Revision as of 13:24, 21 March 2016 editDismas (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, File movers, IP block exemptions, Pending changes reviewers79,891 edits →Early life, beauty and acting careers: not sure why we're shouting at readers← Previous edit | Revision as of 03:55, 4 April 2016 edit undoXandyxyz (talk | contribs)136 edits →Voiceover work: I removed this line since it was not represented in the reference quoted. Pls, let's take a look... "After ''Highlander...etc http://smokingpen.co.uk/highlander/hl_hldu3-6.htmlNext edit → | ||
Line 64: | Line 64: | ||
==Voiceover work== | ==Voiceover work== | ||
In December 1999,<ref name=comgrawc /> Gracen filed for bankruptcy protection.<ref name=comgrawc /><ref name=gracenbank /> Afterward, Gracen was given a few television guest roles, and a supporting role in the made-for-television movie ''Interceptor Force 2'', before taking a long leave of absence from her acting career in 2002. Gracen recently began doing voiceover work for Blue Hours Productions, which has revived the classic radio anthology '']'', which airs on ]. In 2012, Gracen did a character voice-over in the Malaysian animated science fiction film '']''. | |||
== Filmography == | == Filmography == |
Revision as of 03:55, 4 April 2016
Elizabeth Gracen | |
---|---|
Born | Elizabeth Grace Ward (1961-04-03) April 3, 1961 (age 63) Ozark, Arkansas |
Alma mater | HB Studios |
Occupation | Actress |
Title | Miss Arkansas 1981 Miss America 1982 |
Predecessor | Susan Powell |
Successor | Debra Maffett |
Spouse(s) | Jon Birmingham (1982–1984) (divorced) Brendan Hughes (1989–1994) (divorced) Adam Murphy (present) |
Website | www |
Elizabeth Ward Gracen (born Elizabeth Grace Ward) is an American actress who won the title of Miss America in 1982.
Early life, beauty and acting careers
She was born on April 3, 1961, in Ozark, Arkansas, and raised in Booneville, Arkansas, the daughter of Jimmy Young Ward and Patricia "Pat" (Murphy) Ward. She later moved to Russellville, Arkansas with her family, where she graduated from Russellville High School in 1979. She won the titles of Miss Arkansas in 1981 and Miss America in 1982. She used her Miss America scholarship money to study acting at HB Studios in New York City before moving to Hollywood to pursue a film and television career. During this time, Gracen says she had a one-night stand with future President Bill Clinton. She posed nude for Playboy magazine's May 1992 issue.
She built an acting career, and in 1989, while filming Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat, she met actor Brendan Hughes and they married soon after. The couple divorced in 1994. Before that she was married to Jon Birmingham. She has since remarried and has a daughter.
She made her professional feature film debut in Three For The Road with Charlie Sheen. Her film credits also include a featured role in Marked For Death opposite Steven Seagal, Pass The Ammo with Tim Curry, and the CBS feature 83 Hours Till Dawn with Peter Strauss and Robert Urich. Gracen starred in Lower Level and Discretion Assured with Michael York.
On television, Gracen has appeared in Shelley Duvall's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Sidney Sheldon's The Sands of Time and Death of the Incredible Hulk. She also appeared with a starring role in the series Extreme for NBC and the syndicated series Renegade and Queen of Swords.
Elizabeth Gracen's best-known acting role has been as the character of the Immortal Amanda in the series Highlander: The Series, and its spin-off series, Highlander: The Raven. She is focused currently on writing and directing. Gracen made her directorial debut with a documentary short feature called The Damn Deal. The film is an intimate portrait of three young drag queens from her home state who compete in female impersonator beauty pageants.
In 2012, Gracen formed Flapper Films; a company dedicated to producing inspirational content.
Claimed affair with Bill Clinton
In 1992, rumors swirled that Gracen had had an affair with Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton. At first, Gracen dismissed this claim; however, in spring 1998 Gracen recanted her six-year-old denial and stated she had a one-night stand with Clinton in 1982. After claiming this, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, who was investigating Clinton in the Paula Jones lawsuit, issued a subpoena to have her testify her claim in court. Gracen, however, eluded the subpoena and was at one point able to avoid it because Highlander: The Raven was being filmed out of the country. Paula Jones' legal team was also unable to track down Gracen because she had made unscheduled trips to Las Vegas and the Caribbean.
Voiceover work
In December 1999, Gracen filed for bankruptcy protection. Afterward, Gracen was given a few television guest roles, and a supporting role in the made-for-television movie Interceptor Force 2, before taking a long leave of absence from her acting career in 2002. Gracen recently began doing voiceover work for Blue Hours Productions, which has revived the classic radio anthology Suspense, which airs on Sirius XM. In 2012, Gracen did a character voice-over in the Malaysian animated science fiction film War of the Worlds: Goliath.
Filmography
- Three for the Road (1987) Nadine
- Pass the Ammo (1988) Christie Lynn
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1989)
- Lisa (1989) Mary
- The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990) Jasmin
- Marked for Death (1990) Melissa
- 83 Hours 'Til Dawn (1990) Maria Ranfield
- Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1991) Alice
- Lower Level (1992) Hillary
- The Sands of Time (1992)
- Final Mission (1993) Caitlin Cole
- Time Trax episode 7 (1993) Sydney
- Discretion Assured (1993) Miranda
- Highlander: The Series (1992–1998) Amanda
- The Expert (1995) Liz Pierce
- Extreme (1995) Callie Manners
- Kounterfeit (1996) Bridgette
- Highlander: The Raven (1998–1999) Amanda
- Queen of Swords "Counterfeit Queen" (2000) Carlotta
- Charmed "Bite Me" (2002) Vampire Queen
- Interceptor Force 2 (2002) Adriana Sikes
- War of the Worlds: Goliath (2012) Lt. Jennifer Carter (voice)
- Coherence (2013) Beth
References
- "Elizabeth Ward Gracen (1961–) – Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
- "Beauty queen apologises for tryst". Gainesville Sun. April 26, 1998.
- Kennedy, Helen (February 8, 2000). "She hitched her star to a wagon for the love of Bill, Hillary put her goals on hold and move to Ark. stick". New York Daily News.
- Claudia Palma, "Lineage Performing Arts Center to screen documentary highlighting dancing with Parkinson's classes". The Pasadena Star-News. August 13, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
- "Elizabeth Gracen: the Clinton reign of terror". January 14, 1999. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "All the President's Women – Elizabeth Ward Gracen". Comedy on Tap. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Big Year for the Bad News Bearers". The Washington Post. December 24, 1998.
- Cite error: The named reference
gracenbank
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
External links
Awards and achievements | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded bySusan Powell | Miss America 1982 |
Succeeded byDebra Maffett |
Preceded byLencola Sullivan | Miss Arkansas 1981 |
Succeeded byMicki Petrus |
Preceded byBobbie Candler | National Sweetheart 1980 |
Succeeded byGloria Gilbert |
Miss America | |
---|---|
| |
Arkansas pageant winners | |
---|---|
Miss Arkansas |
|
Miss Arkansas USA |
|
Miss Arkansas Teen USA |
|
Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen |
|
Arkansas portal |
- 1961 births
- Living people
- Actresses from Arkansas
- American television actresses
- Clinton administration controversies
- Miss America 1980s delegates
- Miss America Preliminary Swimsuit winners
- Miss America winners
- People from Booneville, Arkansas
- People from Ozark, Arkansas
- People from Pope County, Arkansas
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses