The Manchurian Candidate Star Leslie Parrish Passed Away at 90

Leslie Parrish, the actress remembered for The Manchurian Candidate, Li’l Abner, Batman and Star Trek, has died at age 90.

Parrish had been living in Washington state and died late last year, though her death was only recently made public. She was born Marjorie Hellen on March 18, 1935, in Melrose, Massachusetts.

Before Hollywood, Parrish dreamed of a career in music. She studied piano and composition at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music while working several jobs to support her education.

Her life changed when her mother encouraged her to try modeling. That eventually led to work with NBC and contracts with 20th Century Fox and MGM.

In 1959, she took the professional name Leslie Parrish and landed a major role as Daisy Mae in Li’l Abner.

Her career continued with appearances in numerous films and television shows. One of her most memorable roles came in the 1962 classic The Manchurian Candidate, where she played Jocelyn Jordan alongside Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey and Angela Lansbury.

Television audiences also saw her on Perry Mason, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Big Valley, Mannix and My Three Sons.

In 1967, Parrish appeared on Star Trek as Lt. Carolyn Palamas and on Batman as Glacia Glaze.

Beyond acting, she worked as an associate producer on Jonathan Livingston Seagull and later became deeply involved in civil rights, environmental causes, opposition to the Vietnam War and politics.

After stepping away from acting in the late 1970s, Parrish devoted much of her life to activism and causes she believed in.

She leaves behind a long Hollywood legacy and memories for generations of television and film fans.