Theona Irene Pearce was born in Salisbury, Maryland, and spent her formative years in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she developed a strong sense of ambition and drive. After a brief marriage in 1952, she moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, and began working as a receptionist for Governor William B. Umstead. During this time, she was often encouraged by colleagues to pursue a career in television, which further fueled her desire to become a model.
With a newfound sense of determination, Theona boarded a bus to New York City and began her modeling career. After meeting with renowned modeling agent John Robert Powers, she was booked through his agency and soon found herself appearing on the Jackie Gleason Show as a Portrette and Away We Go Girl. This initial success led her to notify her grandmother in East Norwalk, Connecticut, and she was able to relocate to her grandmother's home, establishing a base of operations while she continued to build her career.
In 1954, Theona was hired by Twentieth Century Fox to embark on a nationwide promotional tour for the Cinemascope film The Egyptian. Dressed in a stunning jeweled costume, she appeared alongside a cheetah named Flo while clips from the film were projected inside a mobile unit. This high-profile exposure led to further opportunities, including a stint as a Carson Cutie on The Johnny Carson Show in 1956.
That same year, Theona signed a short-term contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and found herself romantically pursued by notable figures such as Rod Taylor and Robert Evans. She went on to appear in several television roles and minor film appearances before returning to Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1967 for a surgical procedure.
However, instead of returning to Hollywood, Theona chose to stay in Raleigh and married for a second time. She remained in the area until her passing in February 2021 at the age of 89. In accordance with her wishes, any memorial contributions were made to the Screen Actors Guild in Los Angeles.
