Donna Wilkes

Donna Wilkes
Born	November 14, 1958 (1958-11-14) (age 53) New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actress

Donna Wilkes (born November 14, 1958) is an American film actress known for her roles in several films, most notably the starring role in 1984's Angel, which became a cult classic. She has also appeared in several television programs such as Father Murphy and the soap opera Days of our Lives. She appeared in the first season of the short-lived sitcom Hello, Larry. Twice, she played characters much younger than she was in real life. Her character in Hello Larry was 15 when Wilkes was actually 20 years old in real life, whereas Molly Stuart, her character in the movie Angel was supposed to be 15 years old as well, even though Wilkes was 25 years old at the time of filming.

Biography

Donna Consuelos Wilkes was born on November 14, 1958 in New York City. She was born in Spanish Harlem to Spanish/French mother and Irish father. Her father was a doctor and her mother was a nightclub singer. They divorced when she was 3 months old. When she was six, she did her first commercial at age six, for Keds Tennis sneakers. She trained in acting at Dominica American Theatre of Performing Arts, but stopped her training acting at age 11 to become a "normal student". At age 12, she went to live with her aunt and uncle in the Dominican Republic at age 12. Being a good student at high school, she skipped a few grades, graduating at the Collegio Santo Domingo at the age of 14. At age 15, she moved to Los Angeles, California, but unable to work at such a young age, she convinced many employers that she was 18 and married. Her first jobs included being a computer operator for an ambulance service, and as a secretary for a large corporation in Culver City. This added up to 16 hours a day for 5 days a week.

She began acting again at age 17. Her first role was the part of Meredith in the 1978 Universal Pictures film Almost Summer, which also starred Tim Matheson and Didi Conn and she earned a SAG card for her work in the film. At around age 18, she became married to Billy Gray, famous for his work on Father Knows Best. Being 39, Gray was 21 years older at the time. The marriage didn't last long. She won the role of Pamela Prentiss on the Soap opera Days of our lives had to be cut short which she played from 1983 to 1984. Her role was supposed to be for longer but had to be cut short when she became involved in the production of angel

Her best known role was in the 1984 Cult Classic Sexploitation film Angel where she played Molly Stewart/Angel, a high school honour student by day, and a Prostitute by night. On a budget of $3 Million, it was a box office success gathering $17,488,564. It Spawned 3 Unsuccessful sequels of which Wilkes had no involvement in. She was actually 25 at the time she played a 15 year old. She prepared for the role by spendong time in halfway houses and rehabilitation centers in LA to prepare for her role in the 1984 film, Angel. "I actually walked on the streets with these girls and talked with them... and I also talked to the people with the group called Children of the Night, and to the Hollywood Police Department, too."

Fansite

In February 2008, she made contact to a fansite about her called DonnaWilkesOnline.com ran by two fans named Christine and Shannon. The letter stated:

“

"Christine and Shannon, I just wanted to let you know how much I admire all the work you've done on the website. I am so flattered that you two would do this. I hope to return to acting in the next few years after my daughter graduates from High School. I hope one day we will be able to meet and have coffee. I have family upstate New York and will be visiting them end of this year. Thanks for everything. God Bless, Donna Wilkes"

”

Partial filmography

• Jaws 2 (1978)
• Almost Summer (1978)
• The Incredible Hulk (TV series) (1978)
• Hello, Larry (1979)
• Diff'rent Strokes (TV series) (1979)
• Schizoid (1980)
• Father Murphy (TV series) (1982)
• Blood Song (1982)
• Days of our Lives (1983–1984)
• Angel (1984)
• Grotesque (1988)
• FBI: The Untold Stories (TV series) (1991)

References

External links

• Donna Wilkes at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Wilkes, Donna
Alternative names
Short description	Well known for her work in and unique style in mid 80's
Date of birth	November 14, 1958
Place of birth	New York, U.S.
Date of death
Place of death