Juanita Quigley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Juanita Quigley (24 June 1931 – 29 October 2017) was an American child actress in motion pictures of the 1930s and 1940s. She had a sister, Rita Quigley, who was also a child actress. Juanita Quigley was billed as "Baby Jane" in several early roles. Her screen debut was as Claudette Colbert's three-year-old daughter in Imitation of Life (1934). She went on to play featured parts in several films, including The Man Who Reclaimed His Head (1934) and was Jean Harlow's niece in Riffraff (1936). Quigley became a familiar face to moviegoers of the era, but major roles for children so young were few and she often played bits as well as featured roles. She was one of the most popular child stars of her day, and was Universal Pictures' youngest star in 1934. Quigley was briefly involved in the Our Gang film series. In 1940, she was the guest-starring lead in The New Pupil when cast as Sally, who briefly takes Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer away from Darla Hood. Two years later, she reprised the character in Going to Press (1942), the only time in the MGM era where the female lead was played by someone other than Darla Hood (who had recently left the series) or Janet Burston. Quigley acted alongside her older sister, Rita Quigley, in Whispering Footsteps (1943). Her last major role was in National Velvet (1944), in which she played Elizabeth Taylor's sister. Quigley made only a handful of small appearances after National Velvet, her last being in 1950. At the age of 20, in August 1951, she became a religious sister in the order of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph, teaching at Precious Blood Catholic School. After several years in her convent, she left the vocation and married. Inaccurate documentation exists that Juanita made an uncredited appearance as an extra in the locally filmed Porky's II: The Next Day. At the time of this filming, Juanita lived in Pennsylvania pursuing her post-convent career full-time. Juanita was retired and was an intensely private person with regard to her past. Most who knew her as a friend were unaware of her previous life as an actress. As of 2016, Juanita lived a peaceful retired life with her son and daughter-in-law in Massachusetts. Juanita Quigley died in Sudbury, MA, on 29 October 2017, aged 86.
Known for
ActingBirthday
June 24, 1931Deathday
October 29, 2017Gender
FemaleKnown Movie Credits
31Place of birth
Los Angeles, California, USAAlso known as
Baby JaneCast credits
Whispering Footsteps
Rose MurphyBorn to Dance
Sally SaksThe Lady and the Monster
Mary LouImitation of Life
Baby Jessie Pullman, Age 3Riffraff
RosieThe Man Who Reclaimed His Head
Linette VerinAssignment in Brittany
JeannineHawaii Calls
Doris MilburnWoman Against Woman
EllenThe Family Next Door
Susan PierceA Yank at Eton
Jane 'The Runt' DennisThe Devil-Doll
Marguerite CoulvetAlias Mary Dow
Mary DowMen with Wings
Patricia Falconer at Age 6National Velvet
Malvolia 'Mally' BrownThe Blue Bird
ChildCode of the Streets
CynthiaHappy Land
Sally Pierce (uncredited)That Certain Age
Butch Warren ("The Pest" in credits)