Who is Grace Lee Whitney? See Net-worth, Quote, Awards, Fact, Wiki

Grace Lee Whitney Wiki Biography

Born on 1 April 1 1930, Grace Lee Whitney donned the hats of an actress and singer. Regrettably, she isn’t with us anymore as she bid adieu to life in 2015. However, she was able to leave a legacy behind and she will be forever remembered for her portrayal of the character, Janice Rand, in the television series, ¨Star Trek.¨ Her career spanned over five decades!

So, how much was Grace Lee Whitney worth before passing away? Authoritative sources estimate Perrey´s fortune to be worth around the $2 million mark. She made most of her fortune appearing in over 15 films and making over 100 appearances In TV shows and series.

Grace Lee Whitney Net Worth $2 million

Not many people are aware of the fact that Grace Lee Whitney is actually not the actress´s original name. Before being adopted by the Whitney family, she was formerly known as Mary Ann Chase. When just 14 years old, she dived into the entertainment industry working as a “girl” singer on Detroit´s “WJR radio”. In her late teens, she decided to leave her home and move to Chicago, where she pursued her singing career, often performing as an opening act for Buddy Rich and Billie Holiday in nightclubs. She would eventually get the opportunity to tour with the likes of Spike Jones and Fred Waring too, laying the basis to her net worth.

Although Whitney was involved in a host of movies, notably “A Public Affair”, “Critic´s Choice”, and “The Man from Galveston”, and though she made numerous appearances on TV shows such as “You Bet Your Life”,  “The Red Skelton Show”, and “The Jimmy Durante Show”, it was not until she was cast as Yeoman Janice Rand in 1966 in the TV series, “Star Trek” that she truly tasted success. On being cast for the role, she later mentioned, “I was on diet pills trying to stay thin—and I was very thin. They wanted you to fit into the uniforms and I couldn´t quite so I went on amphetamines”. She would later claim to be sexually harassed while under contract. The actress was released from her contract after appearing in eight of the first thirteen episodes, after which she said in an interview, “They wanted William Shatner to have romances in each episode with a different person, because for him to be stuck with one woman was not good for him and it wasn´t good for the audience. That´s what they told me, so I was written out”.

After her contract termination from the show, it would be a fair while before she would land a meaty role again. Ironically, her next major role would come in Star Trek again, in the 1979 film, “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”, for the role of Transporter Chief Janice Rand, which she would go on to reprise in the following Star Trek film franchise.

The last time she would create a major stir would be in the year, 1998—that year saw her releasing her autobiography, “The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galax”, in which she gave the public insights on how she was hired and fired from “Star Trek”. She was also honest about her addiction to substance and alcohol.

In her personal life, Whitney was married to Sydney Stevan Dweck from 1954 to 60, with whom she had two sons, and to Jack Dale (1970-91). She worked tirelessly towards helping people overcome their substance and alcohol abuse. The actress crossed the great divide on 1 May 2015 at the age of 85 of natural causes, at her abode in Coarsegold.



