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Jayne Kennedy

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For other people with similar names, see Jane Kennedy (disambiguation).
Jayne Kennedy
Kennedy c. 1980
Born
Jayne Harrison

(1951-10-27) October 27, 1951 (age 72)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesJayne Kennedy Overton
EducationWickliffe High School
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • sportscaster
  • television personality
  • producer
  • writer
  • philanthropist
Years active1969–1990
Title
Term1970–1971
PredecessorMarlynn Singleton
SuccessorKaren M. Haus
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1971; div. 1982)​
[1]
Bill Overton
​
(m. 1985)​
Children4
AwardsNAACP Image Award – (1982) Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (Body and Soul)

Jayne Kennedy Overton (née Harrison; born October 27, 1951) is an American television personality, actress, model, corporate spokeswoman, producer, writer, public speaker, philanthropist, and sports broadcaster.

Personal life

Jayne Kennedy grew up in Wickliffe, Ohio as one of six children. Her parents, Herbert and Virginia Harrison, taught their children "to aim high, give God most of the credit, suffer disappointments silently and avoid maliciousness".[2] In high school, she was on the cheerleading squad, was a member of the National Honor Society and was three times elected the president of her high school class.[3]

A year after high school, Harrison met Leon Isaac Kennedy, a DJ and a struggling actor/writer. They married in 1971. Motown singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson served as best man at their wedding. They later divorced in 1982.

In May 1985, Kennedy married actor Bill Overton in Bermuda. The wedding was small and the parents of both Kennedy and Overton attended.[4] The couple have four children: Overton's daughter Cheyenne (b. 1982) and their three daughters Savannah Re (b. November 20, 1985), Kopper Joi (b. May 17, 1989) and Zaire Ollyea (b. September 15, 1995).[5] Kennedy and Overton celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in May 2020.

Career

Kennedy was crowned Miss Ohio in 1970 in the Miss USA Pageant; she went on to compete in the top ten of the national pageant.[6]

In 1971, Kennedy first appeared as a dancer on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and performed with Bob Hope's Bases Around the World Christmas Tour (Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Spain, and Cuba) which led to three years with the Dean Martin Show as a singer/dancer. [7] [8]

Through the 1970's, Kennedy had guest roles in television shows such as The Six Million Dollar Man, Sanford and Son and Starsky & Hutch. [9] The actress found work in many commercials of the era for such companies as Foster Grant, Chrystler and McDonald's. Kennedy also had a lead role in 1977 movie "Big Time" starring Christopher Joy and Tobar Mayo with a soundtrack by the film's producer, Smokey Robinson. [10]

In 1978, Kennedy replaced anchor Phyllis George on “NFL Today” on CBS. After a contractual dispute with CBS, Kennedy went on to host the short lived “Speak Up America” in 1980. [11]

Kennedy won a 1982 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture award for her performance as Julie Winters in the 1981 film Body and Soul co-starring alongside her then–husband Leon Isaac Kennedy.

Kennedy won an Emmy award for her hosting of the 1982 Rose Bowl. [12]

Kennedy would go on in 1982 to begin hosting on the syndicated television show "Greatest Sports Legends". As host, she would interview many sports personalities including Kareem Abdul-Jabar and Johnny Unitas. [13]

During the mid-1980’s Kennedy was hired as a spokesmodel for the Coca-Cola Corporation’s “Tab” soft drink and for Jovan Musk perfume. [14] Kennedy joined the exercise video craze of the mid-1980's with the release of her own video, "Love Your Body" which was distributed by RCA / Columbia Home Video. [15] She advised in the video to "[e]stablish a positive belief in yourself. Learn what your body needs and love it for what it is.” [16]

In 1990, Kennedy and her husband, Bill Overton, produced the “Journey of the African American” with performances in Atlanta and a 30 week run in Los Angeles. [17]

Kennedy has added her support to many charitable causes over the years through appearances and speaking engagements. Kennedy co-hosted the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars in 1986 which raised $10 million dollars for the United Negro College Fund. [18] Kennedy was a key-note speaker at the Evanston Martin Luther King celebration in 1987. [19] In 1988, Kennedy was the national spokesperson for the National Council of Negro Women which put on annual, nation-wide Black Family Reunion Celebration clinics and seminars. [20] Kennedy was a speaker at the 12th Annual Freedom Fund Dinner in Columbia, South Carolina in 1990.[21]

