JoAnna Cameron was born on September 20 1948 in Vail, Colorado. In college she befriended Bob Hope's daughter Linda Hope. Bob Hope then cast her in the role of his character's daughter in the movie How to Commit Marriage (1969). In the late Sixties this led to guest appearances on TV shows The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, Medical Center, Daniel Boone, and The Name of the Game. She appeared three times as Nurse Anne McAndrews on Marcus Welby M.D. She appeared in the TV movie The Last of the Powerbrokers. She also appeared in the movie I Love My Wife (1970).
In 1975 she cast in the role of Andrea Thomas on Isis. Andrea Thomas had an ancient Egyptian amulet that would transform her into the superhero Isis, who had power over the elements and animals. The series ran for two seasons on Saturday morning on CBS and was then repeated for another season. Miss Cameron also guest starred on the shows Love, American Style; The Partners; Search; Columbo; Shazam! (as Isis); McMillan & Wife; Gibbsville; The Amazing Spider-Man; and Switch. She appeared in the TV movies The Great American Beauty Contest, A Time for Love, Sorority Kill, Night Games, It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy, High Risk,. and Swan Song. She appeared in the movies Pretty Maids All in the Row (1971) and B.S. I Love You (1970). She also made several commercials, at one time holding record for having starred in the most commercials according to The Guinness Book of World Records.
In the late Seventies she went to work as the host of the U.S. Navy's Navy Network and even directed the half-hour documentary "Blue Angels in Razor Sharp" (1982). After she left the entertainment industry she worked in home healthcare as a nurse and later in marketing for various hotels.
The Secrets of Isis was historic as the first TV show centred on a female superhero, pre-dating The Bionic Woman by four months and Wonder Woman by seven months. In this way it paved away for further TV shows featuring superheroines. JoAnna Cameron was perfect in the role, giving a sincere performance and remaining convincing as both science teacher Andrea Thomas and superheroine Isis. The character made an impression, and remains remembered to this day. This was largely due to JoAnna Cameron's performance.
"The Secrets of Isis was historic as the first TV show centred on a female superhero, pre-dating The Bionic Woman by four months and Wonder Woman by seven months."
ReplyDeleteWhat about Sheena?
What about The Girl from UNCLE?
ReplyDeleteIf you decided not to include her in the genre, then a certain precedent occurs. SHIELD serves as an obvious homage to UNCLE, and oddly received a Best Normal Adventure Hero win.
http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/alley67.php
The Alley Awards featured some unanticipated categories, with unanticipated winners.
Best Normal Adventure Hero
Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Marvel) (26) *
Best Normal Adventure Group
Challengers of the Unknown (DC) (25) *
I have to ruminate on whether "Normal Adventure Hero" protagonists may have Life Model Decoys (L.M.D.s), flying automobiles, and myriad other examples of advanced technology. The Challengers of the Unknown raise perhaps such concerns. A Sable letters page had a complaint about Sable using a jetpack.
Jeff Rovin did include the Challengers of the Unknown in his reference tome Adventure Heroes. He had earlier produced a reference tome. The Encyclopedia of Superheroes, Facts on File (New York, NY), 1985.
Follow-up on Girl from UNCLE and Sheena as earlier claimaints:
ReplyDeleteHelpful Interjections on Taxonomy: Mike Benton produced a guide called The Illustrated History of Crime Comics. He did not provide an entry for MOKF and/or G.I. Joe [or any S.H.I.E.L.D. series]. He did cover series based on The Man from the UNCLE.
Jeff Rovin provided entries for UNCLE agents, including April Dancer, in Adventure Heroes. In his aforementioned earlier guide, he provided an entry for Sheena.
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