Elizabeth Gracen
| Elizabeth Gracen | |
|---|---|
 Elizabeth Gracen at Japan Expo 2010 |
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| Born | Elizabeth Grace Ward April 3, 1961 Ozark, Arkansas |
| Years active |
1987–2001 (acting)[1] 2001 – present (writer/artist)[1] |
| Spouse |
Adam Murphy (present) 1 child Brendan Hughes (1989–1994) (divorced) Jon Birmingham (1982–1984) (divorced) |
| Children | Daughter Quinlan Murphy (born on July 28, 2005) |
Elizabeth Ward Gracen is an American actress who won the title of Miss America in 1982. She was born Elizabeth Grace Ward but should not be confused with another Elizabeth Ward who worked as a television actress during the first half of the 1980s.
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[edit] Early life, beauty and acting careers
She was born on April 3, 1961[1] in Ozark, Arkansas, and raised in Booneville, Arkansas, the daughter of Jimmy Young Ward and Patricia "Pat" (Murphy) Ward. She later moved to Russellville, Arkansas with her family, where she graduated from Russellville high school in 1979. She won the titles of Miss Arkansas in 1981 and Miss America in 1982. She used her Miss America scholarship money to study acting at HB Studios in New York City before moving to Hollywood to pursue a film and television career. During this time, Gracen says she had a one-night stand with future President Bill Clinton.[2][3] She posed nude for Playboy magazine's May 1992 issue.
She built an acting career, and in 1989, while filming Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat, she met actor Brendan Hughes and they married soon after. The couple divorced in 1994. Before that she was married to Jon Birmingham. Gracen gave birth to a daughter, Quinlan Murphy, on July 28, 2005.
She made her professional feature film debut in Three For The Road with Charlie Sheen. Her film credits also include a featured role in Marked For Death opposite Steven Seagal, Pass The Ammo with Tim Curry, and the CBS feature 83 Hours Till Dawn with Peter Strauss and Robert Urich. Gracen starred in Lower Level and Discretion Assured with Michael York.
On television, Gracen has appeared in Shelley Duvall's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Sidney Sheldon's The Sands of Time and Death of the Incredible Hulk. She also appeared with a starring role in the series Extreme for NBC and the syndicated series Renegade and Queen of Swords.
Elizabeth Gracen's best-known acting role has been as the character of the Immortal Amanda in the series Highlander: The Series, and its spin-off from that character, Highlander: The Raven.
She made her directing debut with a documentary short feature called The Damn Deal. The film is an intimate portrait of three young drag queens from her home state who compete in female impersonator beauty pageants.
She also has a cooking show in development with Contessa Ippolita Douglas Scotti di Vigoleno. Gracen also hosts tours to Tuscany and is currently putting together a number of tour offerings to venues as diverse as Venice, Napa Valley and a dude ranch in Wyoming. She also offers classes in the Fan Kata technique showcased on Highlander: The Raven. Gracen has recently starred in a commercial for match.com and in the film Interceptor Force 2.
[edit] Claim of affair with US President Bill Clinton
In 1992, rumors swirled that Gracen had an affair with Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton.[4] At first, Gracen dismissed this claim. In Spring 1998 Gracen recanted her six-year-old denial and stated she had a one night stand with Clinton in 1982.[5] After claiming this, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, who was investigating Clinton in the Paula Jones lawsuit, issued a subpoena to have her testify her claim in court.[6] Gracen, however, continuously eluded the subpoena[6] and was at one point able to avoid it by filming Highlander: The Raven overseas.[5]
[edit] Bankruptcy
In December 1999, due to her poor financial state, Gracen filed for bankruptcy protection.[5]
[edit] Filmography
- Interceptor Force 2 (2002) (TV) – Adriana Sikes
- Queen of Swords (2000) TV episode "Counterfeit Queen"
- Highlander: The Raven (1998) TV Series – Amanda (1998–1999)
- Kounterfeit (1996) – Bridgette
- Extreme (1995) TV Series – Callie Manners (1995)
- The Expert (1995) – Liz Pierce
- Highlander: The Series (1992) TV Series – Amanda (1993–1998)
- Discretion Assured (1993) – Miranda
- Final Mission (1993) (V) – Caitlin Cole
- The Sands of Time (1992) (TV)
- Lower Level (1992) (V) – Hillary
- Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1991) – Alice
- 83 Hours 'Til Dawn (1990) (TV) – Maria Ranfield
- Marked for Death (1990) – Melissa
- The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990) (TV) – Jasmin
- Lisa (1989) – Mary
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1989) (TV)
- Pass the Ammo (1988) – Christie Lynn
- Three for the Road (1987) – Nadine
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Elizabeth Ward Gracen (1961–) – Encyclopedia of Akansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2747.
- ^ "Beauty queen apologises for tryst". Gainesville Sun. 1998-04-26. http://news.google.co.nz/newspapers?id=uxUSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FOsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4296,5792168&dq=bill-clinton+elizabeth-ward&hl=en.[dead link]
- ^ Kennedy, Helen (2000-02-08). "She hitched her star to a wagon for the love of Bill, Hillary put her goals on hold and move to Ark. stick". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2000/02/08/2000-02-08_she_hitched_her_star_to_a_wa.html.
- ^ "Elizabeth Gracen: the Clinton reign of terror:". January 14, 1999. http://home.hiwaay.net/~craigg/g4c/gracen.htm.
- ^ a b c "All the President's Women – Elizabeth Ward Gracen". Comedy on Tap. http://www.comedyontap.com/presgirls/ward.html.
- ^ a b The Washington Post. December 24, 1998. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/subpoena122498.htm.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Elizabeth Gracen |
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lencola Sullivan |
Miss Arkansas 1981 |
Succeeded by Micki Petrus |
| Preceded by Bobbie Candler |
National Sweetheart 1980 |
Succeeded by Gloria Gilbert |
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