Bonnie Beecher
Bonnie Beecher | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bonnie Jean Boettcher April 25, 1941 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Other names | Jahanara Romney |
| Occupations | Activist, singer, actress |
| Spouse | Wavy Gravy |
| Children | 1 |
Bonnie Jean Beecher[1] (née Boettcher),[2] later known as Jahanara Romney,[1] (born April 25, 1941)[2] is an American activist and retired actress.
About
Beecher was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota,[1][2] to Art and Jean Boettcher.
She knew Bob Dylan during his early career, they dated briefly in college, and she may have been the inspiration for his song "Girl from the North Country". However, it may have been about his high school girlfriend Echo Helstrom or later girlfriend Suze Rotolo,[1][3] or no one person in particular. Beecher's singing is heard on Dylan's 1960 bootleg recording known as the "Minneapolis Party Tape", which was recorded while they were dating.[4] Some of Dylan's earliest recordings in 1961 were recorded at her Minneapolis home.[5]
She made her television debut in the 1964 episode "Come Wander with Me" of The Twilight Zone.[6] She sang the song referenced in the title, which has since appeared in works such as The Brown Bunny and Baby Reindeer. Her short television career ended in 1968, with the October episode "Spectre of the Gun"[6] of Star Trek, and a November episode of The Outsider.
Personal life
Beecher married Wavy Gravy (born Hugh Romney) on May 22, 1967.[7] She adopted the name Jahanara Romney shortly after marriage.[8] The couple has a son, born Howdy Do-Good Gravy Tomahawk Truckstop Romney, who has since changed to a singular different first name.[8]
She has worked as administrative director of Camp Winnarainbow since 1983. Her husband serves as director of the camp, which is located near Laytonville, Mendocino County in Northern California.[9]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | The Twilight Zone | Mary Rachel | "Come Wander With Me" S5E34[6] |
| 1964 | The Farmer's Daughter | Fan Lucas | "Like Father Like Son" S2E15 |
| 1964 | Mr. Novak | Gina Czarnecki | "The People Doll: You Wind It Up and It Makes Mistakes" S2E7 |
| 1965 | Mr. Novak | Valerie | "The Student Who Never Was" S2E26 |
| 1965 | Burke's Law | Bunny #7 | "Who Killed the Grand Piano?" S2E31 |
| 1965 | Peyton Place | Janet Sinclair | S1E77–79 (uncredited); S1E80 |
| 1966 | The Donna Reed Show | Julie | "Do It Yourself Donna" S8E18 |
| 1966 | The Fugitive | Kate Kelly | "Ill Wind" S3E24 |
| 1966 | The Fugitive | Ella Lawrence | "Ten Thousand Pieces of Silver" S4E5 |
| 1967 | The Invaders | Woman / Mrs. Brandon | "Beachhead" S1E1 |
| 1967 | Gunsmoke | Anne Gilchrist | "Nitro!" parts 1&2 S12E28&29 |
| 1968 | Cowboy in Africa | Deirdre O'Neill | "The Red Hand of Michael O'Neill" S1E19 |
| 1968 | Star Trek | Sylvia | "Spectre of the Gun" S3E6[6] |
| 1968 | The Outsider | Gloria Gronowski | "The Twenty Thousand Dollar Carrot" S1E8 |
References
- ^ a b c d "'Love them or lose them' — Wavy Gravy's Sartell mother-in-law chose first". St. Cloud Times. Saint Cloud, Minnesota. August 13, 1989. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- ^ a b c Rubin, Steven (2017). Twilight Zone Encyclopedia. Chicago Review Press. p. 85. ISBN 9781613738917. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- ^ "The original 'Girl From the North Country,' Bob Dylan's high school sweetheart has died". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
- ^ "My father recorded young Bob Dylan: How the historic "Minneapolis Party Tape" was made". Salon. 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
- ^ "Set Lists: May 1, 1961: The Home of Bonnie Beecher". BobDylan.com. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Rubin, Steve (2018-04-25). "April 25 in Twilight Zone History: Happy Birthday to actress Bonnie Beecher and actor/director Paul Mazursky". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
- ^ "Hugh M Romney & Bonnie Beecher, California Marriage Index, 1960-1985". Family Search (Transcription of public record.). California Department of Health Services, Sacramento. 27 November 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ a b Holden, Stephen (2010-12-07). "'Saint Misbehavin' - The Wavy Gravy Movie' - Review". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
In 1965, Mr. Romney married Bonnie Jean Beecher, who later became Jahanara Romney and has been his wife for 45 years. We meet his cheerful son, Howdy Do-Good Gravy Tomahawk Truckstop Romney, later changed, who was born on the seat of a Greyhound bus.
- ^ "The Hippie Serving Peace and Breakfast". The New York Times. December 8, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2015.