You may remember Erin Moran as little Joanie Cunningham in Happy Days, a very successful sitcom that ran for 10 years on ABC. Now the strange thing is Moran doesn’t technically fit this blog for a couple of reasons:

1. She still works sporadically in TV – her last role was in 2012 in The Deceit as Mrs. Shephard.
2. She is broke.

Last off however, Moran was living in a trailer park and looking about 100 years old. A trailer park.  What the heck she did with the considerable money she must have earned during her acting career, no one knows (probably not her either). She was living in a trailer park with her husband Steven Fleischmann, then was forced to leave by Fleischmann’s mother after they had a drunken brawl in October this year (probably one among many). Moran went out to bars and came home late (very mature behaviour for a woman of her advanced years), sometimes bringing her bar friends along, and Steve’s mommy couldn’t take it anymore. Oh Joanie, Joanie, Joanie.  Thinking of your Happy Days years, did you see that one coming? Then again, she lived with her parents in the show, set in the 1950s, so why not live with hubby’s parents in her 50′s?

At first the 52-year-old was staying in hotels after being bounced from the trailer park. She’d been forced to move into the park in the first place after being evicted from her California home in June. Just when you think things are as bad as they can get…More than an acting job, Moran needed an accountant. She’s working on an autobiography, which she hopes will help her settle some debts she has. The actress is still broke despite the fact that she and her “Happy Days” castmates reached a settlement with CBS over licensing revenue in July. The lawsuit asked for $10 million, but the final decision was reportedly a $65,000 payment for four stars, plus future royalties.  Oops.  Fell a little short of that 10 mill.

Rumour now has it that Henry Winkler (the Fonz on Happy Days) is busy trying to help salvage her acting career by securing her a role on Arrested Development. Aw, Fonz.  You always were so cool.  In photographs, Moran is seen looking the worst for wear, a cigarette hanging  out of her mouth. Scott Baio, her former co-star on Happy Days and Joanie (spelled Joni) Loves Chachi, who also stars in Arrested Development, says he has better things to  worry about than Moran. ‘I don’t know what her situation is,’ the  actor stated. ‘I have a job to do, I have a wife and child  to take care of. So I don’t pay attention to things that I  don’t know anything about. I’ve got my own situation to deal with.”

Guess Chachi don’t love Joanie anymore.

celeb:  Leigh Mccloskey

1970s

 now

Leigh Mccloskey is still hot (and old) but alas a wash up. He was a popular tv sitcom actor and he made guest appearances in numerous programs during the 70s and 80s. Two of his better known tv movies were Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway and Alexander: The Othe Side of Eve with Eve Plumb, aka Jan Brady (see my blog Eve Plumb -TV Actor (Jan Brady) and Whiner ). They dealt with (egad)! teen prostitution! Looking at them now they’re pitiful little flicks but they made a big splash in their day.
video: Eve: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway
video: Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn

Between 1980 - 1982 he played Mitch Cooper on the CBS soap opera Dallas. He returned for guest appearances throughout 1985 and 1988. Leigh starred in several soaps including General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, Santa Barbara and the Young and the Restless. Evening shows included Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. I think Voyager starred Captain Picard, that cool bald dude whose catch phrase was “make it so.” That means the woman captain was on Deep Space Nine. Didn’t you hate her? She was a lousy captain. Something about Star Trek begs for a male captain, settle down all you feminists out there.
video: Leigh J. Mccloskey Actor Demo Reel
video: Mitch Punches JR!

Leigh was in quite a few films too, as it turns out, including  the 1988 horror film Cameron’s Closet (don’t ask me). He also appeared as Jalor “Jay” Davin in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century episode “Cruise Ship to the Stars“. Buck Rogers. Remember that tacky show?  Sort of a Star Trek wannabe but more women running around in spandex jumpsuits.
video: trailer Cameron’s Closet

Leight was also a visionary artist (whatever that is), author and teacher. His artwork premiered with the Rolling Stones on their most recent Bigger Bang Tour. Cool. He has written, illustrated and published five books, including Tarot ReVisioned, In the Splendor, Adam Reborn & Eve Restored: A Romance in Two Parts, Codex Tor: Winter Solstice-Part One and his Grimoire that was featured with the Rolling Stones. Sounds like he’s one of those wiccan/wizard types. We must introduce him to Charlie “Merlin” Sheen. Those two should have lots to talk about.
video: Leigh Mccloskey at AGAPE Nov 9 2009

He married some director broad in 1978 and they are still married. Incredible. He deserves a medal just for that.

