Date of Birth: September 14, 1944,
Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York
Info: Joey was a product of the
swinging 60's. She could sing, dance and act.
She appeared as an innocent type teen who developed a crush on Perry Como in his
TV show. From this she moved to films where she often played neurotic young
girls.
She eventually developed a hip, sulky, Lolita-like "sex kitten"
image, decked out in mini-skirts and go-go boots with frenetic dance moves.
Vegas came calling and she did very well there.
She toured many times with Bob Hope and the USO.
Troubles soon followed for Joey. In 1971, her marriage to pro football player
Lance Rentzel ended in scandal when he was arrested for indecent exposure in
front of a young girl. They divorced soon after this.
Then
Joey's mounting problems with drugs (cocaine) became evident. She was arrested
multiple times for possession and the effects of her addiction started affecting
her mental faculties.
An eating disorder ravaged and nearly killed her.
Family Life: Married Lance Rentzel in 1969
and divorced in 1972
Father was veteran song-and-dance man Ray Heatherton (1909-1997)
Brother, Dick Heatherton, was a prominent radio disc jockey in New York, on CBS
FM in the seventies and eighties.
Trivia: Joey Heatherton was the
Mystery Guest on the November 7, 1965 edition of "What's My Line?" Long time
panelist Dorothy Kilgallen, 52, was found dead just hours after the program
aired live.
Where Are They Now: Joey tried a few comebacks, most notably, she
was in John Waters' "Cry Baby", but never got back into the limelight.
Except for a few talk show appearances in the past 10 years, there has been no
news about Joey. I was able to find a picture from about 8 years ago. You can
see her before and after picture
on the site. I have provided a link after Joey's credits (below).
Credits:
MOVIES...
Cry-Baby (1990) .... Milton's Mother
Perils of P.K., The (1986)
Happy Hooker Goes to Washington, The (1977) .... Xaviera Hollander
Bluebeard (1972) .... Anne
Of Mice and Men (1970) (TV) .... Curley's Wife
Ballad of Andy Crocker, The (1969) (TV) .... Lisa
My Blood Runs Cold (1965) .... Julie Merriday
Where Love Has Gone (1964) .... Danielle Valerie Miller
Twilight of Honor (1963) .... Laura Mae Brown
TELEVISION
"Laverne & Shirley" (1981) playing "Herself"
"Joey & Dad" (1975)
"NBC Follies" (1973)
"Klimbim" (1973) playing "Herself"
"This Is Tom Jones" (1970)
"Love, American Style" (1970) in episode: "Love and the Hitchhiker"
"Jackie Gleason Show, The" (1969)
"It Takes a Thief" (1969) playing "Jodie DuBois"
"Dean Martin Show, The" (1968)
"Dean Martin Show, The" (1967)
"I Spy" (1966) playing "Katie"
"Andy Williams Show, The" (1966)
"Dean Martin Show, The" (1966) playing "Herself"
"Andy Williams Show, The" (1966)
"Dean Martin Show, The" (1966) playing "Herself"
"What's My Line?" (1965) playing "Mystery Guest"
"Dean Martin Show, The" (1965) playing "Herself"
"Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" (1965) playing "Cress"
"Breaking Point" (1964) playing "Dory Costain"
"Nurses, The" (1963) playing "Ellen Denby"
"Arrest and Trial" (1963) playing "Edith"
"Mr. Novak" (1963) playing "Holly Metcalfe"
"Virginian, The" (1963) playing "Gloria Blaine"
"Nurses, The" (1962) playing "Janet Clark"
"Route 66" (1960) playing "Karen Emerson"
Name:
Joey Heatherton
Then
Joey's mounting problems with drugs (cocaine) became evident. She was arrested
multiple times for possession and the effects of her addiction started affecting
her mental faculties. 