Person biography:
Gail Fisher was born on August 18, 1935, in Orange, New Jersey, as the youngest of five children to a widowed mother, Ona Fisher. Her father, a carpenter, died when she was just two years old, leaving the family destitute and struggling to make ends meet. Despite the challenges, Gail found solace in cheerleading and performing, earning distinction as a beauty pageant winner, including "Miss Transit," "Miss Black New Jersey," and "Miss Press Photographer."
After winning a contest sponsored by Coca-Cola, Gail studied acting at the American Academy of Arts in New York, where she trained under Lee Strasberg and became a member of the Repertory Theater at Lincoln Center. She worked with renowned directors Elia Kazan and Herbert Blau, and also modeled and worked in a factory to pay her bills.
In 1964, Gail married jazz talent manager John Levy, who also managed her acting career. They had two children, Samara and Jole, before divorcing in 1972. Gail's marriage to Robert A. Walker in 1973 was short-lived.
Gail's acting career took off in the 1960s, with roles in "Danton's Death," "Purlie Victorious," and "A Raisin in the Sun." She made history by becoming the first black performer to be given dialogue in a nationally televised commercial for All laundry detergent.
Gail's breakout role came in 1967 when she was cast as Peggy Fair, the widowed secretary of detective Joe Mannix, in the crime series "Mannix." Her performance earned her an Emmy and two Golden Globe awards, making her the first black actress to win these prestigious awards.
However, Gail's personal life was marked by turmoil and addiction. She struggled with drug abuse and was arrested multiple times for drug-related offenses. Her health declined due to diabetes and emphysema, and she died of renal failure in 2000 at the age of 65.