Selected filmography

Film

+ NAACP Image Award: Best Actress

Television

  • 1973: Ironside as Maylene (Season 7, episode 12: "The Last Payment")
  • 1974: Banacek as Girl Demonstrator (Season 2, episode 6: "Rocket to Oblivion")
  • 1974: Sanford and Son as Brenda (Season 4, episode 5: "There'll Be Some Changes Made")
  • 1975: The Six Million Dollar Man as Louise (Season 3, episode 4: "The Song and Dance Spy")
  • 1976: The Rockford Files as Janice (Season 2, episode 21: "Foul on the First Play")
  • 1977: The New Adventures of Wonder Woman as Carolyn Hamilton (Season 2, episode 5: "Knockout")
  • 1977: Police Woman as Cora (Season 4, episode 4: "The Inside Connection")
  • 1978-1980: NFL Today – Reporter (NFL pre-game show)
  • 1979: Mysterious Island of Beautiful Women as Chocolate (TV movie)
  • 1980: CHiPs as Pat Blake (Season 3, episode 18: "Kidnap")
  • 1980: Circus of the Stars #5 (TV special)
  • 1981: CHiPs as Paula Woods (Season 5, episode 12: "Mitchell and Woods")
  • 1981: The Love Boat as Kelsey (Season 4, episodes 25 & 26: "This Year's Model/The Model Marriage/Vogue Rogue/Too Clothes for Comfort/Original Sin", Parts 1 & 2)
  • 1983: The Love Boat as Kate Langley (Season 6, episode 20: "The Zinging Valentine/The Very Temporary Secretary/Final Score")
  • 1983: Diff'rent Strokes as Mrs. Jenkins (Season 6, episode 7: "The Moonlighter")
  • 1984: Benson as Elizabeth Burnett (Season 6, episode 3: "Let's Get Physical")
  • 1986: Benson as Elizabeth Burnett (Season 7, episode 20: "Three on a Mismatch")
  • 1986: 227 as Betty Mumphry (Season 2, episode 3: "Washington Affair")

References

  1. ^ Jayne and Leon: Did success break-up their 10-year marriage? (Ebony Magazine–January, 1982)
  2. ^ "The Morning News" Wilmington, DE; 11 Oct 1978, pg. 41
  3. ^ "The Morning News" Wilmington, DE; 11 Oct 1978, pg. 41
  4. ^ "Santa Ana Orange County Register" Santa Ana, CA; 15 June 1985, pg A2
  5. ^ Ebony Magazine (December 1996)
  6. ^ "The Morning News" Wilmington, DE; 11 Oct 1978, pg. 41
  7. ^ "Los Angeles Times" Los Angeles, CA; 15 April 1984, Advertising Supplement pg. 3
  8. ^ "Bios".
  9. ^ "Baltimore Afro American" Baltimore, MD; 13 August 1977, pg 16
  10. ^ "Baltimore Afro American" Baltimore, MD; 13 August 1977, pg 16
  11. ^ "The Atlanta Voice" Atlanta, GA; 24 May 1986, pg 11
  12. ^ "The Atlanta Voice" Atlanta, GA, 3 Sep 1983, pg 13
  13. ^ "The Macon Telegraph" Macon GA, 3 Apr 1983, pg 55
  14. ^ "The Atlanta Voice" Atlanta, GA; 24 May 1986, pg 11
  15. ^ "LA Weekly" Los Angeles, CA; 17 Jan 1985, pg 43
  16. ^ "LA Weekly" Los Angeles, CA; 17 Jan 1985, pg 43
  17. ^ "The Atlanta Constitution" Atlanta GA; 8 Nov 1990, pg 94
  18. ^ “Chicago Metro News” Chicago, IL; 20 Dec 1986, pg 16
  19. ^ “The Evanston Courier” Evanston, IL; 7 Jan 1987, pg 12
  20. ^ “The San Francisco Examiner” San Francisco, CA; 9 November 1988, pg D-3
  21. ^ “Aiken Standard” Columbia, SC; 17 May 1990, pg 8A
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