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!" .
Her second husband Bobby Troup co-starred in "Emergency!" with her.
Recorded 32 albums during her career.
Known in some circles as "The Liberty Girl" for helping establish Liberty Records as a successful label, her many hit albums on that label include "Julie Is Her Name", "Calendar Girl" with some borderline erotic (for the time) cover photography by Gene Lester, "About the Blues", "Your Number, Please", "Send For Me", "Love Letters", "The End of the World", "In Person at the Americana", "The Wonderful World of Julie London" and the provocatively titled "Nice Girls Dont Stay for Breakfast".
Her four most-sought-after and successful albums are "About the Blues , "Feeling Good" , "Easy Does It" and "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy".
Is portrayed by Julie Simone in Bettie Page: Dark Angel
Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7000 Hollywood Blvd.
Stepmother of Ronne Troup and Cynnie Troup.
Graduated from Hollywood Professional School in Hollywood, CA, in 1945.
Attended the same high school as Peggy Ryan and Tommy Rall.
Was a celebrity spokesperson for Marlboro Cigarettes from the late 1950s to the early 1960s.
Best remembered by the public (as an actress) for her starring role as head nurse Dixie McCall on "Emergency!" .
Met singer/songwriter and actor Bobby Troup just weeks after her divorce from Jack Webb. The two began a lifelong friendship and a real-life relationship, from 1954 until Troups death in 1999. She remained cordial with Webb until his death in 1982. She was eight years Troups junior.
Met first husband Jack Webb at a jazz club in 1941when she was only 15 years old. He was 21.
At age 17, she tried out for a band but went back to working as an elevator operator. One of her passengers was talent agent Sue Carol, who was the wife of Alan Ladd.
"Billboard" Magazine named her the most popular female vocalist for 1955, 1956 and 1957.
Her favorite singers were Barbra Streisand and Roberta Flack.
She took the female lead as head nurse Dixie McCall on "Emergency!" when the lounges she performed in were closed during the Richard Nixon administration.
Her most popular song, "Cry Me a River", was written by her former classmate/boyfriend Arthur Hamilton and produced by Bobby Troup.
She and Bobby Troup had both been good friends with Robert Fuller , for many years, before he co-starred with them on "Emergency!" .
Daughter Kelly Troup died on March 11, 2002, just 1-1/2 years after Julies death. A decade after Julies passing, one of her twin sons, Jody Troup, died on June 10, 2010.
Future game show host Alex Trebek , actors Randolph Mantooth , David Cassidy , Lorenzo Lamas , Michael Damian , comedians Howie Mandel , Graham Elwood news journalist Joan Lunden and future singer of Wilson Phillips Chynna Phillips , all said London was their childhood music/television heroine.
Before she was a successful singer and actress she worked as a department store elevator operator, for which she was paid $19 a week.
After the deaths of Bobby Troup and London, their Encino home was sold for close to its last asking price of $1.9 million. The Colonial-style home was designed for London in 1959 by the late architect Paul Williams, who incorporated four 19th-century marble fireplaces into the design. London had purchased the fireplaces in France.
When "Emergency!" was canceled at the end of its seventh season, when she was 52, she retired from both acting and singing.
Enjoyed cooking, spending time with family, singing, partying, traveling, knitting, dining, listening to music, reading, working on crossword puzzles, swimming, interior decorating, playing games, sports, golfing and gambling.
Remained good friends with Randolph Mantooth during and after "Emergency!" . He was also good friends to all of her children.
When she was getting a divorce from Jack Webb , she agreed, then went to court. The judge granted the divorce and approved the property settlement agreement, under which Webb had paid his wife $150,000 in cash, gave her $150,000 in securities of his production company, $21,000 a year for herself and for the couples two children, Stacy and Lisa. Webb also agreed to take out a $150,000 insurance policy to guarantee alimony payments in case of his death. In addition, she got a new Cadillac, jewelry and furnishings. [26 November 1953].
Before she was a successful singer and actress, she was also a model.
Julie London died on October 18, 2000, on what would have been Bobby Troup s 82nd birthday.
She began smoking in 1942, at age 16, and continued it until 1995, when she had a stroke. She remained in ill health until she died.
Began singing at age three and was later raised in San Bernardino, CA, where her parents sang on local radio.
Starred in her first movie when she was 18.