Full Name Grace Lee Whitney
Net Worth $2 Million
Date Of Birth April 1, 1930, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Died May 1, 2015, Coarsegold, California, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Profession Actress
Nationality American
Spouse Jack Dale (m. 1965–1991), Sydney Stevan Dweck (m. 1954–1966)
Children Scott Whitney
Nicknames Mary Ann Chase , Lee Whitney , Ruth Whitney , Gracie , Grace Whitney , Grace Elaine Whitney , Amazing Grace
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926298/
Movies Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Irma la Douce, The Texan Meets Calamity Jane
TV Shows You Bet Your Life, The Red Skelton Show, The Jimmy Durante Show
Trademark
1 Seductive deep voice
2 Voluptuous figure
3 Sparkling blue eyes
4 Platinum blonde hair
Quote
1 [2013] When I told the fans I was an alcoholic, they all applauded. When I told them I had given myself to a higher power, they cheered again. I’m in a great place because I’ve gone full circle.
2 [on her termination from the original Star Trek (1966) series] They wanted William Shatner to have romances in each episode with a different person, because for him to be stuck with one woman was not good for him and it wasn’t good for the audience. That’s what they told me, so I was written out. There were two blonde girls and one black girl. Nichelle Nichols was a more important character and couldn’t be written out. Everything’s political in America. One of the blondes have to go. The other one was engaged to the boss, so guess who went? I just about killed myself. I drank, that’s what we do, we drink to get rid of pain. I was really mad. My God, was I bitter.
3 [interview in iFMagazine, September 2006, asked for her opinion on Star Trek (2009) being a prequel film] I don’t know how that’s going to go. I just don’t know about that. I don’t know how fans will react to that. How can you go back beyond the classic Trek? They tried that on Star Trek: Enterprise (2001), but did it go, did it work? I think Scott Bakula was terrific on that show. But it didn’t last as long as some of the others, and I wonder what happened and why that is.
4 [interview in iFMagazine, September 2006, on Star Trek: Of Gods and Men (2007)] It’s cute because I have a nice interchange with Pavel Chekov, and I have a nice interchange with Uhura. It’s like old times. It’s all very déjà vu. It’s like no time has gone by at all. We did Voyager [Star Trek: Voyager (1995)] in 1996. It’s like ten years, and in Star Trek ten years is not very long at all. Look at how much time was between the original series and the Motion Picture.
5 [interview in iFMagazine, October 2006, asked if she is surprised at how popular the original Star Trek (1966) series has become] Oh, yeah. It was an acting gig and we thought that Spock was weird and we thought the only reason we were being hired was to sell color television sets, and wasn’t Kirk cute? I mean, gosh, he was cute! I was in the middle of the both of them [Kirk and Spock]. Then after the series, I went on to do Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), and that was supposed to be a series originally. They wrote it as a series, and when Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) came out, Paramount jumped off the roof and they went into the motion picture, and George Takei and I did Star Trek: Voyager (1995). That was going to be a series. We were supposed to have our own show, and they did Star Trek: Enterprise (2001) instead. It was supposed to be George and Gracie [i.e., The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950)] on the Excelsior.
6 [on the famous ‘Yeoman Rand’ basketweave hairstyle from the original Star Trek (1966) series] It was so heavy it kept listing to the left, I swear they had to nail that thing to my head! It was gorgeous Max Factor hair. It cost a lot of money and somebody stole it. I still have visions of that damn wig turning up. I go down to Skid Row for my recovery program – I’m clean and sober now – and I keep expecting to find some bag lady or drag queen wearing it!
Fact
1 Since she has passed away, William Shatner is now the oldest living cast member of the original Star Trek (1966) series.
2 Moved to Coarsegold, California in 1993 and continued her fellowship work in Fresno and Madera Counties, completely dedicating her life to helping herself and others find daily sobriety and a higher power out of addiction. She wanted to be known more as a survivor of addiction than as a Star Trek (1966) cast member.
3 Her famous role as Yeoman Janice Rand in the first season of Star Trek (1966) was supposed to be the lead female character. However, the producers let go of the character after the first half of the first season, much to the fans’ regret. However, she was asked back for most of the Star Trek movies, reprising her role as Janice Rand.
4 According to her autobiography, “The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy”, she struggled with and overcame alcoholism and drug addiction, particularly marijuana.
5 In 1998, she appeared in an episode of Diagnosis Murder (1993) with her Star Trek (1966) castmates George Takei, Walter Koenig and Majel Barrett.
6 Best known by the public (and by many sci-fi fans) for her role as Yeoman Janice Rand on the original Star Trek (1966) series.
7 Was a professional singer before becoming an actress, and at one point, toured with Red Ingle and his band.
8 Had appeared in episodes of three different series with George Takei: Star Trek (1966), Star Trek: Voyager (1995) and Diagnosis Murder (1993).
9 Two Star Trek action figures were made in the likeness of her Star Trek character, Yeoman Janice Rand.
10 Had a singing group called “Star”, with which she regularly entertained at nightclubs and at Star Trek conventions.
11 Mother of Jonathan Dweck and Scott Whitney.

