Claudia Jennings

Mary Eileen Chesterton (December 20, 1949 – October 3, 1979), known professionally as Claudia Jennings, was an American actress and model. Jennings was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for November 1969, later becoming Playmate of the Year for 1970. She subsequently pursued a career in acting, becoming known as the "Queen of the B movies".'B' movie queen dies in crash, Chicago Tribune, October 4, 1979 She died in an automobile accident at age 29 in 1979.

Career Mary Eileen Chesterton (known as "Mimi" to friends and family) was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1949, later moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then Richmond, Indiana. When her family moved from Richmond to Evanston, Illinois, as a result of her father becoming the advertising director with Skilsaw, she transferred at the start of her sophomore year to Evanston Township High School (ETHS) where she graduated in 1968. She was featured in a silent, plotless movie titled after her nickname which was shot on Super 8 film by fellow ETHS classmate Todd McCarthy. She worked as a receptionist at Playboy and then posed for the magazine in 1969. She adopted the name Claudia Jennings because she did not want to embarrass her family and that she thought "Mimi" sounded too girlish.Williams, Albert. "But She Was A Cheerleader," Reader (Chicago, IL), September 21, 2000. Retrieved September 2, 2021 Her original pictorial was photographed by Pompeo Posar. She was Playmate of the Year in 1970, and was awarded a pink Mercury Capri.CC Easter Bunny Special: The Cars Of The Playboy Bunnies Of The Year 1964 – 1988, Curbside Classic, March 27 2016

After her appearances in Playboy, Jennings became an actress in exploitation movies and in television. In 1973, she had a guest appearance on The Brady Bunch episode titled "Adios, Johnny Bravo". Jennings was widely rumored to be in line for the role as Kate Jackson's replacement on the hit television show Charlie's Angels, but the role was awarded to Shelley Hack.

Death On October 3, 1979, Jennings died in a head-on automobile collision on the Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu, California, when her VW convertible drifted across the center line into the path of an oncoming pickup truck. She was 29. Although she had struggled with a cocaine addiction in the past, an autopsy found no traces of drugs or alcohol in her system. Investigators concluded that the circumstances of the crash were consistent with her falling asleep at the wheel.Owen Keehnen, Celluloid Caket Case 24: Claudia Jennings, rocksandrazors.com

Jennings was featured in a 2000 episode of E! True Hollywood Story in which several of her friends and acquaintances were interviewed. The episode was made without the cooperation of her family, who considered the show too "tabloid" in style.Albert Williams, But She Was A Cheerleader, Chicago Reader, September 21, 2000

Filmography

Film Year Title Role1971JudSunnyDarlene1972Trampa mortalThe StepmotherRitaUnholy RollersKaren Walker1973Group MarriageElaine40 CaratsGabriella1974Willy & ScratchJenniferTruck Stop WomenRoseAllison'Gator BaitDesiree Thibodeau1976Mrs. PetersSisters of DeathJudyCandy Morgan1977Moonshine County ExpressBetty Hammer1978DeathsportDeneer1979Fast CompanySammy

Television Year Title Role Episode1971IronsideMaralyn"The Professionals"1973Barnaby JonesDenise Frazer"To Denise, with Love and Murder"Tami Cutler"Adios, Johnny Bravo"1974Judith Grinnell"Deadly Ambition"CannonLeona Wilson / Susan Williams"Bobby Loved Me", "Lady in Red"Peggy"The Truck Murders"1975Movin' OnAnn"Ransom"CaribeJean Benedict"School for Killers"1976Evie"Underground"1978LucanDebbie Kern"Nightmare"1979240-RobertBarbara Rice"Bank Job"

Claudia Jennings

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