Julies version of the song "Yummy Yummy Yummy" was featured on the HBO television series "Six Feet Under" .
At the time London was 18, she began singing with the Matty Malnech Orchestra.
Began her contract singing career with Liberty Records in 1955.
Prior to her marriage to Bobby Troup , he helped her sign to Liberty Records. He later also signed with Liberty.
Cremated and shares a niche in a columbarium with husband and "Emergency!" co-star, Bobby Troup , at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) in Los Angeles, CA.
Shared the same birthday as Kent McCord , who guest-starred with her on both of Jack Webb s series: "Adam-12" and "Emergency!" .
Her idol when she was very young was Billie Holiday.
Was forced to give up band singing when her true age was discovered.
Her parents, Jack and Josephine (ne Taylor) Peck, ran a photography business in San Bernardino, California, until it went bankrupt in 1941, when she was 14, and the entire family moved to Hollywood, California.
Would often sing at parties for familiar stars.
Her agent legally changed her name to Julie London when she was only 17.
Her ultimate revenge song, "Cry Me a River", was about the revenge of her ex-husband Jack Webb. Ultimately, Webb later used that song for Pete Kellys Blues .
Was a huge fan of small, nightclub jazz music bands, unlike the big jazz bands of fellow singers Frank Sinatra , Peggy Lee and Mel Torm.
Was a politically conservative libertarian.
Enjoyed writing occasional poetry.
Fell in love with drama while attending high school.
Was the first choice for the female lead role of Dixie McCall on "Emergency!" , primarily because of her longtime association with her ex-husband, Jack Webb.
Most of her children had followed in her musical footsteps.
Survived by five children, two grandchildren, two step-daughters and two step-grandchildren.
Was the only "Emergency!" actress not to attend the cast reunion in Burbank, CA, in 1998 due to her failing health. She died two years later.
Had appeared in On Stage Everybody with ex-classmate Peggy Ryan.
On "Emergency!" she played a nurse, in real-life, her daughter, Lisa Webb, was also a nurse.
Singer Donny Osmond used to visit her house and was a hero to her children.
After meeting Bobby Troup , he persuaded her to take a job in a nightclub where she established the new musical career. This enabled her to resume her interrupted career in the movies.
Her daughter Kelly Troup and stepdaughter Ronne Troup both guest-starred on "Emergency!" with her.
Began her career as a contract player for Universal in 1945 and Warner Bros. in 1949.
Had appeared twice with Barbara Nichols : The George Raft Story and "Emergency!" .
Gave birth to her first child, a daughter Stacy Webb , with her first husband Jack Webb in 1950.
Mother of Stacy Webb , Lisa Webb (both children by Jack Webb ), Kelly Troup , Reese Troup and Jody Troup (by Bobby Troup ).
She was an avid game show buff.
Attended the funeral of ex-husband and former boss Jack Webb in 1982.
Before her future "Emergency!" co-stars, Bobby Troup , Ron Pinkard , Tim Donnelly and Randolph Mantooth would all land their own roles opposite London on the series, the four worked for her ex-husband Jack Webb.
Met young and struggling actor Robert Fuller in 1955, when he stopped in for a beer at her club in Los Angeles, CA. They began a lifelong friendship, ending with her 2000 death. She worked with him in an episode of "Laramie" , where she played the card dealer. Some 11 years later he would later co-star on "Emergency!" , as her medical partner.
Her friend and devoted fan Larry Manetti guest-starred on one of the final episodes of "Emergency!" .
Before her retirement, she was a spokesperson for Rose Milk Skin Care Cream.
Before her second husband Bobby Troup had a successful career as both a solo artist and an actor, he used to be a member of the Tommy Dorsey Band which was fronted by Londons friend Frank Sinatra.
Singing and acting ran in her family. Of the four people in her family, she was the only one who didnt write songs.
Put her movie career temporarily on hold in 1951 to spend more time with her family.
Known for having very little self-confidence. She always credited her success to good material in song or film/television script.
Her first 45 single, released in 1955, was "Cry Me a River", and it was included on her first album, "Julie Is My Name". More than three million copies of the album and single were sold.
Parents Jack and Josephine Peck formed a song-and-dance team in vaudeville and radio. They had a radio show on which Julie sometimes would appear.
Had appeared on the front cover of TV Guide twice.
Her favorite movie was The Great Man .
