Background
Laura Devon was born May 23, 1931 in Chicago. Her father was identified in the press as Merrill Devon, an automotive engineer, and her mother as Velma Prather.
Laura Devon was born May 23, 1931 in Chicago. Her father was identified in the press as Merrill Devon, an automotive engineer, and her mother as Velma Prather.
She attended school in Chicago and Grosse Pointe.
Her birth name has been given as either Mary Lou Briley or Mary Laura Briley. She entered Wayne State University, majoring in journalism and political science, where she learned how to act in school theater productions. After performing in amateur theatricals and light opera, her first professional part was a lead in a production of The Boy Friend at the Vanguard Playhouse in Detroit.
Kelly was a fellow actor and, a month after their wedding, he and Devon appeared together on stage in Lillian Hellman"s Toys in the Attic at the Laguna Beach Summer Theater.
Two years later, he was to become well known for his role as Porter Ricks on the television series Flipper. They divorced in January 1966.
In 1961, Laura Devon was discovered by Bob Goldstein of 20th Century Fox while she was singing at the London Chop Shop in Detroit. She tells the story of her coming to Hollywood in this way: Devon appeared in five feature-length commercial films.
During a seven-year period (1960-1967), Laura Devon had featured roles in numerous popular television shows.
A 1962 appearance in Route 66 was her first significant part. Following that, she appeared in: Insight, The New Breed, The Twilight Zone, Stoney Burke, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Rawhide (an episode entitled "Canliss", as Dean Martin"s gunfighter character"s wife in 1964), Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, The Rogues, Bonanza, I Spy, The Fugitive, T.H.E. Cat, The Big Valley, Coronet Blue, and The Invaders. Laura Devon released only one professional recording, a single: "I Like the Look" (A side)/"Dreamsville" (B side).
Both songs were composed by Henry Mancini and were featured in the film Gunn, Devon"s last film.
Laura Devon died of heart failure in Beverly Hills on July 19, 2007, aged 76.
She had a recurring role on four episodes of Doctor Kildare and she was a member of the repertory cast that rotated major and supporting roles on the critically acclaimed series The Richard Boone Show.