Melinda Plowman

Melinda Ann Plowman (born May 13, 1941), also known as Melinda Ann Casey and Melinda Casey, is an American actress and associate director. She began her acting career at age 6 and appeared in feature films and television episodes through the 1960s. In the 1970s, she became a member of the Directors Guild of America and worked as an associate director through the 1990s.

Melinda Plowman
Plowman in 1951
Born
Melinda Ann Plowman

(1941-05-13) May 13, 1941
Abilene, Texas, U.S.
Other namesMelinda Ann Casey
Melinda Casey
OccupationActress, assistant director
Years active1976-1996
Spouse(s)Philip Casey
Robert Ballew
Children2

Early life

Melinda Ann Plowman was born on May 13, 1941, in Abilene, Texas.[1] Her parents, Homer Lee Plowman and Lura Frances Slaughter, had met and married in Abilene in 1934.[2] She has one younger sister.[3] Her second birthday party, hosted by her mother and grandmother, was reported in the Abilene Reporter-News.[4]

The family moved to Los Angeles in 1942.[5] Plowman was enrolled in a dance school at age 3.[5] She was "discovered" at the age of 6 through the dancing school and was cast in a bit part in the 1949 film Little Women.[5]

Career
Plowman with Dan Duryea in Chicago Calling (1951)

Acting

Plowman acted in Hollywood films in the 1950s but primarily worked in television.[6] She appeared in seven NBC Matinee Theater episodes, as well as episodes of Ford Theatre, The Loretta Young Show, and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.[5] She was one of the original Mouseketeers on The Mickey Mouse Club.[7][8][9]

Her parents preferred to maintain her status as a freelance actor rather than a studio contract player.[3] Her mother accompanied her on the set.[3] When she wasn't working, Plowman attended a public elementary school and, later, San Marino High School in San Marino, California.[5] During film shoots, she had a private tutor on the set.[3][5]

Plowman landed her first leading role at the age of 25 in the 1966 horror film Billy the Kid Versus Dracula.[6]

Directing

In the 1970s, she joined the Directors Guild of America, listing herself as an associate director under the name Melinda Ann Casey.[10] She continued working on film crews through the 1990s.

Personal life

Plowman married Phil Casey, a talent manager, in Las Vegas in August 1967.[11] They had one son.[2] Plowman later married Robert Ballew, with whom she has a daughter.[2] In 1971, her parents moved back to Fort Worth.[2] She lives in Victoria, British Columbia.[2]

Filmography (as an actress)
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1949 Little Women Girl Uncredited[5]
Holiday Affair Girl
Ma and Pa Kettle Susie Kettle
1950 Three Came Home English girl
My Blue Heaven Pringle girl
Again Pioneers Rebecca Ashby As Malinda Plowman
1951 Home Town Story Katie Washburn
Chicago Calling Nancy Cannon
1952 Monkey Business Little girl
Carrie Little girl
1953 Pack Train Judy
1956 Wiretapper
1957 The Green-Eyed Blonde Betsy Abel As Linda Plowman
1966 Billy the Kid Versus Dracula Betty Bentley
1976 Street Girls Adelle As Linda Reynolds
1982 Wrong Is Right W.T.N. news staffer As Melinda Ann Casey[12]
Sources:[13][14]
TV
Year Title Role Episode
1950 Big Town Kathy
The Gene Autry Show Betsy Simmons
The Cisco Kid Carol Cartright
1952 The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Girl, Linda, Melinda, Sean's girl, Sue Bailey 5 episodes
Ford Television Theatre Little girl
Cavalcade of America Vi as a teenager
1953 The Danny Thomas Show Mary Lou
General Electric Theater Charlotte Dunn
1954 Rocky Jones, Space Ranger Jonica
Annie Oakley Jill Turner, Penny 2 episodes
1955 The Adventures of Champion Sally Custer Episode: "Salted Ground"[13]
The Adventures of Champion Lorna Episode: "Canyon of Wanted Men"[13]
Science Fiction Theatre Alice
1956 The Mickey Mouse Club Peggy [7]
Diamond Mystery Theater Susan Davis Episode: "The Man Across the Street"[15]
1958 The Donna Reed Show Babs Episode: "Parting of the Ways"[13]
Wanted: Dead or Alive Patience Fairweather
1959 The June Allyson Show Nancy 1 episode
Bonanza Heather Lowell 1 episode
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Central High Girl
1960 My Three Sons Julie
National Velvet Sally Grimes
1961 The Americans Molly 1 episode
Bachelor Father Agnes 1 episode
1962 Wagon Train Penelope Episode: "Path of the Serpent"[16]
Perry Mason Maureen Thomas Episode: "The Case of the Polka-Dot Pony"[17]
Going My Way Jane Everett
1963 The Fugitive Ellen Tolan Episode: "See Hollywood and Die"
The Virginian Episode: "A Time Remembered"
My Favorite Martian Sally
Petticoat Junction Mary Jane Burris
1964 The Outer Limits Viva Hayden Episode: "Don't Open Till Doomsday"
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Girl Marine
1965 Please Don't Eat the Daisies Terry, Secretary 2 episodes
1966 The Felony Squad Mylene Bruce, Suellen Taubs 2 episodes
Bonanza Episode: "Four Sisters from Boston"[18]
1967 Judd, for the Defense Girl
1969–1971 Hot Wheels (TV series) Janet Martin Voice[19]
Skyhawks Cynthia Hughes Voice[20]
Sources:[12][13][21]

References
  1. "Six New Arrivals At Hospitals Here". Abilene Reporter-News. May 13, 1941. p. 14. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Frances Slaughter Plowman". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. January 11, 2017. p. A16. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Teenager Vacations From Career as Well as School". Abilene Reporter-News. August 28, 1957. p. 48. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Melinda Plowman Honored on Birthday". Abilene Reporter-News. May 16, 1943. p. 35. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Harter, Billie (August 27, 1957). "Melinda Plowman, Young Starlet, Visits In City". Lubbock Evening Journal. p. 4. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Boggs 2013, p. 181.
  7. Woolery 1985, p. 478.
  8. Bowles 1976, p. 137.
  9. "Times TV Log". San Mateo Times. March 13, 1957. p. 23. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Directory of Members. Directors Guild of America. 1976. pp. 56, 399. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  11. Carroll, Harrison (August 30, 1967). "Behind the Scenes". Shenandoah Evening Herald. p. 16. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Melinda Casey". Video Detective. 2020. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  13. "Melinda Plowman". British Film Institute. 2020. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  14. "Melinda Plowman". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. 2019. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  15. "Thursday, July 12". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 8, 1956. p. 6. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Wagon Train". TV Guide. 2020. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  17. Kelleher, Brian; Merrill, Diana (1998). "Episode Guide – The Sixth Season". The Perry Mason TV Show Book. Archived from the original on July 10, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  18. "TV Week". Pasadena Independent Star-News. October 30, 1966. p. 73. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. Terrace 2014, p. 478.
  20. Terrace 2014, p. 980.
  21. "Melinda Plowman". TV Guide. 2020. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.

Sources
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