Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On October 17, 1926, actress Julie Adams (born Betty May Adams) was born in Waterloo. Known for starring opposite James Steward in the 1954 film “Creature from the Black Lagoon,” Adams also shined in various television roles and as a love interest of Elvis.
After spending her earliest days in Waterloo, a turbulent childhood brought Adams to many locations before she found her way to Hollywood in 1946. Working as a part-time secretary, Adams first found her way into film acting in bit parts in B movie westerns. In 1949, she started working under the names Julia and Julie Adams.
While Adams's first significant role came with 1949’s Red, Hot, and Blue, she broke out starring opposite James Stewart in the 1952 film Bend of the River. In 1953, she appeared opposite Rock Hudson in The Lawless Breed. The 1954 film Creature from the Black Lagoon featured Adams as the beautiful ichthyologist Kay Lawrence in the science-fiction thriller.
On television, Adams appeared on The Andy Griffith Show portraying Mary Simpson, a county nurse and romantic interest of Sheriff Andy Taylor in a 1962 episode. Adams co-starred with James Stewart in all 24 episodes of The Jimmy Stewart Show on NBC in 1971–1972. Stewart played a professor, and Adams played his wife. She was cast in the recurring role of real estate agent Eve Simpson for ten episodes of CBS's “Murder, She Wrote.” #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