That’s where it gets tawdry.
What … you’re still waiting?

Redemption
None, really
Comeback
None, really
Comeback Grade:  H for Hogwarts Occasional Supply Teacher

celeb:  Jenny Jones

1990s

 2000s

Age caught up witih Jenny Jones but considering her bizarre life that’s to be expected.  When Jenny was growing up she was the frequent target of bullies in her Catholic school.

Her parents (seriously) ridiculed her for being “flat-chested” and later Jenny got breast implants that had to be removed due to medical complications. Jenny talked about her experience with breast implants as a guest on another talk show and wrote about it in her biography as incentive to young women to avoid them.

Jenny was a singer and actress before she hit the stupid daytime talk show scene.  It was distributed by Warner Bros. Television. The show had a 12-year run from September 1991 to September 2003. At first it imitated the Oprah approach except Jenny didn’t gain any weight. The Jenny Jones Show delivered crap ratings the first two seasons, and by 1993 it became trashy, just what the public liked. Paternity tests, out-of-control teens, confronting former bullies, makeovers for clueless people, celebrity impersonators, talent contests, and parents who entered pageants by proxy by pushing their children into pageants (maybe that’s where Toddlers and Tiaras originated), feuding neighbors, strippers, secret crushes and any other circus-like theme producers could dream up. Class act, that show.

Critics often compared Jenny Jones to The Jerry Springer Show although Jenny claimed her show was not as bezerk as Jerry Springer. I’m inclined to agree with her. No one smashed a chair over anyone else’s head on Jenny Jones… although if they had the show would still be running. Critics also believe that Ricki Lake copied some of Jenny’s ideas after The Ricki Lake Show debuted in 1993 and surpassed Jenny’s ratings. Tsk, tsk. How sneaky. Rosie O’Donnell and Jenny Jones were quite catty with each other after Rosie debuted  The Rosie O’Donnell Show.  Oddly they were both friends of Ricky Lake and sent “shout-outs” (whatever that is) to Ricky’s show. Jenny’s themes seemed to appear on Maury, in particular DNA testing. The show used titles that were over the top for example, “You May Shake It for Money, But Leave Those Sexy Clothes at the Club, Honey!” (dear god) to describe a sexy makeover show for women strippers.

That’s where it gets tawdry.
And tragic. Truly.

On March 6, 1995, Jenny taped an episode called “Same Sex Secret Crushes“ . Scott Amedure, a gay man, confessed to his friend Jonathan Schmitz, that he had a crush on him. Jonathan laughed in front of the audience but three days later he killed Scott.  After the murder made headlines, the producers decided not to air the show (that was good of them) but it aired on Court TV when the network covered the trial. Jonathan’s history of mental illness and substance abuse were discovered during Scott’s murder trial. Jonathan was convicted of second degree murder, and sentenced  from 25 to 50 years in prison.

Scott’s family sued Jenny Jones and the show’s producers for neglecting to find out Jonathan’s history. Jenny testified under oath that the producers told Jonathan that his admirer could be a man, but Jonathan thought it was a woman. Um, yeah we believe you. In fact the producers didn’t want Jonathan to know the gender of his secret crush. The family won the ruling (good for them) and the show was ordered to pay $25 million, (even better) but that was overturned in appellate court (boo) since the producers weren’t  responsible for their guests after the show. What a load of crap. Scott Amedure would still be alive if it weren’t for Jenny Jones.  That’s America’s justice system for you.

That’s when the show and Jenny’s career took a serious nosedive (and rightly so). In the final two seasons, the show’s ratings dropped. In the 2002-2003 TV season, Jenny’s program became the lowest-rated daytime talk show, and it was axed in the summer of 2003. Reruns continued to air until September 12, 2003.

