May Heatherly Explained

May Heatherly
Birth Name:Mary Gay Prindle
Birth Date:13 May 1942
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Death Place:Madrid, Spain
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1961–2015

May Heatherly (born Mary Gay Prindle; May 13, 1942 – October 6, 2015) was an American actress who worked primarily in Spain. A native of Los Angeles, California, Heatherly spent her childhood there before relocating with her family to Spain. After working as an actress in Spain, she went on to appear in some U.S. television, including a recurring guest role on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964). Her film credits include The Cups of San Sebastian (1967), Open Season (1974), From Hell to Victory (1979), Pieces (1982), and Edge of the Axe (1988).

In addition to her acting career, Heatherly also trained in bullfighting in the 1960s, and at one time considered making a career in it. She died in Madrid in October 2015, aged 73.

Early life

Heatherly was born Mary Gay Prindle[1] on May 13, 1942, in Los Angeles, California.[2] When she was eleven years old, she relocated with her family to Spain, where her businessman father took a job opportunity.

Career

In the early 1960s, Heatherly began working in Spain as an actress, appearing in the films Ella y el miedo (1962), Los muertos no perdonan (1963), and Torrejón City (1964). During this period in Spain, Heatherly also trained to be a bullfighter,[3] and considered making a career of it.[4] Heatherly returned to the United States in later 1964 to appear in a recurring guest role as Heather McNabb on The Man from U.N.C.L.E..[3]

She subsequently appeared in the Spanish-based production The Cups of San Sebastian (1967) alongside Tab Hunter, followed by a small role in the American drama film Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing (1973) directed by Alan J. Pakula and starring Maggie Smith.[5] Heatherly also had roles in the European-based thrillers The Killer Is One of 13 (1973) and The Student Connection (1974), followed by Open Season (1974), which starred Peter Fonda and William Holden.

After appearing in a number of Spanish-based productions, Heatherly was cast in José Ramón Larraz's slasher film Pieces (1982), portraying the overbearing, abusive mother of the film's killer villain. She subsequently had a supporting role in the drama Crystal Heart (1986), starring Tawny Kitaen. She later reunited with director José Ramón Larraz, appearing in his 1988 slasher film Edge of the Axe.

In 2006, Heatherly has a minor part in the Miloš Forman-directed drama Goya's Ghosts.[6]

Death

Heatherly underwent a hip replacement surgery in 2013.[6] She died two years later on October 6, 2015, in Madrid, aged 73.[6]

Selected filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1962Torrejón CityRuth
1963data-sort-value="dead"The Dead Don't ForgiveMartaSpanish title: Los muertos no perdonan
1964Edge of FearLaura BerkeSpanish title: Ella y el miedo[7]
1967data-sort-value="Cups"The Cups of San Sebastian JaneSpanish title: El dedo del destino
1973Love and Pain and the Whole Damn ThingMelanie Elbertson
1974data-sort-value="Student"The Student ConnectionMarinaSpanish title: Un par de zapatos del '32
1974Open SeasonAlicia Rennick
1975Blood Stains in a New Car María RoviraSpanish title: Manchas de sangre en un coche nuevo
1976AmbitiousMargaritaSpanish title: Ambiciosa
1979From Hell to VictoryWAAF Lt. Mary Jennings
1980Cannibals in the StreetsNurse Helen
1982PiecesMrs. RestonSpanish title: Mil gritos tiene la noche
1986Crystal HeartDiana Newley
1987Olivia
1989Edge of the AxeAnna BixbySpanish title: Al filo del hacha
1999data-sort-value="Long Kill"The Long KillMrs. PrebleTelevision film
2000One of the Hollywood TenThug's Wife
2005data-sort-value="Feast of Goat"The Feast of the GoatNurse
2006Goya's GhostsHarlot's Dueña
2015VampyresWoman

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1961Hawaiian EyeJulie TalbotEpisode: "The Stanhope Brand"
1961My Three SonsMary HawkinsEpisode: "The Lostling"
1961data-sort-value="Tom Ewell"The Tom Ewell ShowDianeEpisode: "The Prying Eye"
1961–1962data-sort-value="Real McCoys"The Real McCoysMaxine / Barbara2 episodes
1962GunsmokeMollyEpisode: "The Boys"
1964data-sort-value="Man from UNCLE"The Man from U.N.C.L.E.Heather McNabb4 episodes
1991Farmacia de guardiaMaggieEpisode: "La novia del abuelo"
1996Médico de familiaVeraEpisode: "Los Martín conquistan Manhattan"

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Obituario: Muere la actriz May Heatherly. Unión de actores. es. 2015. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011030312/https://www.uniondeactores.com/index.php/noticias/obituario/7256-muere-la-actriz-may-heatherly. October 11, 2021. October 11, 2021.
  2. Web site: The Birth of Mary Gay Prindle. California Birth Index. October 10, 2021.
  3. News: Kansas City Star. Tuesday Highlights. Newspapers.com. October 18, 1964. 14B.
  4. News: The Shreveport Journal. TV series wins over bullring. 37. December 4, 1964. Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Fun of 'Love and Pain' Yields to Ethic. The New York Times. April 20, 1973. Canby. Vincent. Vincent Canby. October 10, 2021.
  6. Web site: Moviefone. May Heatherly. bot: unknown. October 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011011849/https://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/may-heatherly/1882556/main/. October 11, 2021.
  7. News: Movies. Tampa Times. January 9, 1973. 18. Newspapers.com.