Actress

Title Year Status Character
Bat Masterson 1961 TV Series Louise Talbot
Zane Grey Theater 1961 TV Series Ellen
Overland Trail 1960 TV Series Saloon Girl
Some Like It Hot 1959 Rosella (uncredited)
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp 1958 TV Series Saloon Girl
The Naked and the Dead 1958 Girl in Dream Sequence (uncredited)
Mike Hammer 1958 TV Series Tempest Flame
The Walter Winchell File 1958 TV Series Midge
Top Banana 1954 Miss Holland (uncredited)
Star Trek: Of Gods and Men 2007 Video Janice Rand
Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II 2007 TV Series Janice Rand
Sci Fi Visionaries 2004 Video short Yeoman Janice Rand
Diagnosis Murder 1998 TV Series Encounter Group Abductee
Star Trek: Voyager 1996 TV Series Commander Janice Rand
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country 1991 Excelsior Communications Officer
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home 1986 Commander Rand
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock 1984 Woman in Cafeteria
The Kid with the 200 I.Q. 1983 TV Movie
Hart to Hart 1980 TV Series Chic Lady
Star Trek: The Motion Picture 1979 Janice Rand
The Next Step Beyond 1978 TV Series Dr. Dorothy Alsworth
Cannon 1974 TV Series Ida
The Bold Ones: The Lawyers 1970 TV Series Blonde
Death Valley Days 1962-1969 TV Series Nellie Cashman / Angela Cummings / Kat / …
The Name of the Game 1969 TV Series Suzette
The Outsider 1969 TV Series Claire
The Virginian 1963-1968 TV Series Heather / Nina
The Big Valley 1968 TV Series Maggie
Mannix 1968 TV Series Gloria
Cimarron Strip 1968 TV Series Katie
Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color 1968 TV Series Velma
Police Story 1967 TV Movie Sgt. Lilly Monroe
Ironside 1967 TV Movie Stripper (uncredited)
Rango 1967 TV Series
Batman 1967 TV Series Neila
Run for Your Life 1965-1967 TV Series Billie / Millie
Star Trek 1966 TV Series Yeoman Janice Rand Yeoman Rand
No Time for Sergeants 1965 TV Series
Bewitched 1964 TV Series Babs Livingston
Temple Houston 1964 TV Series Tangerine O’Shea
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre 1964 TV Series Mona
Wagon Train 1964 TV Series Nora
Arrest and Trial 1964 TV Series Sally Burns
The Outer Limits 1964 TV Series Carla Duveen
Kraft Suspense Theatre 1963 TV Series Blonde
The Man from Galveston 1963 Texas Rose
77 Sunset Strip 1961-1963 TV Series Natasha / Flame / Binnie Clark / …
Irma la Douce 1963 Kiki the Cossack
The Untouchables 1962-1963 TV Series Fran / Penny
Critic’s Choice 1963 Minor Role (uncredited)
The Eleventh Hour 1962 TV Series Dawn
Ensign O’Toole 1962 TV Series Rita Shaw
Surfside 6 1961-1962 TV Series Wendy Peters / Bernice / Lorraine Eldridge
The New Breed 1962 TV Series Beth
Frontier Circus 1962 TV Series Circus Blonde
The Rifleman 1962 TV Series Rose
Gunsmoke 1962 TV Series Pearl
Hawaiian Eye 1962 TV Series Marcia Vail
A Public Affair 1962 Tracey Phillips
The Detectives 1961-1962 TV Series Darlene / Susie Jackson
The Roaring 20’s 1961-1962 TV Series Lily / Ginger
King of Diamonds 1962 TV Series
Hennesey 1961 TV Series
Pocketful of Miracles 1961 Queenie’s ‘Broad’ in Black Dress (uncredited)
General Electric Theater 1961 TV Series Audrey Henderson
The Real McCoys 1961 TV Series Mrs. Lomax
Michael Shayne 1961 TV Series Gloria / Ginnie Maxwell
The Islanders 1961 TV Series Barbara

Soundtrack

Title Year Status Character
Spotlight on Grace Lee Whitney 2000 TV Movie performer: “USS Enterprise”, “Venice to Balboa” / writer: “USS Enterprise”, “Venice to Balboa”

Composer

Title Year Status Character
Spotlight on Grace Lee Whitney 2000 TV Movie

Thanks

Title Year Status Character
Get a Life! 2012 TV Movie documentary special thanks
The Captains 2011 Documentary the producers wish to thank

Self

Title Year Status Character
The Captains 2011 Documentary Herself
Bring Back… Star Trek 2009 TV Movie documentary Herself
Spotlight on Grace Lee Whitney 2000 TV Movie Herself
Trekkies 1997 Documentary Herself

Archive Footage

Title Year Status Character
Spacelift: Transporting Trek Into the 21st Century 2011 Video short Janice Rand
How William Shatner Changed the World 2005 TV Movie documentary Yeoman Janice Rand
Kiss ‘N’ Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century 2004 Video short Janice Rand

