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Karen Jensen Profile
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| (Karen Ann Jensen) |
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| 18 August 44 | is born in San Francisco to Charles W. and Claire L. Jensen, nee Gorman |
| ? | relocates with her parents to Sacramento |
| ? | her parents divorce |
| ? | her mother marries again, becoming Mrs. Claire Jensen Nelson. They return to San Francisco. |
| ? | her brother, Robert B., is born |
| 55 | her sister, Cindy Claire, is born in San Mateo |
| March 60 | attends Mills High School. She and Jerry Bengson are selected as the 1960 candidates to Girls and Boys State. She and Bengson will represent their school and will join outstanding students from all parts of the state. |
| ? | graduates from Carlmont High School |
| 61 | is named "Miss San Carlos" |
| Early August 61 | as the "Fiesta Dream Girl," she promotes the San Mateo County Fair and Floral Fiesta |
| ? | as the "Fiesta Dream Girl," she is sent to Washington to meet President Kennedy, whom she never gets to see |
| 61 | is among ten finalists at the "Maid of California" contest at the California State Fair |
| March 62 | will compete as a finalist in the "Miss San Mateo County" pageant held on May 5 at the Aragon High School Little Theater. She resides at 1747 Greenwood, San Carlos. |
| 5 May 62 | is crowned "Miss San Mateo County" and will represent her county in the "Miss California" contest to be held later in the year in Santa Cruz |
| October 62 | is named "Miss Fire Prevention Week" |
| November 62 | is hostess of the sixth annual convention of the California Federation of Service Stations held at the Hilton Inn, San Francisco International Airport |
| 62 | misses the "Miss California" title by less than an eyelash, becoming second-runner up in the state finals |
| ? | pursues a successful modeling career in San Francisco |
| April 63 | promotes the opening of the Lyons Coffee Shop restaurant in the Hillsdale Shopping center in San Mateo |
| January 64 | is Sports Queen for the International Fishing Festival during the San Francisco National Sports and Boat Show held at the Caw Palace from January 3 until February 9 |
| 19 October 64 | is signed to a six-month contract by Warner Brothers Studio after a screen test and a small part in the George Burns TV show "Wendy and Me" |
| Mid-September 65 | obtains release from Warners and signs with Universal |
| November 65 | announces that she will star in Universal's upcoming Out of Sight |
| 66 | becomes very close with co-star Rena Horten while filming Out of Sight |
| 17 April 66 | is signed by producer Richard Collins for a part in the "Crazier Than Cotton" segment of the "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" |
| July 66 | columnist Walter Winchell reports: "Candlelight for two: B'way actor Stewart Moss and Karen Jensen (Universal Pix new star and a Doll) at H'wood Beachcombers..." |
| Late September 66 | is named "Miss Greater Los Angeles Press Club" following Marti Barris. The runners-up are Edy Williams, Ena Hartman, and Jan Garrison. |
| columnist Mike Connolly knows: "John Ashley, separated from Deborah Walley, is now in a daze with Karen Jensen..." |
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| March 67 | attends a party that Universal tosses at Stage 24 for its NBC affiliates with Dennis Cole. Sandra Dee comes with Jack Freeman, Ena Hartman with Bob Bagley, Susan St. James with Richard Neubert. |
| April 67 | is hostess of the Greater Los Angeles Press Club's sixth annual "Headliner of the Year" awards banquet held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel to salute Governor Ronald Reagan |
| June 67 | as Honorary Mayor of Universal City, she attends a Universal City Studio luncheon honoring Walter Lantz on his 50th anniversary in the motion picture industry |
| September 67 | is named "Motion Picture Sweater Girl of 1967" by the National Knitted Outerwear Foundation |
| ? | makes headlines when she breaks her contract and walks out on Universal |
| ? | screen tests for Skidoo! and will remember director Otto Preminger as really tough and unpleasant to work for |
| ? | loses out to Sharon Tate for the part of Jennifer in Valley of the Dolls |
| Early April 68 | is seen at Stefanino's with George Hamilton |
| Late April 68 | is seen at Stefanino's with James Caan |
| 69 | her most avid suitor is John Neilson / David Nielson, "a young, Bible-spouting actor" |
| ? | joins the Science of the Mind Church |
| 69 - 71 | films the TV series "Bracken’s World." Later, she will have only kind words for producer Stanley Rubin and his wife, ex-actress Kathleen Hughes. |
| August 69 | as star of 20th Century-Fox's upcoming "Bracken's World," she has the place of honor at the Diamond Jubilee Parade in San Mateo |
| ? | publicity for "Bracken's World" claims that she was a fat girl before slimming down to 118 pounds. Now "she looks like a curvaceous Dresden doll all grown up." |
| 70 | is crowned "Azalea Queen" at the Azalea Festival in Wilmington, North Carolina |
| March 70 | John Neilson is her date on TV's "It Takes Two" show |
| 28 November 70 | marries John Neilson, an actor, at her mother's home in San Carlos, California. Both are 26. Her sister is maid of honor; her brother is best man. Reverend Walter Johnson performs the single-ring ceremony. The couple will move into a new home in Studio City and plan to honeymoon in Australia in March 1971. |
| December 70 | wins the Golden Calf Trophy for the actress with "the most beautiful legs in the world" presented by famed hosiery designer Willy's of Hollywood |
| February 72 | friends surprise her and her husband with a big wedding cake during dinner at the Luau |
| 73 | films The Salzburg Connection on location in Austria |
| September 74 | promotes Montgomery Ward's Wendy Ward model and charm program in Panorama City |
| April 75 | "tired of the pressure of Los Angeles," she and her actor-turned-writer husband Neilson move to the redwood country of Northern California |
| 90 | divorces Neilson |
| ? | marries TV actor Michael George Stroka |
| 14 April 97 | becomes the widow of Stroka, who dies at age 58 in Los Angeles from cancer |
| 30 January 99 | marries TV actor Brendon Boone. He's 60; she's 54. |
| Sources: Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema by Tom Lisanti, San Mateo Times, New Castle News, The Times, Family Weekly, San Mateo Post, Pasadena Star-News, Pasadena Independent, Sunday Post-Crescent, The Charleston Gazette, Burlington Times-News, Van Nuys News, The Daily Review, www.Ancestry.com | |
| Recommended Books: Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema by Tom Lisanti | |
| Links: Filmography | |