Isabelle Cooley (born Jane Isabelle Cooley; July 20, 1924 – January 3, 2000), often credited as Isabel Cooley, was an American stage, film, and television actress. Active from the late 1940s through the early 1990s, she was a versatile performer known for her roles in major motion pictures such as Cleopatra (1963) and Parenthood (1989). Known for her striking appearance and versatile performances, Cooley gained international attention in the 1950s and success on the London stage, where she was once described as "The Most Beautiful Coloured Girl in the World".
Early life and education Jane Isabelle Cooley was born on July 20, 1924, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Holly Cooley and Harriett (Storey) Cooley. Raised on East 82nd Street, she was enrolled in the Cleveland Play House at age 12 by her mother, who intended for the program to improve Jane's poise and speech rather than to prepare her for an acting career. However, Jane developed a passion for the theater and remained in the children's program until the age of 16.
After high school, she attended Cleveland College for two years as an English major. In the fall of 1945, seeking a faster pace for her career, she moved to New York City against her mother's wishes.
Career Early stage and "The Most Beautiful Coloured Girl" After arriving in New York, Cooley worked as a waitress for six months while honing her craft. Her breakthrough came when she was cast as the lead in the all-Black comedy-drama Anna Lucasta on Broadway, replacing the original star who had fallen ill. The performance made her a sensation.
In the early 1950s, she moved to London, where she performed with the Players Theatre Guild in productions of Hamlet and The Square Ring. It was during this period that international media dubbed her "The Most Beautiful Coloured Girl in the World".
Film and television Cooley's film career began in earnest in the late 1950s. Her most notable role was as Charmian, the loyal handmaiden to Elizabeth Taylor's title character in the 1963 epic Cleopatra. Despite a near-fatal car accident in 1962 that required extensive plastic surgery, Cooley returned to the screen within a year.
Her later film credits included I Passed for White (1960), Real Genius (1985), and Parenthood (1989). On television, she was a prolific star, appearing in more than 29 productions including Hogan's Heroes as Princess Yawanda, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Dallas, Matlock as Judge Jean Bailey, and Murder, She Wrote.
Personal life On August 15, 1946, Cooley married jazz musician Addison Shields Collins Jr. in Manhattan. The marriage ended in divorce in January 1966.
Death Cooley died on January 3, 2000, in Greenville, Mississippi, at the age of 75.
Filmography Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1957 Lux Video Theatre Adele Episode: "The Great Lie" 1958 Playhouse 90 Moran's Maid Episode: "The Female of the Species" 1961 The Law and Mr. Jones Nancy Mills Episode: "A Very Special Citizen" 1963 Ben Casey Dorris Burns Episode: "A Memory of Candy Floss" 1963 Dr. Kildare Phyllis Johns Episode: "The Mosaic" 1963 The Great Adventure Lydia Episode: "Go Down, Moses" 1963 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre The Operator Episode: "Seven Miles of Bad Road" 1964 My Living Doll Nurse Nelson Episode: "The Beauty Contest" 1965 Profiles in Courage Mrs. Johnson Episode: "Frederick Douglass" 1965 General Hospital Carol 1 episode 1965 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Conchita Delgado Episode: "The Very Important Zombie Affair" 1966 Hogan's Heroes Princess Yawanda Episode: "The Prince from the Phone Company" 1966 Run for Your Life Barbara Jackson Episode: "The Last Safari" 1968 The Outcasts Sophie Episode: "The Outcasts" 1970 The Mod Squad Marion Lefevre Episode: "The Decision" 1970 Storefront Lawyers Mattie Episode: "The Mechanics" (as Men at Law) 1970 The Bill Cosby Show Miss Richards Episode: "The Runaway" 1971 The Smith Family Florence Thomas Episode: "The Desk Clerk" 1975 Insight Lee Anna Episode: "The Last of the Great Male Chauvinists" 1975 Medical Story Mrs. Andy Mayhew Episode: "The Moonlight" 1975 Police Story Mrs. Fielder Episode: "Across the Line" 1971–1977 This Is the Life Vivian 2 episodes 1977 Family Nurse Bragge Episode: "An Eye to the Future" 1977 Most Wanted Judge Marian Talbot Episode: "The Inside Man" 1979 Harris and Company Jenny 1 episode 1979 Walking Through the Fire Nurse TV movie 1979 The White Shadow Reba Reese Episode: "Sudden Death" 1979 Dallas Donna's maid Episode: "The Wheeler Dealer" 1980 The Incredible Hulk Muriel Episode: "Proof Positive" 1980 Haywire The Nurse TV movie 1981 It's a Living Interviewer #3 Episode: "Off the Top" 1983 Mr. Smith Nurse 1 episode 1985 What's Happening Now!! Angry Makeup Customer 1 episode 1986 Riptide Maid Episode: "The Lucky Penny" 1987 Jake and the Fatman Judge Episode: "Fatal Attraction" 1989 Hunter Woman Episode: "The Pit" 1989–1990 Matlock Judge Webber / Judge Bailey 2 episodes 1990 Murder, She Wrote Head Nurse Episode: "The Sins of Castle Lake" 1990 Parenthood Terri 1 episode
Film YearTitleRoleNotes 1957 Raintree County Soona Debut 1958 Suicide Battalion Julie 1958 Anna Lucasta Katie 1959 Never So Few Shan Girl 1960 I Passed for White Bertha 1963 Cleopatra Charmian 1965 Brainstorm Nurse 1968 Uptight Melina 1978 Youngblood School Principal 1979 Chapter Two Customs Officer 1982 Tag: The Assassination Game Prof. Wadsworth 1982 The Escape Artist Secretary 1983 Breathless Photographer 1985 Real Genius TV Stage Manager 1987 Walk Like a Man Judge / Bystander 1989 Parenthood Barbara Rice 1989 Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! Hospital Receptionist 1991 Rich Girl Counselor
Stage Theatre Year Title Role(s) Venue(s)Notes 1944 Anna Lucasta Anna Mansfield Theatre Debut 1946 Anna Lucasta Anna Mansfield Theatre 1947 Anna Lucasta Anna National Theatre 1952 The Merchant of Venice Dane New York Theatre She is credited as the first Black woman to appear in a New York production of Shakespear play 1953 The Square Ring Dancer Players Theatre Guild 1953 Anna Lucasta Anna Prince of Wales Theatre 1953 Hamlet Ophelia London televised production She became the first Black woman to portray Ophelia 1954 Anna Lucasta Anna Hippodrome, London West End revival 1960 The Long Dream Gladys Ambassador Theatre
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