JQ
Photo of Juanita Quigley

Juanita Quigley

Actor
Born June 24, 1931Died October 29, 2017 (86 years)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Juanita Quigley (24 June 1931 – 29 October 2017) was an American child actress in motion pictures of the 1930s and 1940s. She had a sister, Rita Quigley, who was also a child actress.

Juanita Quigley was billed as "Baby Jane" in several early roles. Her screen debut was as Claudette Colbert's three-year-old daughter in Imitation of Life (1934). She went on to play featured parts in several films, including The Man Who Reclaimed His Head (1934) and was Jean Harlow's niece in Riffraff (1936). Quigley became a familiar face to moviegoers of the era, but major roles for children so young were few and she often played bits as well as featured roles. She was one of the most popular child stars of her day, and was Universal Pictures' youngest star in 1934.

Quigley was briefly involved in the Our Gang film series. In 1940, she was the guest-starring lead in The New Pupil when cast as Sally, who briefly takes Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer away from Darla Hood. Two years later, she reprised the character in Going to Press (1942), the only time in the MGM era where the female lead was played by someone other than Darla Hood (who had recently left the series) or Janet Burston.

Quigley acted alongside her older sister, Rita Quigley, in Whispering Footsteps (1943). Her last major role was in National Velvet (1944), in which she played Elizabeth Taylor's sister.

Quigley made only a handful of small appearances after National Velvet, her last being in 1950. At the age of 20, in August 1951, she became a religious sister in the order of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph, teaching at Precious Blood Catholic School. After several years in her convent, she left the vocation and married.

Inaccurate documentation exists that Juanita made an uncredited appearance as an extra in the locally filmed Porky's II: The Next Day. At the time of this filming, Juanita lived in Pennsylvania pursuing her post-convent career full-time. Juanita was retired and was an intensely private person with regard to her past. Most who knew her as a friend were unaware of her previous life as an actress. As of 2016, Juanita lived a peaceful retired life with her son and daughter-in-law in Massachusetts.

Juanita Quigley died in Sudbury, MA, on 29 October 2017, aged 86.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • You and Me
  • The Devil's Party

Known For

  • National Velvet
  • Imitation of Life
  • Born to Dance
  • Riffraff
  • A Yank at Eton
  • The Lady and the Monster
  • Cinderella's Feller

Filmography

1983
Porky's II: The Next Day · as Woman At Rally
1950
Mystery Street · as Harkley's Daughter (uncredited)
1948
Luxury Liner · as Jean
1944
National Velvet · as Malvolia 'mally' Brown
1944
1943
Whispering Footsteps · as Rose Murphy
1943
Happy Land · as Sally Pierce (uncredited)
1943
Assignment in Brittany · as Jeannine
1942
A Yank at Eton · as Jane 'the Runt' Dennis
1942
The Vanishing Virginian · as Caroline Yancey
1941
Paper Bullets · as Rita As A Child (uncredited)
1940
Cinderella's Feller · as Cinderella
1940
The Blue Bird · as Child
1939
Code of the Streets · as Cynthia
1939
The Family Next Door · as Susan Pierce
1938
Men with Wings · as Patricia Falconer At Age 6
1938
That Certain Age · as Butch Warren ("the Pest" In Credits)
1938
1938
1938
You and Me · as Nasty Little Girl (uncredited)
1938
The Devil's Party · as Young Helen
1938
Hawaii Calls · as Doris Milburn
1936
Born to Dance · as Sally Saks
1936
The Devil-Doll · as Marguerite Coulvet
1936
Absolute Quiet · as Young Girl (in Trailer Only)
1935
Riffraff · as Rosie
1935
Alias Mary Dow · as Mary Dow
1934
The Man Who Reclaimed His Head · as Linette Verin
1934
Imitation of Life · as Baby Jessie Pullman, Age 3
1934
Have a Heart · as Rosy - At The Dance School
1934
We're Rich Again · as Child With Nanny (uncredited)
1934
In Love with Life · as Little Girl With Serving Tray

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