Valerie French was a British actress who had a successful career in Hollywood and Broadway in the 1950s and 1960s. She starred in several western and sci-fi films, as well as in stage plays by John Osborne and others. She was married twice, first to playwright Michael Pertwee and later to actor Thayer David. She died of leukemia in New York City in 1990, at the age of 62. In this article, we will explore her life, career, and cause of death in more detail.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Valerie French was born Valerie Harrison on March 11, 1928 (or 1932, according to some sources) in London, England. Her father was an accountant who had served as a Lieutenant with the Artists Rifles regiment in the First World War. Her mother was a homemaker. She attended a convent school and later studied drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
She began her acting career in the early 1950s, appearing in minor roles in Italian and British films. Her first film appearance was in Maddalena (1954), followed by Happy Ever After (1954) and The Constant Husband (1955). She moved to Hollywood in 1955, after being spotted by a talent scout.
Hollywood Stardom
In Hollywood, Valerie French quickly established herself as a leading lady in western and sci-fi films. She co-starred with Glenn Ford in Jubal (1956), with Randolph Scott in Decision at Sundown (1957), and with Gene Barry in The 27th Day (1957). She also appeared in The Garment Jungle (1957), The Hard Man (1957), and The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake (1959).
She was praised for her beauty, charm, and versatility as an actress. She was also known for her strong-willed and independent personality, which sometimes clashed with the studio system. She once said: “I don’t like being told what to do. I like to make my own decisions.”
Return to the Theatre
In the late 1950s, Valerie French became disillusioned with Hollywood and decided to return to her first love: the theatre. She moved to New York City and appeared in several Broadway and off-Broadway productions. She performed in John Osborne’s play Inadmissible Evidence (1965) and in Help Stamp Out Marriage! (1966). She also caused a minor sensation by appearing on stage naked in The Mother Lover (1969), though only her back was visible to the audience.
She also continued to work on television, appearing in popular shows such as Have Gun – Will Travel, The Prisoner, Trackdown, The Edge of Night, The Nurses, and All My Children.
Personal Life and Death
Valerie French was married twice in her life. In 1952, she married Michael Pertwee, a British playwright and screenwriter. They divorced in 1959, after seven years of marriage. In 1970, she married Thayer David, an American actor best known for his role as Professor Moriarty in the TV series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. They divorced in 1975, but later reconciled and planned to remarry at the time of his death in 1978.
Valerie French died of leukemia on November 3, 1990, in New York City. She was 62 years old. She had no children from either of her marriages. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered over Central Park.
Legacy
Valerie French was a talented and versatile actress who left a mark on both film and theatre. She was one of the few British actresses who achieved success in Hollywood during the golden age of cinema. She was also a trailblazer for women’s rights and empowerment, as she refused to conform to the stereotypes and expectations of her time. She is remembered for her roles in Jubal, Decision at Sundown, The 27th Day, Inadmissible Evidence, and The Mother Lover.
