Julie Amato (née Just; January 29, 1944 – April 4, 2022) was a professional actress, singer, and voice-over artist.
Early life Amato was born to Thaddeus and Rose Just in Lackawanna, New York in 1944, the eldest of six siblings. She was afflicted with Guillane-Barre syndrome at the age of ten and was paralyzed for two years.
In 1961, Amato graduated high school and went on to study drama at Ithaca College. She also sang in local clubs, where she met her husband, musician Dominc Joseph Amato. The two married in 1965, after Julie's graduation, and had their first child in 1966.
Amato won the title of Miss New York State 1965. At the Miss America pageant, she was a non-finalist and won the talent award for popular singer.
The family emigrated to Canada as conscientious objectors to the Vietnam War.
Career In Canada, Amato established herself as a TV personality. She was featured on "Time for a Living," a CBC series with Alan Thicke, became a regular on "House of Pride," and appeared as a guest panelist on "This Is The Law." She also made guest appearances on "Rollin' On The River" and "Half The George Kirby Comedy Hour." Soon she landed herself a role as host of a variety show in the style of The Carol Burnette Show. "Julie," or "The Julie Show," ran for two seasons between 1976 and 1978. Season 1 ran on CTV on Tuesdays at 8:30pm. Season 2 ran on CTV on Fridays at 7:30pm. The change in time slots is thought to have attributed to the show's cancellation. Some notable guests on the show include Andy Griffith, Eartha Kitt, and Rip Taylor.
"Julie" (aka The Julie Show) +Season 1DateGuest(s)21 Sep 1976Liz Torres28 Sep 1976Paul Williams and Avery Schreiber5 Oct 1976Dick Shawn12 Oct 1976Frank Gorshin19 Oct 1976Morey Amsterdam26 Oct 1976 -2 Nov 1976 -9 Nov 1976Jimmie Walker16 Nov 1976 -23 Nov 1976Eartha Kitt30 Nov 1976Paul Sand7 Dec 1976Diane Stapley21 Dec 1976 -28 Dec 1976Paul Williams4 Jan 1977 -11 Jan 1977George Savalas18 Jan 1977Georgia Engel25 Jan 1977Debralee Scott1 Feb 1977Frank Gorshin8 Feb 1977Andy Griffith15 Feb 1977 -22 Feb 1977 -8 Mar 1977Jaye P. Morgan15 Mar 1977 -22 Mar 1977Patsy Gallant5 Apr 1977Phyllis Diller12 Apr 1977 -19 Apr 1977 -26 Apr 1977 -3 May 1977Phyllis Diller10 May 1977 -17 May 1977Paul Sand24 May 1977Ruth Buzzi31 May 1977Diane Stapley7 Jun 1977Kelly Monteith14 Jun 1977Marcia Wallace21 Jun 1977Debralee Scott28 Jun 1977Andy Griffith5 Jul 1977Georgina Engel12 Jul 1977Charlie Callas19 Jul 1977Robert Klein26 Jul 1977 -2 Aug 1977 -9 Aug 1977Patsy Gallant16 Aug 1977Morey Amsterdam23 Aug 1977 -30 Aug 1977Phyllis Diller +Season 2DateGuest(s)30 Sep 1977Rip Taylor and Arte Johnson7 Oct 1977Chuck McCann and Clifton Davis14 Oct 1977Avery Schreiber and Rip Taylor21 Oct 1977Kelly Garrett and Chuck McCann4 Nov 1977Kelly Garrett and Clifton Davis11 Nov 1977 -18 Nov 1977 -25 Nov 1977 -2 Dec 1977 -9 Dec 1977 -16 Dec 1977 -30 Dec 1977Rip Taylor and Arte Johnson6 Jan 1978Patsy Gallant, Ted Zeigler, and Murray Langston20 Jan 1978Billy Crystal and Phyllis Diller27 Jan 1978Billy Crystal, Ted Zeigler, and Murray Langston10 Feb 1978Phyllis Diller and Dave Broadfoot17 Feb 1978 -24 Feb 1978 -3 Mar 1978Hagood Hardy, Steve Landesberg, and the Unknown Comic24 Mar 1978 -31 Mar 1978Ruth Buzzi, Joan Allan Cameron, and Steve Landesberg7 Apr 1978Soupy Sales, Henny Youngman, and Diane Stapley14 Apr 1978 -21 Apr 1978 -28 Apr 1978 -5 May 1978 -12 May 1978Avery Schreiber and Rip Taylor19 May 1978 -26 May 1978Clifton Davis2 Jun 1978Rita Moreno and Marilyn Michaels Other guest appearances (unknown airdates): Jack Duffy, Billy Van, Bobby Vinton, George Goebbels
Following "The Julie Show," Amato became the spokesperson for White Westinghouse. She participated in several advertising campaigns: She was the voice of the National Geographic, the NBC, and narrated several “Celebrity Profiles” for the “E!” channel. Amato later became a successful voiceover coach.
The Ghost Dance Although filming was done in the mid-1970s, "The Ghost Dance" was not released until 1982, following the premiere of the "Friday the 13th" franchise. In it, Amato plays Dr. Kay Foster.
Later years Amato met her later life partner, C.O. Lee Boyce Jr., at Mann’s Chinese Theater in November 1992.
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