Claudia Jennings

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