Claudia Jennings was an American actress best known for her roles in films like The Unholy Rollers, ‘Gator Bait, and Fast Company. She gained fame as a Playboy Playmate of the Year in 1970 and became a popular figure in drive-in cinema during the 1970s.
Personal and Family Life
Born Mary Eileen “Mimi” Chesterton on December 20, 1949, in Evanston, Illinois, Claudia Jennings grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She graduated high school in 1968 and soon moved to Chicago, where she started working at Playboy magazine as a receptionist. Her modeling career began after she was discovered by a Playboy photographer.
Career
Claudia starred in various movies and TV shows throughout the 1970s, becoming a well-known name within the genre of drive-in films. Despite her success, she faced personal struggles after a difficult breakup that led to challenges with substance abuse, impacting her career negatively. One of her last projects was the TV show 240-Robert, which was still filming close to the site of her fatal car accident.
Death and Legacy
Tragically, Claudia Jennings died in a car accident on October 3, 1979, in Malibu, California, when her vehicle collided with a pickup truck. She was only 29 years old at the time of her death. Despite her struggles with drugs during her life, there were no substances found in her system after the accident, leading to speculation about the circumstances of her tragic end.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Best of Sex and Violence | 1982-02-05 | (archive footage) |
| Deathsport | 1978-04-01 | Deneer |
| The Great Texas Dynamite Chase | 1976-07-01 | Candy Morgan |
| Fast Company | 1979-03-18 | Sammy |
| Sisters of Death | 1976-04-18 | Judy Peake |
| The Unholy Rollers | 1972-11-10 | Karen Walker |
| Truck Stop Women | 1974-05-15 | Rose |
| The Stepmother | 1972-10-26 | Rita |
| ‘Gator Bait | 1974-10-12 | Desiree Thibodeau |
| Group Marriage | 1973-03-01 | Elaine |
| Moonshine County Express | 1977-06-01 | Betty Hammer |
| The Single Girls | 1974-04-14 | Allison |
| The Love Machine | 1971-08-14 | Darlene |
| Jud | 1971-07-01 | Sunny |
| Famous T & A | 1982-01-01 | Allison / Rose (archive footage) |
| The Man Who Fell to Earth | 1976-03-18 | Peters’ Wife |
| 40 Carats | 1973-06-28 | Gabriella |
| Claudia Jennings | 1995-10-03 | |
| Willy & Scratch | 1975-03-04 | Jennifer |
| The Brady Bunch | 1969-09-26 | |
| The F.B.I. | 1965-09-19 | Judith Grinnell |
| The Streets of San Francisco | 1972-09-23 | |
| 240-Robert | 1979-08-28 | |
| Cannon | 1971-09-14 | |
| Lucan | 1977-09-12 | |
| Caribe | 1975-02-17 | Jean Benedict |
| Movin’ On | 1974-05-08 | Ann |
| The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1962-10-01 | Self |