Redemption
None
Comeback
We hope not
Comeback Grade: P for Pay retribution to the Amedure family already
Jenny Jones’ Facebook Fans:  Who cares?

celeb: Jayne Mansfield

then

  1960s

Jayne Mansfield started her career as a pretty brunette but her film career began only after she imitated Marilyn Monroe, dying her hair platinum and speaking in a breathy voice. Amazing what a little hair dye can do. In 1955, Jayne was signed by Warner Brothers as it’s answer to 20th Century Fox’s Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn made Fox millions and Warner hoped Jayne would do the same  (see my blog Marilyn Monroe )  In 1955, Jayne starred as Gladden in The Burglar. Jayne played one of her finest roles however the film was a flop.

She made one more movie with Warner in Illegal (must have been referring to her measurements…Sophia Loren seems to think so) but it was another flop and Warner dropped her on her curvy bottom. Ouch. In 1956, Jayne signed a six-year contract with 20th Century Fox who molded Jayne as a Marilyn Monroe second to threaten their star when she got out of line. The studio touted Jayne as “Marilyn Monroe King Sized”. Ouch. Not my idea of a compliment.
video: Jayne Mansfield in Cannes
video: Jayne Mansfield in Vegas 1958
video: Marilyn Monroe vs Jayne Mansfield

Fox soon realized that Jayne was no Marilyn. Jayne starred in The Wayward Bus in 1957. It was no coincidence that around this time Marilyn starred in Bus Stop. Whatever Marilyn did, Jayne mirrored it. Marilyn had the last laugh when Bus Stop made them millions and The Wayward Bus was only a mediocre success. So there. If possible Jayne was made into a bigger joke than Marilyn (you’ll see why when you watch her videos). The media wrote scathing comments such as, “we are amused when Miss Mansfield strains to pull in her stomach to fill out her bikini better.” By the late 1950s, Jayne received more negative publicity from exposing her breasts in staged “accidents” (we call them wardrobe malfunctions nowadays), a trick she copied from, who else, Marilyn.
video: Never Before Seen Jayne Mansfield
video: Jayne Mansfield in song and dance clip  **warning: painful**
video: Mae West Sues Jayne Mansfield: calls Marilyn Monroe an impersonator

Jayne’s next flop was Kiss Them for Me (1957). The movie was described as “vapid” and “ill-advised”. Ouch. It was the last attempt Fox made to promote its unsuccessful Marilyn wannabe. That’s when Jayne’s career took a serious nosedive. Sucks to be you Jayne. She was demoted to low-budget films until Fox tried to cast her in a comedy, Rally ‘Round the Flag, Boy!, but the part went to Joan Collins. Ouch again. In a vain attempt to revitalize her career Jayne appeared nude in a mainstream film. In 1963, Playboy displayed the pictures, which closely resembled the style and background of Marilyn’s photographs taken by Bert Stein in 1962. That same year Playboy published Marilyn’s nude photos posthumously and the edition sold far more copies than Jayne’s. Jayne would never escape the spectre of Marilyn Monroe.
video: Jayne Mansfield What’s My Line (probably “I wanna be Marilyn Monroe”)
video: Jayne Mansfield That Makes It!
video: CBC Archives: Jayne Mansfield on Tabloid 1957

By 1964 Jayne’s film was in the toilet. In her last film Single Room Furnished, Jayne gave up the Marilyn thing and appeared without make up and wore a black wig. The film wasn’t released until after her death in a car accident. Due to graphic photographs depicting the roof of the car pinned beneath a truck and clearly visible mangled blonde hair, the rumour circulated that Jayne was decapitated although this was later confirmed to be false. The hair was a wig Jayne wore at the time of death. The death certificate stated the immediate cause of Mansfield’s death was a “crushed skull with avulsion of cranium and brain.” Gory, yes, but not severed. Jayne, like Marilyn (of course) died in her 30s at the age of 34.
video: Jayne Mansfield: It Happened in Athens
video: Loni Anderson The Jayne Mansfield Story

