Next person biography:
Joey Heatherton was born Davenie Johanna Heatherton in 1944, the daughter of veteran song-and-dance man Ray Heatherton. She began her career as a teenager on the New York stage, performing in productions such as "The Sound of Music" and recording music around the same time. Heatherton gained national exposure as a regular on Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall, playing an innocent young coed who developed a crush on the star.
Heatherton's early success led her to pursue an acting career, appearing in TV dramas such as "The Virginian," "The Doctors and the Nurses," and "Route 66." She showed promise, playing troubled and vulnerable young girls opposite established and up-and-coming talent of the day.
However, her acting career was short-lived, and she refocused on her musical gifts. Heatherton became a solid Vegas showroom and TV variety favorite, known for her high-octane dance moves and saucy glances. She toured with Bob Hope on his USO tours and appeared in TV movies and films, including "The Ballad of Andy Crocker" and "Of Mice and Men."
Heatherton's personal life was marked by a tumultuous marriage and divorce from Lance Rentzel in 1971. The 1970s also saw a change in audience taste, leading to a decline in her popularity. Despite releasing a "Top 40" pop hit in 1972, Hollywood struggled to see her as anything other than a relic of the past.
Heatherton's career decline was marked by substance addiction and eating disorders, which hindered her attempts to revive her career. She appeared in a few films, including "Bluebeard" and "The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington," but mostly disappeared from the public eye.
However, Heatherton remains a survivor and a testament to the destructive power of the entertainment industry. She has shown resilience and perseverance, and her story serves as a cautionary tale about the fleeting nature of fame.