Along with her ex- "Emergency!" co-star, Bobby Troup , London was also a member of American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Along with Veronica Lake , Rita Hayworth , and Lauren Bacall she was one of four key inspirations that helped compose the character Jessica Rabbit.
Was voted "The Most Exciting New Vocalist of 1956" in "Theme" Magazines Annual International Jazz Popularity Poll. Steve Allen presented her with the award from the publishers of the magazine when she appeared on his show on January 20, 1957.
Was one of the four actors to appear in every episode of "Emergency!" .
Her mother, Josephine Peck, died in 1976, at age 71.
Resided in Encino, CA, from 1959 until her death in 2000.
Her favorite song was "Go Slow".
Was longtime friends with James Darren. He co-starred opposite her second husband Bobby Troup in the movie The Gene Krupa Story .
Began her television series "Emergency!" when she was 45.
Had appeared with Bobby Troup in episodes of three different series: "Rawhide" , "The Big Valley" and "Emergency!" .
Lived not too far from Jonathan Harris , Peter Marshall , Johnny Carson , ex-husband Jack Webb , Steve Allen and his wife, Jayne Meadows and Michael Jackson s ranch.
Resided in Palm Springs, California, from 1954 to 1959.
Had a three-week singing commitment in Las Vegas, NV, with Bobby Troup , prior to accepting the female lead role on "Emergency!" .
Was only seven years older than Robert Fuller , who played her medical partner on "Emergency!" .
Suffered from stage fright when performing in front of large groups.
Her father, Jack Peck, died in 1977, at age 76.
Acting mentor and friends with Randolph Mantooth.
Through Steve Allen , she met Gene Rayburn on the set of "The Steve Allen Show" . Years later, she was reunited with Rayburn on "Match Game 73" .
Always enjoyed listening to Barbra Streisand s and Roberta Flack s music, who happened to be her favorite singers.
Her former neighbor on one side was William Holden , on the other side was Elizabeth Taylor.
She was most widely known to be a very private and shy lady.
Her ex- "Emergency!" co-stars, Bobby Troup , Kevin Tighe , and Randolph Mantooth , all visited her in the hospital, when she suffered a stroke in 1995.
Began acting as a teenager.
Had a photographic memory.
An avid reader and erudite, she studied a medical dictionary for her role on "Emergency!" .
Was the second "Emergency!" star ever to do Westerns, in either movies or television, the first was Robert Fuller.
When London was a teenager, she would frequently go to jazz clubs with Jack Webb.
The very first album Bobby Troup recorded with her was "Julie Is Her Name", which was also her debut album.
Before she married Bobby Troup , she had to have her parents permission.
Her ex- "Emergency!" co-star, Randolph Mantooth , once said in an interview that he never had a crush on her, that she was like a surrogate mother to him.
Was a week younger than Jack Garner (James Garner s brother). He guest-starred with her on an episode of "Emergency!" .
At least nine actors named her as their favorite actress: James McEachin , Anne Whitfield , Brooke Bundy , Dick Van Patten , Linda Kelsey , Dawn Lyn , Sharon Gless , Barbara Nichols and Randall Carver , all nine worked with her on "Emergency!" .
Stepgrandaughter of musician Jamie Lawrence.
In 1958, when 31-year-old London was interviewed by Edward R. Murrow , her cover girl looks were as much a talking point as her vocal talents.
On April 11, 1967, she testified in support of proposed legislation that would give royalties to singers as well as composers. She played records to illustrate how a singers interpretation of a song can help make it a success.
Two of her husbands, Jack Webb and Bobby Troup , were co-owners of the Chinese restaurant China Trader in Toluca Lake, CA, in the late 1960s/early 1970s. She would occasionally stop by, and when she did there were always numerous requests for her to sing, but she rarely did.
Nurse Dixie McCall, her character on "Emergency!" , was ranked #6 in the RN to BSNs list of the "10 TV Nurses Wed Love to Work With." [2014].
Nurse Dixie McCall, her character on "Emergency!" , was ranked #21 in the Rankers list of the "Greatest Nurses in TV History." [2014].
On the "Emergency!" set, in the bloopers, she was known for her cussing.
Her ex- "Emergency!" co-stars, Robert Fuller and Randolph Mantooth , both guest-starred on the same episode of "The Fall Guy" , in 1986, and 11 years later, on the same episode of "Diagnosis Murder" , which was used as a reference of Emergency!, in 1997.