celeb:  The Captain and Tenille
occupation: Singing Duo

then

1990s

Captain and Tenille look better in this shot than the 70s but then again the 70s look was so weird that isn’t difficult. The Captain (Daryl Dragon) and (Antoinette) Toni Tenille began their career together (and marriage) in 1975. They’re still together making (beautiful?) music in the studio and in their marriage …. how tacky. Their first hit was a Neil Sedaka (who?) cover Love Will Keep Us Together and won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Over the next few years the duo released several hits including Shop Around and (get ready for it) Muskrat Love (I don’t even want to think about that one).. In 1976 they performed in for Queen Elizabeth II in the East Room of the White House. Cool. They hit the talk show scene including The Mike Douglas show (I know, I know) Tenille worked with Elton John, The Beach Boys, Art Garfunkel and (get ready for this one) Pink Floyd…she provided backup vocals on their tracks. She moved between her genre (whatever that was) and punk rock with that voice. Incredibly cool.
video: The Captain & Tenille – Love Will Keep Us Together
video: Captain & Tenille Muskrat Love

In 1979, Neil Bogart (some old guy) signed them with Casablanca Records, and they reached number-one with “Do That to Me One More Time”. Subsequent singles pretty much flopped, and when Bogart died in 1982, Casablanca went bankrupt, and Captain and Tenille were adrift without a record company. They signed with CBS Records but were dropped when they didn’t rake in the bucks. Notice how Tenille does all the talking and Captain just shuts up? No wonder she was the singer.
video: Captain and Tenille – You Better Shop Around
video: American Bandstand – Captain and Tenille Interview
video: Toni Tenille Interviews Daryl Dragon

 Tennille recorded two solo albums—one in 1984 with Mirage Records called More Than You Know and the other in 1987 entitled All Of Me for an  independent label (no one else would take a chance on them). At the same time throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Tennille enjoyed a second career as a big band singer, not unlike Linda Ronstadt, another washup. Tenille released several albums and performed with orchestras throughout the country. Captain stayed home and watched football in his easy chair. During the 80s and 90s the pair kept busy with recordings and performances but by then their career took a nosedive. They weren’t finished but they were a faded memory. Seldom did they perform large venues anymore but their CDs, new and re-mixed, kept doing well on the charts. In other words, they made a shitload of money even though they weren’t in the top 100 anymore. Cool. At some point in time they bought out Geffen Records, the very studio that signed on Guns N Roses (see my blog Guns N Roses – The Original – Not the Current Crapper). In 1995 they released Twenty Years of Romance, by 2001, The Ultimate Collection (I guess somebody bought it) and by 2007 The Secret of Christmas (I don’t know either).  
video: Captain & Tenille on Sidewalks 2007
video: Captain & Tenille 1979 – Interview Part One
video: Toni Tenille 1985 Interview

That’s where it gets tawdry.
They’re still married … I mean who does that anymore?

Redemption
From what?
Comeback
None…but they’re not slumming it either
Comeback Grade:  E for Every Ready…they keep going and going…
Captain and Tenille’s Facebook fans:  615

celeb: Margot Kidder

then

now

Margot Kidder certainly has changed but to be fair life has thrown her a few curve balls and unlike the other screwballs in this blog, it’s beyond her control. Anyhoo. Margot started out appearing in television shows such as McQueen, Nicholas and Wojeck (I don’t know either). She appeared in low-budget Canadian movies in the 60 and early 70s before her big break in the horror film Black Christmas (1974). Do you remember that one? Dear God wasn’t that creepy? Some Christmas. A nude pictorial of Kidder was published in the March 1975 issue of Playboy. Apparently Margot hadn’t discovered the razor yet. Kidder is best known for her role as Lois Lane in the box office hit 1978 film Superman: The Movie and its sequels which sucked. That was when her career took a serious nosedive. After Superman IV (seriously) in 1987, Margot disappeared from the screen. She was in one day and out the next. Margot made cameo appearances in Maverick (1994) and Delirious (1991).
video: Superman 2 – Margot Kidder
video: Margot Kidder Letterman
video: Black Christmas **creepy**

Slowly roles started to trickle in again. In 2000 she appeared in Apocalypse III: Tribulation. She later stated she thought it was a comedy and didn’t know it was serious until she was on the set. She must have a great agent. In 2001, she played a guest role as the abusive mother of a serial killer in “Pique“, an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She made guest appearances on other sitcoms including The L Word (eww) Brothers & Sisters and Robson Arms. She also appeared in feature films in spite of that picture awwway at the top. The old one, silly.
video: Margot Kidder on Nicholas
video: Margot Kidder Interview at Halloween II Premiere

That’s where it gets tawdry.

