Jennifer O'Neill

Jennifer O'Neill (born February 20, 1948) is an American actress and author, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the daughter of a Spanish-Irish businessman and his English wife. As a teenager, O'Neill worked as a fashion model and appeared in television commercials and on magazine covers. In 1968 she landed a small role in "For the Love of Ivy". In 1970 she played one of the lead female roles in "Rio Lobo" starring John Wayne.

After her success in "Summer of '42" in 1971, in which she plays the young widow of a soldier killed in World War II, O'Neill became a well-known Hollywood actress, and continued acting for the next two decades, including singing in the Chrysler corporation commercial "Change in Charger" that represented the end of the Dodge Charger in 1975. She also continued playing a grasping mistress in Luchino Visconti's final film, "L'Innocente" [1976] ). She had more success in TV movies, including performances in "Love's Savage Fury."

In 1982, O'Neill starred in the short-lived NBC prime time soap opera "Bare Essence." In 1984, she played the lead female role on the CBS television series "Cover Up;" the lead male actor, Jon-Erik Hexum, was killed on the studio playing with a blank (prop bullet in a gun), and the series ended after just one season (with Antony Hamilton as the new male lead).

A self-described "romantic", O'Neill has been married and divorced nine times, and has a daughter by her first husband, and two sons from later marriages. A lifelong competitive horseback rider, she has suffered serious back injuries due to falls. On Oct 23, 1982, O'Neill accidentally shot herself in the abdomen with a gun belonging to her then-husband, John Lederer, at their Bedford, New York mansion; she stated she was checking if the weapon were loaded, and police ruled it an accident.

In 2004, O'Neill wrote and published "From Fallen To Forgiven," a book of biographical notes and philosophical thoughts about life and existence. The actress, who had an abortion at the age of nineteen, became a pro-life activist and born again Christian, counseling abstinence to teens. Concerning her abortion: "I was told a lie from the pit of hell: that my baby was just a blob of tissue. The aftermath of abortion can be equally deadly for both mother and unborn child. A woman who has an abortion is sentenced to bear that for the rest of her life." [National Catholic Register, People vs. Politicians, May 13, 2008, page 8.]

Filmography

*"Time Changer" (2002)
*"The Prince and the Surfer" (1999)
*"The Ride" (1997)
*"The Corporate Ladder" (1997)
*"Love Is Like That" (1996)
*"Discretion assured" (1993)
*"Committed" (1988)
*"I Love NY" (1988)
*"Scanners" (1981)
*"Cloud Dancer" (1980)
*"Steel" (1980)
*"A Force of One" (1979)
*"Caravans" (1978)
*"7 Note in Nero" (1977)
*"Call Girl" (1976)
*"L'innocente" (1976)
*"Gente di rispetto" (1975)
*"The Reincarnation of Peter Proud" (1975)
*"Whiffs" (1975)
*"Lady Ice" (1973)
*"The Carey Treatment" (1972)
*"Glass Houses" (1972)
*"Such Good Friends" (1971)
*"Summer of '42" (1971)
*"Rio Lobo" (1970)
*"Futz!" (1969)
*"For the Love of Ivy" (1968)

External links

*imdb name|id=0642198|name=Jennifer O'Neill
* [http://www.faithtalks.com/jenniferoneill.htm Faithtalks interview with Jennifer O'Neill]
* [http://www.gnomickpeople.com/Actresses/O/Jennifer_O_Neill/ Jennifer O'Neill Directory]
* [http://www.xavier.edu/newswire/editions/040317/news-abortion.htm O'Neill Shares Pro-Life Message]
* [http://www.jenniferoneill.com/Jennifer O'Neill's Official Website]