| Joanna Cameron
|
|
|
| Birth name
|
Joanna Kara Cameron
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| Born
|
September 20, 1949 in Aspen, Colorado, USA
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| Died
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October 22, 2021 from complications from a stroke
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| Sometimes credited as
|
JoAnna Cameron
|
| Notable Roles
|
Isis
|
| Notable Episodes
|
|
| Awards
|
|
Biography
Joanna Cameron was an only child born to restauranteur parents. Throughout her high school years, she was often the stand in chef at her family's establishment due to her mother's illness. JoAnna also starred in many school plays and was musically proficient playing both the piano, flute and harmonica. In the latter half of the sixties, she relocated to Orange, California with her family, to pursue a degree in Drama and English. While attending U.C. Riverside on a scholarship, she was discovered by a talent scout.
A former Vogue model, she was widely favored by casting agents because of her athleticism, natural qualities and beauty. Steven Stern, director of "B.S. I Love You" directed her first commercial. In 1968, at Linda Hope's insistence and without a screen test, she read for Bob Hope and was cast in "How to Commit Marriage" with only the one commercial to her credit. Several other films followed and Cameron was set to be cast in "Love Story" opposite Ryan O'Neal. However, the role of "Jenny" eventually went to Ali MacGraw. After meeting Joanna at the Bistro restaurant, Gulf & Western CEO Charles Bluhdorn - who incidentally shared Cameron's birthday - selected her to appear in Neil Simon's "Star Spangled Girl". Paramount President Stanley Jaffe opposed her casting, and Robert Evans mediated between Bluhdorn and Jaffe. The role would ultimately go to Sandy Duncan and the ensuing battle prompted Jaffe's dismissal. In addition to her movie credits, Joanna also appeared in numerous TV movies, episodic television and well over one hundred commercials.
Today, she is widely known for her titular role as "Isis" in CBS's live action Saturday morning show.
In the late 1970's, Cameron starred in and directed many on board promotional videos for the Navy. She continued her acting career into the early 1980's and was in several productions with Roger Staubach and the USN. After leaving the entertainment industry, she became a home health care practitioner and is now involved in hotel marketing and management in Hawaii.
Roles
Starring Roles
| Series |
Role |
Year(s) |
Season(s)
|
| Isis |
Andrea Thomas |
1975–1977 |
1 |
2
|
Guest Starring Roles
| Series
|
Role
|
Episode
|
Airdate
|
| The Bold Ones: The New Doctors |
Jan Speiser |
1x04 - Man Without a Heart |
November 9, 1969
|
| Medical Center |
Lainie |
1x09 - Jeopardy |
November 26, 1969
|
| Daniel Boone |
Kellie |
6x09 - A Bearskin for Jamie Blue |
November 27, 1969
|
| Marcus Welby, M.D. |
Anne |
1x16 - Fun and Games and Michael Ambrose |
January 13, 1970
|
| Marcus Welby, M.D. |
Anne MacAndrews |
1x20 - Nobody Wants a Fat Jockey |
February 17, 1970
|
| Marcus Welby, M.D. |
|
1x21 - The Other Side of the Chart |
February 24, 1970
|
| The Name of the Game |
Carole Crown |
2x23 - Echo of a Nightmare |
March 20, 1970
|
| Love, American Style |
|
3x10D - Love and the Eyewitness |
November 19, 1971
|
| The Partners |
Sgt. Kelly |
1x10 - Have I Got an Apartment for You |
November 27, 1971
|
| Marcus Welby, M.D. |
|
4x01 - A Fragile Possession |
September 12, 1972
|
| Search |
Laura |
1x10 - Flight to Nowhere |
November 22, 1972
|
| Columbo |
Lorna |
4x02 - Negative Reaction |
October 15, 1974
|
| Shazam! |
Isis |
2x07 - The Odd Couple |
October 18, 1975
|
| Westwind |
|
1x08 - The Deadly Photo |
October 25, 1975
|
| Switch |
Jenny Brown |
1x11 - Death by Resurrection |
December 2, 1975
|
| Shazam! |
Isis |
3x04 - Finders Keepers |
October 2, 1976
|
| Shazam! |
Isis |
3x06 - Out of Focus |
October 16, 1976
|
| Gibbsville |
|
1x10 - In the Silence |
unaired (1977)
|
| McMillan & Wife |
Vanessa Vale |
6x06 - Have You Heard About Vanessa? |
April 24, 1977
|
| The Amazing Spider-Man |
Gale Hoffman |
1x01 - The Deadly Dust (1) |
April 5, 1978
|
| The Amazing Spider-Man |
Gale Hoffman |
1x02 - The Deadly Dust (2) |
April 12, 1978
|
| Switch |
Jenny Brown |
3x20 - The Cage |
June 25, 1978
|
| VH-1 Where Are They Now? |
Herself |
1x07 - Superheroes |
July 21, 1999
|
Specials and Made-for-TV Movies
Talk, News and Game Show Appearances
Director
Memorable Moments
- In the "Isis" series, JoAnna's character would incant "Oh zephyr winds which blow on high, lift me now so I can fly" before spinning upwards and flying away.
Awards and Accolades
- Was voted one of the "Five most beautiful women in the world" by the International Academy of Beauty
Trivia
- Considered the "Queen of Commercials" in the 1970's. Held several Guinness world records for appearing in the most commercials. (100+ commercials)
- Was romantically linked to Sir David Frost.
- Holds degrees in both Drama/English and Marketing/Management
- An accomplished cook and baker, avid golfer, animal lover and outdoor enthusiast of cycling, sailing, skiing, diving, horseback riding
- Some sources have claimed that Joanna Cameron is very distantly related to Director James Cameron.
- During the filming of "Pretty maids all in a row" the studio publicized that Rock Hudson was "dating" JoAnna Cameron.
- It has been noted that "Blue Angels in Razor Sharp" partly inspired the subsequent production of "Top Gun"
- Played the first superheroine in TV history to headline her own weekly series
Gallery