In 1996 Margot suffered a mental breakdown brought on by bipolar disorder. She was discovered naked, cowering beneath a bush with broken teeth in a manic episode (hopefully she had discovered the razor by then). She was featured in the Family Guy episode “Mr. Saturday Knight“. She is shown sitting down eating dinner with Peter and Lois Griffin. When Lois compliments her on her performance as Lois Lane, Margot screams, tears up the house and jumps through a window. She is shown twice more in a manic state. Amazing what bipolar disorder can do for a girl’s career. In 2009 Margot stated she hadn’t suffered a manic episode in ten years. Yeah, we believe you. That’s because Inside Edition wasn’t there.
video: Family Guy – Manic Margot
video: Margot Kidder interviewed by studio kaiju

Redemption
In spite of Bipolar Disorder she’s working again.
Comeback
Read the blog.
Comeback Grade: B for Bipolar comes in handy as good PR

celeb:  Randy Quaid

then

 now

Do not adjust your television set. That really is Randy Quaid.  He’s worse than washed up. He’s given up and not just on his appearance. Randy is big box office draw and has worked in films until as recently as 2009. Randy has appeared in over 90 movies. No, really. That guy right there. He has also made a number of television appearances, including ongoing roles in mini-series, and was nominated for Golden Globe, Academy and Emmy Awards. Cool. 
video: Bill Hayes Interview Midnight Express
video: Not Another Teen Movie Part 4

His first major movie role was in 1973, The Last Detail and was well received by critics. In 1973 he co-starred with child actress Tatum O’Neal in the very successful Paper Moon. I remember parts of that flick. It was cute. One of his most successful films was a supporting role he had in Midnight Express. In 1971 Randy played Lennie, the mentally disabled man in  John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men. Other notable performances were in  National Lampoon’s Vacation, Frankenstein and Get on the Bus. One of Randy’s most successful films, Independence Day, was the top grossing film of 1996. In 2000 he loaned his voice to the animated film Rocky and Bullwinkle which, not surprisingly, was a box office bomb. His streak of bad luck continued with Not Another Teen Movie, The Ice Harvest and another animation Home on the Range, all of which bombed in theatres and received negative critical reviews. Ouch.
video: Paper Moon Clip
video: The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
video: The Ice Harvest trailer

In 2005 Randy’s luck appeared to turn around when he starred as the insensitive rancher in Brokeback Mountain quoting the famous line “stemming the rose.” Some of his 2000s movies have gone straight to DVD. Ouch. A mini-series Category 7: the end of the world was the longest running mini series in 2005. The 2006 film Goya’s Ghosts sucked as did the 2009 film The Tennis Coach.
video: Category 7 – the end of the world trailer
video: Brokeback Mountain trailer
video:  Goya’s Ghosts

That’s where it gets tawdry.

Who knows if Randy’s career has taken a nosedive or not? His life seems to be his priority just now, facing criminal charges for felony residential burglary (he and his wife Evi Quaid, were squatters), entering a non-commercial building without consent, conspiracy and fraud. Tsk, tsk. Imagine squatting in your own previous residence? They’re homeless. Seriously. How many films has this guy made and he’s broke? On October 22, 2010, Randy and Evi Quaid sought protection under the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, after being arrested at the border in Vancouver B.C. They applied for refugee status on the grounds that they are afraid of ”Hollywood star whackers“. Sounds more like those two are whacked on crack. Evi Quaid is a prima facie Canadian citizen, whatever that is, so they get to stay here without posting bond. Wow aren’t we lucky to have these two? Hollywood loves Vancouver and is always filming sitcoms and movies there. Randy might make a comeback while on the lam. That will be a first. Doubtless there will be a made for TV movie about this dude. His life is just warped.
video: Randy Quaid speaks to Vancouver Media – Hollywood Star Whackers
video: Randy Quaid stuck in elevator with nosy Canadians
video: Actor Randy Quaid and wife behind bars
video: Randy Quaid’s Wife makes statement against local law enforcement

