Monica Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis (1926 - 2014)

Born 9 Jun 1926 in Baltimore, Maryland

Wife of H. Jack Ellis — married Jun 1961 in Los Angeles, California

Died 23 May 2014 at age 87 in Beverly Hills, California

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Theresa Carrier-Torrealba [send private message]

Biography

Freeman was born on June 9, 1926 in Baltimore, Maryland, of English, Irish and French descent, to Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Freeman. Her father was a general contractor that provided well for his family. In 1936, her family settled in Pelham, New York, where she attended high school. As a teenager Mona became a teenage model with the John Robert Powers modeling agency. Billionaire Howard Hughes spotted her photograph on a magazine cover and signed her to a personal two-year contract, without having met her in person. The second year Hughes sent her to Finch Junior College, but she went only once. She also attended the Maryland Institute of Art, but was called to Hollywood by Hughes for a screen test. As Hughes wasn't in town when she and her mother arrived, she scheduled an interview for herself with Paramount. The studio had to buy her contract from Hughes, after two hours of heated discussion between Hughes and Freeman.

At the age of 19, she married wealthy Hollywood automobile dealer Pat Nerney and got pregnant during the filming of Mother Wore Tights. Her daughter Monie was born on October 25, 1947.

Because of her diminutive size, she was cast opposite Alan Ladd in the upcoming Branded as a teenager. Next up she and her daughter had a cameo appearance in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952). Also that year she divorced her husband after five years of marriage. After her divorce she dated entertainment lawyer Greg Bautzer, hotel heir Nicky Hilton, and singers Vic Damone and Frank Sinatra. She also became real close with legendary singer Bing Crosby after the death of his wife Dixie Lee. They were expected to marry but didn't due to their Catholic religion and her being divorced. They later broke up and Bing went on to marry Columbia starlet Kathryn Grant in 1957.

By the late 1950s, Mona's Hollywood career was beginning to fade, and her last major role was in 1957 on a tour with Middle of the Night costarring Edward G. Robinson. In June of 1961 she married Los Angeles businessman H. Jack Ellis, who adopted her daughter Monie. Her last appearance was on the television series Perry Mason in 1965. By the 1970s, she was living a peaceful life in Hollywood as a devoted wife, mother, and artist.

Sources

A Trip Down Memory Lane; Where they are now: Mona Freeman (http://greatentertainersarchives.blogspot.com/2012/02/where-are-they-now-mona-freeman.html)

http://www.robertwalkertribute.com/kayscott.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Freeman

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Theresa Carrier-Torrealba for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Theresa and others.