Matinee Classics - Jennifer O'Neill Biography & Filmography

Jennifer O'Neill ACTOR

PHOTOS

JENNIFER O'NEILL BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Jennifer O'Neill was born on February 20th, 1948 in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, born to Oscar and Irene O'Neill. As a young girl, she loved horses and would ride whenever given the opportunity. However, at age fifteen, she was involved in a horse riding accident and was told she could never ride again.

Her family relocated soon after her accident to Connecticut and she began pursuing other interests such as modeling. She was signed to a contract with Ford Modeling Agency and by the time she was fifteen years old, she had graced such magazine covers as, Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Seventeen. She also studied at Dalton School in Manhattan and also became involved in acting, enrolling at the New York's Neighborhood Playhouse.

By the late 1960's, she had broken into the film industry with her debut on, "For Love of Ivy" (1968). Soon, she caught the attention of other directors and began adding such credits to her resume as, "Rio Lobo" (1970), "Summer of '42" (1971), "Lady Ice" (1973), "The Reincarnation of Peter Proud" (1975), "Scanners" (1981) and "The Flower in His Mouth" (1976), a film in which she appeared nude on screen.

Although, she was being cast in roles, none were at the level of success from her role in "Rio Lobo" starring John Wayne, Jack Elam and Victor French. However, her performance in the film, "L'innocente" (1976) was a successful one.

She has also added a variety of television credits to her resume appearing on such series as, "Bare Essence", "Cover Up" and "Nash Bridges", as well as a number of television movies. Most recently, she has appeared in the films, "Time Changer" (2002), "Billy: The Early Years" (2008), "Last Ounce of Courage" (2012) and "Doonby" (2012).

In addition to her acting, O'Neill remained working as a model and had a long running, "Cover Girl" campaign. She relocated in the late 90's to Tennessee and wrote an autobiography titled, "Surviving Myself" (1999), which discussed personal details about her life experiences. She has authored ten books total and also appears as a motivational speaker.

Her personal life has had a mixture of up's and downs with numerous failed marriages and even suffering a gun shot wound to her abdomen when she herself, was checking to see if a gun was loaded.

Jennifer O'Neill has married a total of nine times throughout her life. Her first husband was Dean Rossiter from 1965 through 1971 and together they had one child. She then wed Joseph Roster from 1972 through 1974. Her third marriage was to Nick De Noia, but it only lasted one year from 1975 through 1976. She then chose to wed for a fourth time to John Lederer in 1977 and they had one child before this marriage also failed by 1983. Her fifth husband was Richard A. Alan from 1984 through 1987. Again, she chose to enter into another union with Jeff Barry from 1988 through 1991. Husband number seven was Neil L. Bonin, but this marriage was annulled in 1993. O'Neill next wed Richard A. Alan again between 1993 and 1996 and they had child together, however even round two of this marriage was not successful. She is currently married to her ninth husband, Mervin Sidney Louque, Jr. since 1997 and they reside on a horse farm in Tennessee called, Himmenglade Farm where she runs a non profit organization as a retreat for women.

O'Neill is involved with a number of other charitable causes such as, the March of Dimes, the National Right to Life, the Arthritis Foundation and is also a pro-life advocate for healing post abortion women.

Filmography

2012 Doonby

2012 Last Ounce of Courage

2008 Billy: The Early Years

2002 Time Changer

2000 On Music Row

1999 The Prince and the Surfer

1997 The Ride

1997 Nash Bridges

1997 Raney

1997 The Corporate Ladder

1996 Poltergeist: The Legacy

1996 Voyeur II

1995 Silver Strand

1994 The Visual Bible: Acts

1994 Jonathan Stone: Threat of Innocence

1993 The Cover Girl Murders