Met Jane Wyman , Lauren Bacall , Virginia Mayo and Eve Arden when the five were under contract to Warner Bros. in 1949.
Of Jewish ancestry.
On the "Emergency!" set, London went with the pronunciation of the words, given to her by the producer, using a medical dictionary.
An avid gambler, she played blackjack.
Her daughter, Lisa Webb, worked for her ex-husband as a production assistant for Mark VII Productions, Jack Webb s production company.
Brought along her family, in addition to her old friends, on the set of "Emergency!" .
When she took on the role of Dixie McCall in "Emergency!" , she didnt get any alimony from Jack Webb.
Originally, "Emergency!" was intended to be a medical drama for herself, her real-life husband Bobby Troup and Robert Fuller , from the beginning, until her co-star Randolph Mantooth took over, and focused more on rescues than hospital scenes.
After "Emergency!" , former producer Jack Webb was about to promote her into becoming an executive producer of possible TV projects, she turned his offer down. She retired from Hollywood, in 1979, to spend more time with her family.
Like Robert Fuller , London was also involved in the writing of the scripts of "Emergency!" .
When she took on the role of Dixie McCall on "Emergency!" , she knew absolutely nothing about nursing; her ex-husband Jack Webb, the shows producer, brought in a medical dictionary for her to use to familiarize herself with medical terms.
Met an unfamiliar actor, Robert Conrad , when he was just a teenager. He used to hang out with her and Jack Webb.
Her first 2 songs that she sang were: "Theres A Long, Long Trail A-winding," and "God Bless America," by Irving Berlin.
Born at 6:00 P.M. EST.
Of English descent.
When she was a little girl she spent her summers with her aunt Ethel and her family on picnics and vacations to the mountains above San Bernardino or at one of the beach towns along the California coast.
In 1944, at age 17, she joined the cast of USO Camp Shows, which toured throughout Southern California and entertained the troops at the Hollywood USO.
Has ranked third, between Danny Thomas , Jane Wyman and fellow actor Robert Fuller , with the many name changes. When she was born, she was originally christened: Nancy Peck. Her parents stopped calling her the name, consequently, upon her initial entry into show business, they called her Gayle, but an agent suggested a "sexier" name, and settled on Julie London.
At almost 9, in 1935, her voice was strong enough to impress talent scouts, and she auditioned for a part in a station radio contest.
By the time she was aged 18, in 1945, she had landed spots on a few local radio programs, but her goal was a career in films.
At 15, she suffered from hives. She was treated by doctors, but to no avail.
Although her series "Emergency!" was drawing good ratings, the network put it on hiatus in 1977, after the sixth season. It came back for six made-for-TV specials, but was canceled for good in 1979. She appeared in two of those seven specials.
While doing "Emergency!" , she chose not to put off singing professionally, except for family and close friends.
On the day of her 60th Birthday, Kent McCord was invited to her house, on his 44th birthday, in 1986. The most coincidental thing was, they shared the same birthday (September 26), and was 16 years apart.
The last few years of her life were plagued by accidents and ill health. She had a stroke, and before that she had several accidents, resulting in her breaking her hips. She spent most of her time in a wheelchair.
Though she was the best-known person in the cast of "Emergency!" and received the most publicity, she never "lorded it over" her co-stars, and was delighted when Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe became very popular with the shows audience.
One day after her 70th birthday, her daughter Stacy Webb was involved in an automobile accident. At an intersection, near her daughters house, her daughters truck had overturned with a California Highway Patrol Car. She died an hour later, at a local hospital. [27 September 1996].
In 1981 she successfully had thyroid surgery.
After she passed away, she did not want to have a funeral.
Had attended the funeral of her second husbands and former "Emergency!" co-stars, Bobby Troup , on 22 February 1999, but health problems prevented her from speaking.
After Bobby Troup s death, her ex- "Emergency!" co-star, Kevin Tighe , visited her regularly at her house for two years, until she passed away.
In her biography, "Go Slow," she said that after she suffered a stroke she realized that all the years of smoking and drinking had taken their toll.
Her parents got married on November 14, 1925, in Stockton, California, just 1 year before she was born.
Women should be women, who wants them to be asexual? Not your old buddy.
[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.
[In 1974]: One is trying for accurate pronunciation of medical terms. . .
[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.
