Vegas where you don't get to bed until 5 or 6 a.m. So there I was working in Vegas and not getting to I bed until early in the morning. Then, in the space of a couple of days, I had to turn myself completely around and get up at 5 a.m. to go to work at the studio. What made it even worse was that we were doing both the World Premiere Movie of Emergency and the first episode of the series, at the same time. I thought I'd lose my mind trying to get turned around. Show less «

[If she missed being on the road, prior to being a professional actress]: Hell, no. You know how l h...Show more »

[If she missed being on the road, prior to being a professional actress]: Hell, no. You know how l handled it all those years? I threw up a lot. I'd finish working at 1 a.m. and then I couldn't sleep. And I'm always a wreck at openings. Then I settle down. I do know how to handle audiences. When they get noisy, I sing soft. But you know what I miss? The clothes. I had gorgeous gowns when I was on the road. The other day I had to go buy a dress because I didn't even own one. I'm always in jeans or those damn nurses' uniforms. Show less «

[on winning the co-lead role in Emergency! (1972)]: Jack Webb phoned and asked me to consider it. I ...Show more »

[on winning the co-lead role in Emergency! (1972)]: Jack Webb phoned and asked me to consider it. I asked to see a script and he said he didn't have one ready but he needed my signature to pitch it to NBC. The deadlines were looming. It was designed as a mid-seasoner, which is still rare on TV. He'd already used Bobby Troup in some episodes of Adam-12 (1968). And he simply told me, "I think you're a damned fine actress and you can project that grace under fire ER nurses must demonstrate." So I believed him and to our surprise NBC picked up the show before the entire pilot was finished. Show less «

[In 1968]: I am lazy. I like to procrastinate. But I force myself to swim, ride a bike or go to a gy...Show more »

[In 1968]: I am lazy. I like to procrastinate. But I force myself to swim, ride a bike or go to a gym. You have to be active to keep in shape. Show less «

[When asked if she wanted to star in the pilot of Emergency! (1972), alongside her then husband, Bob...Show more »

[When asked if she wanted to star in the pilot of Emergency! (1972), alongside her then husband, Bobby Troup]: Hell yes! Show less «

[When she felt about the careers of both hers and Jack Webb's]: I don't cheer anyone's bad luck, lea...Show more »

[When she felt about the careers of both hers and Jack Webb's]: I don't cheer anyone's bad luck, least of all, the man who is father of my two girls. Yet, I would be lying if I said there was no self-satisfaction. I am only human. There's bound to be some elation. I guess any divorced woman would understand how I feel. Show less «

Women should be women, who wants them to be asexual? Not your old buddy.

[If homes belongs to couples or roommates]: I think homes should reflect the individuals and their i...Show more »

[If homes belongs to couples or roommates]: I think homes should reflect the individuals and their individual taste rather than someone else's. Show less «

[on the opportunity to pursue an acting career by starring in Emergency! (1972)]: I was singing in L...Show more »

[on the opportunity to pursue an acting career by starring in Emergency! (1972)]: I was singing in Las Vegas last November when we suddenly got the notice to appear in the first 11 episodes. Show less «

[When she cooked for her family]: I'm an impulsive cook. I get a yen for something, and I rush down ...Show more »

[When she cooked for her family]: I'm an impulsive cook. I get a yen for something, and I rush down to the kitchen and make up a batch, and my appetite is as erratic as my cooking, some days I couldn't care less about food, then on other days I'll eat spaghetti or chili with onions for breakfast. But my husband can't stand to be in the same room with me when I eat like this. Show less «

[In 1977]: There's always something just around the corner for people to run into. But I haven't the...Show more »

[In 1977]: There's always something just around the corner for people to run into. But I haven't the foggiest what or where my corner is. Show less «

Julie London

Julie London's FILMOGRAPHY

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