Beverly Wills was an American actress who is best known for her roles in Mickey, Some Like It Hot, and Petticoat Junction. Born Josephine Beverly Williams on August 5, 1933, in Los Angeles, California, she had a brief career in acting before her tragic death.
Personal and Family Life
Beverly Wills was the daughter of actress Joan Davis and Si Wills. She had two sons, Guy Steven Grossman and Laurance S. Grossman. Wills was married three times, first to Ora Lee Bamber, then to Alan Norton Grossman, with whom she had her two children, and lastly to Martin Colbert.
Career
Beverly began her acting career at a young age, making her film debut in George White’s Scandals in 1945. She appeared in a total of six films and one television series, including I Married Joan alongside her mother. Her last film role was in Son of Flubber in 1962, just a year before her untimely death.
Death and Legacy
Beverly Wills died on October 24, 1963, in a house fire that also claimed the lives of her grandmother and two sons. The fire was believed to have started after she fell asleep while smoking. At only 30 years old, her passing was a tragic loss for her family and the film industry.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Mickey | 1948-06-23 | Cathy Williams |
| Some Like It Hot | 1959-03-19 | Dolores |
| The Ladies Man | 1961-06-21 | Miss Hypochondriac |
| George White’s Scandals | 1945-10-09 | Joan as a Child |
| Small Town Girl | 1953-04-10 | Deidre |
| Anaesthesia | 1938-07-09 | Little Girl (uncredited) |
| Raw Deal | 1948-05-21 | (uncredited) |
| Petticoat Junction | 1963-09-24 | Mrs. Norton |