Redemption
Refugee status
Comeback
He might come back to L.A. … who knows
Comeback Grade: S for Squatters Rights
Randy’s Facebook Fans: 2,251  everyone likes a has-been

celeb: Guns N Roses

late 1980s
Guns N Roses kicked ass during most of their 7-year run from 1987 to 1994. Its origins began in Lafayette Hollywood, where Bill Bailey (Axl Rose) spent years singing gospel with his siblings at church. Alas Axl was often abused by his stepfather and at 17, he left home and headed for L.A. with dreams of musical success. A lot of unfortunate kids seem to follow that route but in Axl’s case it worked. GNR was formed in 1985 with members from Axl’s original band, Hollywood Rose, some of whom quit or were fired, until the band founded its famous lineup: Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Steve Adler, Duff McKagan and Slash (Saul Hudson). Cool. Guns filled the house at local clubs and  Geffen Records signed the band to a contract. Inicdentally do you remember The Captain and Tenille? You know that weirdo in the captain’s hat who played piano and that redheaded broad with the huge mouth? They owned Geffen. Those two had business sense. Who knew? In 1986 Gun N’ Roses performed as the opening act to the band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Shouldn’t that have been the other way around?
video: Duff McKagen and Steven Adler Interview 1987
video: Guns N Roses Rockumentary

Their first album in 1987 Appetite for Destruction holds the record as the highest selling first release rock album of all time. Welcome to the Jungle was released as its first single, but the album tanked for a year until  MTV played the video for it only once and fans requested it en masse. Guess it was meant to be.  Sweet Child O’ Mine was the album’s second single co-written by Axl Rose for his first wife, Erin Everly. Slash later stated “it was actually my least favorite song we ever wrote…I hate it, but it turns out to be our greatest song ever”. 
Before every concert, Guns blasted AC/DC backstage, the number one hard rock band on the charts. They were determined to knock DC down to number two and the pre-show reminder got them pumped.
video: Guns n Roses Sweet Child O’ Mine Live 1988
video: Guns n Roses Interview
video: Guns n Roses The Story
video: Axl Rose Interview

That’s where it gets tawdry.
Ha. When wasn’t it?

In 1990 Steve was fired due to drug addiction and was replaced by Matt Sorum yet the band was notorious for its bad behaviour and drug use. No surprise there. Rockers. Tsk, tsk.  In 1991 during the Use Your Illusion Tour Izzy quit the band and was replaced by Gilby Clarke. In 1993 Axl abruptly fired Gilby stating he was “only a hired hand.” Ouch. Ego much? That was when the band took a serious nosedive. The band’s last album The Spaghetti Incident was an utterly pointless collection of lame cover tunes. Fans labelled them Guns N Posers. Ouch. GNR literally couldn’t keep it together and by 1997 everyone except Axl had quit. Diehard, that Axl. Axl formed a new 2001 Guns N Roses that sucked yet somehow filled stadiums during worldwide tours. Gen Ys, doubtless. They don’t know any better.  
video: Steven Adler on Hard Copy
view: The Story of Guns N Roses
video: Matt Sorum talks about Rumours he’s rejoining the group
Redemption
None
Comeback
Axl may think so…that’s just the drugs doing their work.
Comeback Grade:  S for Save your money and stay home.
Guns Facebook Fans: 7,712,522  seriously…

celeb: Jayne Russell

1940s

2008 Jane Russell was in her 80s in this pic so I’ll go easy on her. She is unrecognizable but certainly hot for an old broad. Jayne was the black-haired bombshell to Marilyn Monroe’s blonde. She was a major 1940s and 1950s sex symbol. Isn’t that a stupid expression?  Sex symbol. Her first film role, The Outlaw was in 1943. After starring in multiple films in the 1950s, Jane, thinking she could sing (not) dabbled in music while working on several other films in the 1960s. She starred in over 20 films throughout her career.
video: The Outlaw