You May Also Like

Steve Guttenberg’s net worth, biography, fact, career, awards and life story

Steve Guttenberg net worth and salary: Steve Guttenberg is an American actor and comedian who has a net worth of $14 million. He is known for several lead roles throughout the ’80s and ’90s including in “Police Academy,” “Cocoon,” and “Three Men and a Baby.” His career has spanned over four decades. Early Life: He was born Steven Robert Guttenberg in Brooklyn, New York in 1958, the son of Ann Iris, a surgical assistant, and Jerome Stanley Guttenberg, an electrical engineer. He had a Jewish upbringing in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, New York, before his family moved to North Massapequa, New York. In his high school years, Gutenberg attended a summer program at Julliard where he studied under John Houseman. He won a role in an off-Broadway production of “The Lion in Winter.” After he graduated from Plainedge High School in 1976, he attended the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany for a year and then moved to California to pursue an acting career. Within weeks, he was cast in a commercial for Kentucky Fried Chicken playing Colonel Sanders. Career: Guttenberg’s first screen credit was in the TV movie “Something for Joey” in 1977. He went on to take small parts throughout the late seventies and early eighties. Guttenberg was only twenty-years-old when he turned into one of the biggest comedic and dramatic box-office draws in the world. Cast in Levinson’s 1982 classic comedy “Diner,” Guttenberg went on to become the sensation of the decade. He starred in an enormous hit when he played the lead role in 1984’s “Police Academy.” He became one of the world’s busiest stars over the next four years, appearing in 9 starring roles. 1985 saw the sequel of “Police Academy,” “Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment.” Guttenberg then had the romantic male lead in “Cocoon” that same year, yet another huge box office success. In 1986, Steve starred in the third installment of the “Policy Academy” franchise, “Police Academy 3: Back in Training.” He then starred in “Short Circuit” in 1986 and made his last “Police Academy” film in 1987, “Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol.” Guttenberg scored the biggest financial success of his career to date in 1987 with “Three Men and a Baby,” starring opposite Tom Selleck and Ted Danson. His next three films, “High Spirits,” “Don’t Tell Her It’s Me,” and “Cocoon: The Return” were commercial disappointments. “3 Men and a Little Lady,” however, was a success in 1990. Guttenberg made his Broadway debut with 1991’s Prelude to a Kiss, after which he partook in several theater productions like “The Boys Next Door” in London’s West End and “Furthest From the Sun.” He starred opposite Kristie Alley and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson in 1995’s “It Takes Two.” He also starred in “Zeus and Roxanne,” “Casper,” and “Tower of Terror.” As for his TV roles, the most popular is his turn as Mayor Woody Goodman in 2004’s mystery series “Veronica Mars.” Meanwhile, he also served as director, producer, co-writer and actor on the 2002’s film adaptation of the Broadway hit “P.S. Your Cat is Dead.” Furthermore, he was the executive producer of the Emmy-award winning show CBS “Schoolbreak Special,” a broadcast focused on issues affecting high school students. In addition to the above, Guttenberg was added to the cast of the reality show “Dancing with the Stars” in the spring of 2008, along with professional dancer Anna Trebunskaya as his dancing partner. That same year, he released a video titled “Steve Guttenberg’s Steak House” on funnyordie.com. Guttenberg played himself in an episode of the Starz comedy “Party Down” in May 2010 and also appeared in an episode of “Law & Order.” He returned to Broadway in 2012 for Woody Allen’s one-act play, “Honeymoon Hotel.” In 2015, he appeared on the History Channel’s miniseries “Sons of Liberty.” In 2020, Guttenberg appeared in “The Goldbergs,” “Paper Empire,” and “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.” Awards: The sixth annual Fire Island Golden Wagon Film Festival honored him with the 2008 Tony Randall Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in the entertainment industry, as well as his outstanding community service and charitable acts. In December 2011, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In October 2014, Guttenberg received a key to the city of Miami for his work with the charity Fun Paw Care, which raises awareness for animal rights. Philanthropy: When he is not on screen or stage, he is focused on helping the homeless and on improving opportunities for young people. He set up Guttenhouse, an apartment complex that accommodates those in need who are past their foster child status. Also, he was named Ambassador for Children’s Issues by the Entertainment Industry Foundation and when Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. in 2005, Guttenberg was one of the volunteers at the Houston Astrodome for a week. In 2016, a trust was set up in his honor to provide support services to the homeless population of Los Angeles. That same year, Guttenberg pre-recorded a message for the New York Walk to Fight Lymphedema and Lymphatic Diseases in Brooklyn announcing that he had joined the Lymphatic Education & Research Network’s Honorary Board. Personal Life: He was married for three years to model Denise Bixler, until they separated in June 1991 and divorced one year later. Guttenberg has been involved with reporter Emily Smith since 2014. They announced their engagement in December 2016. They were married on January 19, 2019.
Read More