Nancy Kovack | |
|---|---|
 Publicity still (1963) | |
| Born | March 11, 1935 Flint, Michigan, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Years active | 1959–1976 |
| Known for | Jason and the Argonauts Frankie and Johnny Star Trek Bewitched |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Spouse | |
Nancy Kovack (born March 11, 1935) [1] [2] is a retired American film and television actress.
In 1935, Nancy Kovack was born in Flint, Michigan. [3] Her father, Michael A. Kovack, was the manager of a General Motors plant. [4]
With an IQ of 152, the highly intelligent and driven Kovack graduated high school early, entering the University of Michigan at the age of 15 and graduating in 1954, when she was just 19. [5]
Kovack began to proactively plan her career, starting to raise her profile by working as a model, ultimately becoming one of the Glee Girls for Jackie Gleason. [5]
In 1958, Kovack appeared in the original Broadway production of The Disenchanted .[ citation needed ]
As her profile increased, Kovack began to gain roles in Hollywood films, such as Strangers When We Meet (1960) with Kirk Douglas and Kim Novak.[ citation needed ]
One of Kovack's most notable early film roles was as the high priestess Medea in Jason and the Argonauts (1963).
Kovack continued to build her career with roles in Diary of a Madman (1963) with Vincent Price, The Outlaws Is Coming (1965) with The Three Stooges, Sylvia (1965) with Carroll Baker, The Great Sioux Massacre (1965), The Silencers (1966) with Dean Martin, Tarzan and the Valley of Gold (1966) with Mike Henry, Frankie and Johnny (1966) with Elvis Presley, and Carl Reiner's directorial debut, Enter Laughing (1967).[ citation needed ]
Kovack spent 2+1⁄2 years in Iran, and starred in three films that were made there, returning to the United States in 1968. [6]
Kovack appeared on a number of television series including Bewitched (3 episodes, playing both Darrin Stephens' ex-girlfriend and Samantha Stephens' nemesis, Sheila Sommers and Darrin's Italian client Clio Vanita), Batman (episodes 5 and 6), I Dream of Jeannie , Get Smart , [7] Perry Mason , 12 O'Clock High , The Man from U.N.C.L.E. , The Invaders (episode "Task Force" (1967)), Burke's Law , Family Affair (episode "Family Plan" (1968)), The Name of the Game , and Hawaii Five-O (episode "Face of the Dragon" (1969)).[ citation needed ]
Kovack notably appeared in a key role as a native medicine woman and femme fatale in one of the original Star Trek episodes, "A Private Little War" (1968).[ citation needed ]
In 1969, Kovack was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for an appearance on Mannix . [8] In addition to her guest appearances on television programs, Kovack was hostess of the game show Beat the Clock . [9]
Kovack's last film role was in Marooned (1969), a science-fiction drama starring Gregory Peck and Gene Hackman. Credited as Nancy Mehta, she played the murder victim in the TV movie/series pilot Ellery Queen (also known as Too Many Suspects, 1975).[ citation needed ]
In 1969, Kovack married Indian conductor Zubin Mehta, who was music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and later the music director of the New York Philharmonic. [10] [11] Until 2006, Kovack and Mehta spent some months of the year in residence in Munich, Germany, where Mehta was the music director of the Bavarian State Opera.[ citation needed ]
Kovack left Hollywood primarily due to her marriage to conductor Zubin Mehta in 1969. She chose to prioritize her marriage and focus on her life with him rather than pursue her acting career.[ citation needed ]
As of 1978, Kovack was reportedly a Christian Scientist. [12]
In the early 1990s, Susan McDougal worked as Kovack's personal assistant. After her employment ended, Kovack took legal action against McDougal for alleged embezzlement. McDougal was acquitted in 1998 on all twelve charges. A suit by McDougal in 1999 for malicious prosecution ended in a settlement. [13]
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