Melinda Plowman
American actress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Melinda Ann Plowman (born May 13, 1941), also known as Melinda Ann Casey and Melinda Casey, is an American actress and associate director. She began her acting career at age 6 and appeared in feature films and television episodes through the 1960s. In the 1970s, she became a member of the Directors Guild of America and worked as an associate director through the 1990s.
May 13, 1941
Melinda Casey
Melinda Plowman | |
|---|---|
![](#/media/File:Melinda_Plowman_still_for_"Chicago_Calling"_brightened_(tighter_crop).jpg) Plowman in 1951 | |
| Born | Melinda Ann Plowman May 13, 1941 Abilene, Texas, U.S. |
| Other names | Melinda Ann Casey Melinda Casey |
| Occupations | Actress, assistant director |
| Years active | 1949 − 1996 |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 2 |
Early life
Melinda Ann Plowman was born on May 13, 1941, in Abilene, Texas.[1] Her parents, Homer Lee Plowman and Lura Frances Slaughter, had met and married in Abilene in 1934.[2] She has one younger sister.[3] Her second birthday party, hosted by her mother and grandmother, was reported in the Abilene Reporter-News.[4]
The family moved to Los Angeles in 1942.[5] Plowman was enrolled in a dance school at age 3.[5] She was "discovered" at the age of 6 through the dancing school and was cast in a bit part in the 1949 film Little Women.[5]
Career
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Acting
Plowman acted in Hollywood films in the 1950s but primarily worked in television.[6] She appeared in seven NBC Matinee Theater episodes, as well as episodes of Ford Theatre, The Loretta Young Show, and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.[5] She was one of the original Mouseketeers on The Mickey Mouse Club.[7][8][9] In 1959 she appeared on Wagon Train S3 E10 "The Danny Benedict Story" as Priscilla Walker.
Her parents preferred to maintain her status as a freelance actor rather than a studio contract player.[3] Her mother accompanied her on the set.[3] When she wasn't working, Plowman attended a public elementary school and, later, San Marino High School in San Marino, California.[5] During film shoots, she had a private tutor on the set.[3][5]
Plowman landed her first leading role at the age of 25 in the 1966 horror film Billy the Kid Versus Dracula.[6]
Directing
In the 1970s, she joined the Directors Guild of America, listing herself as an associate director under the name Melinda Ann Casey.[10] She continued working on film crews through the 1990s.
Personal life
Plowman married Phil Casey, a talent manager, in Las Vegas in August 1967.[11] They had one son.[2] Plowman later married Robert Ballew, with whom she has a daughter.[2] In 1971, her parents moved back to Fort Worth.[2] She lives in Victoria, British Columbia.[2]
Filmography (as an actress)
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Little Women | Girl | Uncredited[5] |
| Holiday Affair | Girl | ||
| Ma and Pa Kettle | Susie Kettle | ||
| 1950 | Three Came Home | English girl | |
| My Blue Heaven | Pringle girl | ||
| Again Pioneers | Rebecca Ashby | As Malinda Plowman | |
| 1951 | Home Town Story | Katie Washburn | |
| Chicago Calling | Nancy Cannon | ||
| 1952 | Monkey Business | Little girl | |
| Carrie | Little girl | ||
| 1953 | Pack Train | Judy | |
| 1956 | Wiretapper | ||
| 1957 | The Green-Eyed Blonde | Betsy Abel | As Linda Plowman |
| 1966 | Billy the Kid Versus Dracula | Betty Bentley | |
| 1976 | Street Girls | Adelle | As Linda Reynolds |
| 1982 | Wrong Is Right | W.T.N. news staffer | As Melinda Ann Casey[12] |
| Sources:[13][14] | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Big Town | Kathy | |
| The Gene Autry Show | Betsy Simmons | ||
| The Cisco Kid | Carol Cartright | ||
| 1952 | The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet | Girl, Linda, Melinda, Sean's girl, Sue Bailey | 5 episodes |
| Ford Television Theatre | Little girl | ||
| Cavalcade of America | Vi as a teenager | ||
| 1953 | The Danny Thomas Show | Mary Lou | |
| General Electric Theater | Charlotte Dunn | ||
| 1954 | Rocky Jones, Space Ranger | Jonica | |
| Annie Oakley | Jill Turner, Penny | 2 episodes | |
| 1955 | The Adventures of Champion | Sally Custer | Episode: "Salted Ground"[13] |
| The Adventures of Champion | Lorna | Episode: "Canyon of Wanted Men"[13] | |
| Science Fiction Theatre | Alice | ||
| 1956 | The Mickey Mouse Club | Peggy | [7] |
| Diamond Mystery Theater | Susan Davis | Episode: "The Man Across the Street"[15] | |
| 1958 | The Donna Reed Show | Babs | Episode: "Parting of the Ways"[13] |
| Wanted: Dead or Alive | Patience Fairweather | Season 3, Episode 22 "Detour" | |
| 1959 | The June Allyson Show | Nancy | 1 episode |
| Bonanza | Heather Lowell | 1 episode | |
| The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis | Central High Girl | ||
| 1960 | My Three Sons | Julie | Season 6, episode: "the wrong Robbie" |
| National Velvet | Sally Grimes | ||
| 1961 | The Americans | Molly | 1 episode |
| Bachelor Father | Agnes | 1 episode | |
| 1962 | Wagon Train | Penelope | Episode: "Path of the Serpent"[16] |
| Perry Mason | Maureen Thomas | Episode: "The Case of the Polka-Dot Pony"[17] | |
| Going My Way | Jane Everett | ||
| 1963 | The Fugitive | Ellen Tolan | Episode: "See Hollywood and Die" |
| The Virginian | Episode: "A Time Remembered" | ||
| My Favorite Martian | Sally | ||
| Petticoat Junction | Mary Jane Burris | ||
| 1964 | The Outer Limits | Vivia Hayden | Episode: "Don't Open Till Doomsday" |
| Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. | Girl Marine | ||
| 1965 | Please Don't Eat the Daisies | Terry, Secretary | 2 episodes |
| 1966 | The Felony Squad | Mylene Bruce, Suellen Taubs | 2 episodes |
| Bonanza | Episode: "Four Sisters from Boston"[18] | ||
| 1967 | Judd, for the Defense | Girl | |
| 1969–1971 | Hot Wheels (TV series) | Janet Martin | Voice[19] |
| Skyhawks | Cynthia Hughes | Voice[20] | |
| Sources:[12][13][21] | |||
