Colleen Joy Miller (born November 10, 1932)Hoffman, Henryk (2000). "A" Western Filmmakers: A Biographical Dictionary of Writers, Directors, Cinematographers, Composers, Actors and Actresses. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. p. 420. . is an American former actress. She starred in several films, such as the Westerns Gunfight at Comanche Creek (1963) and Four Guns to the Border (1954).
Early life The daughter of Elias and Lillian Miller, she was born in Yakima, Washington, and raised in Portland, Oregon. Miller attended Lincoln High School in Portland and graduated at age fifteen. In 1949, she was chosen "Miss Portland". Her mother named her after actress Colleen Moore.
As a child, Miller studied ballet, but when she was older she changed to popular dancing. After graduating, she worked as a professional dancer in a San Francisco ballet company, and relocated to Las Vegas after three seasons to work at the Flamingo.
Career
While dancing in Las Vegas, Miller was spotted by a talent agent who signed her to a contract with Howard Hughes for his RKO Pictures company. She was 19 when she made her first film appearance in The Las Vegas Story, starring Jane Russell. She shared top billing with Rory Calhoun in her next film, a western titled Four Guns to the Border, which co-starred Nina Foch. She then had a leading role in Playgirl as a young Midwestern girl who comes to New York City to be a model and ends up involved in a shooting and a scandal. She then was signed by Universal Pictures, where she co-starred with Tony Curtis in two films, The Purple Mask and The Rawhide Years.
Miller made one more film after 1958, a western titled Gunfight at Comanche Creek opposite Audie Murphy, before retiring from acting. She has an uncredited bit part in 1972's Stand Up and Be Counted.
Personal life On January 20, 1955, Miller married camera manufacturer Ted Briskin. They remained wed until 1975. She married Walter Ralphs, an heir to the Ralphs supermarket chain, in 1976, until his death in 2010. She currently resides in California.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1952The Las Vegas Story Mary Starred Jane Russell, Victor Mature 1953 Man Crazy Judy Bassett 1954Four Guns to the Border Lolly Bhumer co-starred with Rory Calhoun, Walter Brennan 1954Playgirl Phyllis Matthews co-starred with Barry Sullivan 1955The Purple Mask Laurette de Latour co-starred with Tony Curtis 1956 The Rawhide Years Zoe Fontaine co-starred with Tony Curtis 1957The Night Runner Susan Mayes co-starred with Ray Danton 1957Man in the Shadow Skippy Renchler co-starred with Jeff Chandler and Orson Welles 1957Hot Summer Night Irene Partain co-starred with Leslie Nielsen 1958 Step Down to Terror Helen Walters co-starred with Charles Drake and Rod Taylor 1963Gunfight at Comanche Creek Abbie Stevens co-starred with Audie Murphy and Ben Cooper 1972 Stand Up and Be Counted Nun Uncredited
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