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Julie Parrish

© June Moore

Ruby Joyce Wilbar was born in Middlesboro Kentucky on October 21, 1940. On August 2, 1962, she had her name legally changed to, Julie Parrish .

Julie was probably best known to Elvis fans as Joanna, the brave young lady who took that ill-fated trip, in the rockin' ("It's a Dogs Life") helicopter, filled with wall-to-wall dogs, for the classic 1966 film, Paradise, Hawaiian Style.

When ask about her career, Julie was often quoted as saying "Thank you God for letting me be one of the people who got to kiss Elvis."

Her illustrious career didn't start there however.

Dreams of becoming a celebrity began for Julie at the early age of 6-years-old, during her first school play.

Her first professional job was that of a model in the 50s.

Julie made her TV debut on "The Untouchables" on March 16, 1961.

Her first "big" movie break however, began when she won the "Young Model of the Year" contest in Tecumseh, Michigan. First prize landed her a small role in Jerry Lewis' "It's Only Money" in 1962.

Besides being a beautiful model and brilliant actress, Julie also sang the National Anthem before a Laker's game in the early '70s.

Loved both on and off-stage, Julie was elected to the Board of Directors of the L.A. Commission on Assaults Against Women, and worked regularly on their hotline.

Throughout the '90s she also worked as a counselor at the Haven Hills Shelter for Battered Women,. and spoke frequently to audiences about domestic violence and visited schools to discuss dating violence.

A FEW OF HER MOVIES

• It's Only Money,
• The Nutty Professor,
• Winter a-Go Go,
• Harlow,
• The Doberman Gang,
• The Devil and Max Devlin,
• Elvis: The Complete Story,
• Fireball 500,
• Paradise, Hawaiian Style

A FEW OF HER NUMEROUS TV APPEARANCES

• The Untouchables
  
• The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
  
• Dick Powell Theatre
  
• My Three Sons
  
• Family Affair
  
• Day in Court
  
• Gunsmoke
  
• Ben Casey
  
• Gidget,
  
• The FBI,
  
• The Smothers Brothers Show
• General Hospital
  
• Murder She Wrote
  
• Afternoon School Special
  
• Hunter
  
• FBI Untold Stories
  
• Burke's Law,
  
• Bonanza
  
• Star Trek
  
• Death Valley Days
  
• The Dating Game
  
• Good Morning, World
  
• Beverly Hills 90210
  
• This is the Life
  
• Mannix
  
• Return to Peyton Place
  
• Dallas
  
• Rockford Files
  
• Laverne and Shirley
  
• The Young and the Restless
  
• Shirley
  
• Days of Our Lives
  
• Dynasty
  
• The Fall Guy
  
• Capitol
  
• The Pat Boone Show
  
• The Merv Griffin Show
  
• Hour Magazine
  
• Hotel
  
• This is the Life
  
• Divorce Court
  
• Family Medical Center
  

A FEW OF HER COMMERCIALS

• Sterling Beer
  
• National Airlines
  
• Ajax detergent

Julie passed away on October 1st, 2003. You can send cards and letters to her family at

The Wilbar Family,
PO Box 1702,
La Mirada, CA
90637-1702.

The copyright of the article Julie Parrish in Elvis' Music is owned by June Moore. Permission to republish Julie Parrish in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.