Anne Neyland
Anne Neyland | |
|---|---|
 Neyland in 1957 | |
| Born | August 23, 1934 Gulfport, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | April 24, 2019 (aged 84) Camarillo, California, U.S. |
| Occupations | Actress, model |
| Years active | 1952–1960 |
| Spouse(s) | John Criswell Eugene Fowler
(m. 1962; div. 1964)Charles Rosher Jr.
(m. 1965; div. 1970) |
Anne Neyland (August 23, 1934 – April 24, 2019) was an American actress who is best known for her role as Laury Jackson in Jailhouse Rock (1957) opposite Elvis Presley. After her film career, she became president of the Hollywood Models League.
Early life
Anne Neyland was born August 23, 1934, in Gulfport, Mississippi, and raised in Dallas, Texas. She attended local schools and began modeling as a teenager, eventually entering and winning a number of Texas beauty contests, including the Miss Texas title.[1] She was the cousin of Robert Neyland, athletic director of the University of Tennessee.[2] At sixteen she began work as a fashion model in Dallas and later in New York City before moving to Hollywood to pursue acting.
Career
Neyland made her film debut in an uncredited role in Singin’ in the Rain (1952).[3] In 1956 Neyland, who was recently crowned Miss Dallas, was cast by director André De Toth after a screen test for his 1957 European-set crime drama film Hidden Fear, filmed in Copenhagen and starring John Payne.[4][5]
Neyland played Laury Jackson in Jailhouse Rock (1957). A July 1957 Charlotte News interview featured her discussing meeting Elvis Presley and filming the movie, calling him “a nice boy but I feel sorry for him.”[2][6] She was labeled as her one of MGM’s new “Southern discoveries.”[7][8]
Neyland starred opposite Steve Terrell in Motorcycle Gang (1957).[9] She continued acting through 1960, appearing uncredited in the film Ocean’s 11.
Her other film credits include small or and television guest roles throughout 1958–1960 on series such as The Bob Cummings Show, Sea Hunt, Peter Gunn, Highway Patrol, Yancy Derringer, The Texan, Lock Up, and Men into Space.[3]
By late 1958 Neyland had shifted her focus to modeling and professional advocacy. She served as president of the Hollywood Models League, an organization promoting ethics and standards in the modeling industry. She stated that the League’s goal was “to keep our standards high and protect our reputation in the public eye.”[10]
Personal life
Neyland had an estranged marriage with salesman John Criswell, who was arrested in 1960 after he allegedly tried to kill her with a knife.[11] She later married Eugene Fowler from 1962 and 1964.[12] Neyland married for a third time to Charles Rosher Jr., son of cinematographer Charles Rosher, from 1965 to 1970.[13] She died in 2019 at the age of 84 in Camarillo, California.[3]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Singin’ in the Rain | Chorus Girl | Uncredited |
| 1957 | Hidden Fear | Virginia Kelly | |
| 1957 | Jailhouse Rock | Laury Jackson | |
| 1957 | Motorcycle Gang | Theresa “Terry” Lindsay | |
| 1960 | Ocean’s 11 | Dolores | Uncredited |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Luke and the Tenderfoot | Blonde Woman | 1 episode |
| 1957 | The Thin Man | Gerry | 1 episode |
| 1958–1959 | The Bob Cummings Show | Gwendolyn | 2 episodes |
| 1959 | Sea Hunt | Kathy Gilliam | 1 episode |
| 1959 | Man with a Camera | Ellen | 1 episode |
| 1959 | Lock Up | 1 episode | |
| 1959 | Peter Gunn | Jean Clayton | 1 episode |
| 1959 | Highway Patrol | Gloria Tulley | 1 episode |
| 1959 | Yancy Derringer | Wilma | 1 episode |
| 1959 | The Texan | Ruth Avery | 1 episode |
| 1960 | Men into Space | Anne Benson | 1 episode |
References
- ^ "Mary Fickett Recalled; 'Bachelor' to Play Dad; Anne Neyland at MGM". The Los Angeles Times. May 11, 1957. p. 29.
- ^ a b Emery Wister (July 16, 1957). "Show 'Nuf: Learn About Elvis From Anne Neyland". The Charlotte News. p. 16.
- ^ a b c Barnes, Mike (April 29, 2019). "Anne Neyland, Actress in 'Jailhouse Rock,' Dies at 84". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ^ "Earl Wilson Says". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. June 25, 1956. p. 6.
- ^ "Thrills and Drama in Hidden Fear". The Tyler Courier-Times. December 21, 1958. p. 39.
- ^ "Charmer Arrives to Help Promote Elvis' New Film". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. October 23, 1957. p. 19.
- ^ "Starlet Arrives for Premiere of Elvis' Jailhouse Rock". The Memphis Press-Scimitar. October 23, 1957. p. 28.
- ^ "2 Starlets Have Ideas on Elvis' Kind of Girl". The Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota. November 10, 1957. p. 45.
- ^ "Theater Listings". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. April 13, 1958. p. 22.
- ^ "Models to Give Award to George Montgomery". The Los Angeles Times. December 11, 1958. p. 62.
- ^ "Anne Neyland's Mate Held in Death Threat". The Los Angeles Times. October 26, 1960. p. 32.
- ^ "Anne Neyland obituary". The Times. July 12, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ^ "Anne Neyland, actress who appeared in 'Jailhouse Rock' and dated her co-star, Elvis Presley – obituary". The Telegraph. June 22, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
External links
- Anne Neyland at IMDb