Some of her more notable flicks included The Las Vegas Story, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Gentlemen Marry Brunettes, a major flop at the box office…unlike Joan Crawford she managed not to be labelled box office poison, (see my blog Joan Crawford – Mommie Dearest), Hot Blood, Johnny Reno and The Born Losers. I haven’t heard of most of these flicks either but I guess they rocked in their day. Jane’s last film, Darker than Amber, was filmed in 1970. That was when her career nosedived. There was a late 2007 documentary Hollywood on Fire on her film roster but I doubt she made an appearance. Likely there was a brief profile about her.
video: Gentlemen Marry Brunettes **warning** painful
video: Jayne Russell: 1959
video: Jane Russell Burlesque

For their performance in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes both Marilyn and Jane received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
video: Jayne Russell and Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

That’s where it gets tawdry.
Well, more like tragic.

Abortion was illegal in the 40s and during this time Jane had her first “back-street abortion” at 18. After a succession of other abortions (god knows how many … I guess contraceptives weren’t too effective in the 50s) she was unable to have children (surprise) and adopted three children. We hope her stepchildren fared a lot better than Joan Crawford’s, psycho-mom. Jane struggled with an alcohol addiction for much of her career. Ho-hum. Same old. These celebrities. Tsk, tsk.
video: Jane Russell talks about her battle with alcoholism

Years later Jaye discussed why she disappeared from film stating, “why did I quit movies? Because I was getting too old! You couldn’t go on acting in those years if you were an actress over 30.” There was probably some truth to that but a number of actresses during that era did work into their senior years in increasingly challenging roles including Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Faye Dunaway, Vivien Leigh and numerous others. Certainly Jane had the option to work but perhaps didn’t want to lose her bombshell image. Vanity, thy name is Jane. After retiring from film work Jane appeared in a few commercials and game shows (egad).
video: 1980 Jane Russell Playtex Bra & Girdle Commercial
video: What’s My Line – Jane Russell
video: Jane Russell Dies at 89

celeb: Carolyn Jones

At 22

In her 50`s. 

Talk about a gorgeous goth chick although Carolyn Jones, who will always be Morticia to me, clearly didn`t age well. Carolyn made her first film in 1952. She married Aaron Spelling in 1953 which of course helped her secure more roles. Atta girl, Carolyn. She actually was a bit creepy before the Addams Family.
view: The Addams Family 1964
video: Carolyn Jones 60s Interview

She starred with Vincent Price in the 1953 film House of Wax, and was coverted into a Joan of Arc sculpture. She made guest appearances on a variety of 1950s sitcoms including City Detective, State Trooper, and an episode in the series Alfred Hitchcock Presents (told you she was creepy). In 1956 our Creepy Carolyn starred in The Invasion of the Body Snatchers (I`m sure her male fans would love to have invaded her bod).
video: The Opposite Sex begins at 2:10

She appeared in a variety of films until 1964 when she was offered the role of Morticia Addams. She divorced Aaron Spelling but by then her career was on the upswing so I suppose he had fulfilled his purpose. Although Carolyn is best remembered as Morticia,  The Addams Family only ran for two seasons, 1964 – 1966.
video: Addams Family in the chair

That`s where it gets tawdry.
Just kidding.

When the show ended Carolyn starred in the films Colour Me Dead (I`m dead serious) and Heaven with a Gun (serious again). That`s when Carolyn`s career took a serious nosedive. She didn`t grace the screen again until 1977 in the blockbuster hit Roots. In the same year Carolyn starred in … wait for it … Eaten Alive. Typecasting much. Her last film, Good Luck Miss Wyckoff was in 1979 and Carolyn simply vanished from film and tv.
video: color me dead (a much older Carolyn)

view: Biography – Carolyn Jones Morticia and More
video: Carolyn Jones on 1982 Game Show
video: Carolyn Jones in a 1970s movie

Redemption
None.
Comeback
None.
Comeback Grade: G for Goodbye Goth Girl
Carolyn`s Facebooks Fans:  427  Should have stuck with her Morticia role