Name: Angela Stevens
Date of Birth: 8 May 1925
Retired abruptly from acting in the early 1960s to take care of her ailing 15-year-old son, Joe, who tragically broke his neck after diving off a pier and hitting a sandbar. She nursed him for 23 years until his death at the age of 38.One of her last roles was in a failed pilot for a TV series _The Jolly Genie (1963)_ (qv). It was later released as a 40-minute kiddie film.Sought $36,500 in damages from the owners of a dress shop who allegedly allowed a "wild and vicious" ocelot to attack her. Th... e suit is filed against the operators of Carole Chris of California, a North Hollywood women's apparel store. Angela claimed she suffered forearm and leg bites which left disfiguring teeth marks and caused her to lose a part in the film _Six Bridges to Cross (1955)_ (qv). The case was settled in September 1956 out of court. The amount of settlement was not disclosed.According to a "Classic Images" interview of Angela by Michael Barnum, she developed a fondness for monkeys and apes while filming two "Jungle Jim" movies. She later had a gibbon ape as a pet.Never had an acting lesson.At the beginning, she worked under her married name of Ann Zika. Producer director 'Jules White (I)' (qv), who helmed a number of "The Three Stooges" shorts she appeared in, encouraged her to change it to the more suitable marquee name of Angela Stevens.Started off briefly as a model for Tom Kelly, who was the photographer best known for shooting 'Marilyn Monroe' (qv)'s famous nude pics on red velvet. Angela appeared on Kelly's "Eastside Beer" billboards, which were spotted by Warner Bros and she quickly was ushered into films.Attractive, shapely blonde leading lady who fell into acting during the early 1950s in order to earn extra money.Read more Less
