Jill Dorothy Ireland (April 24, 1936 – May 18, 1990) was an English actress, best known for her many films with her second husband, Charles Bronson.

Life and career

Born in London, England, Ireland was the daughter of a wine importer. She began acting in the mid-1950s with bit parts in films including Simon and Laura (1955) and Three Men in a Boat (1956).

In 1957, Ireland married actor David McCallum. The couple starred opposite each other in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. episode "The Quadripartite Affair" (season 1, episode 3 - 1964) and again four weeks later in episode 7, "The Giuoco Piano Affair". She came back a third time in "The Tigers Are Coming Affair" (episode 37 in 1965) and a fourth in the two-part episode The Five Daughters Affair (season 3, episodes 28 and 29 - 1967). They had three sons, Paul, Valentine, and their adopted son, Jason McCallum, who died of a drug overdose in 1989, six months before Ireland's own death. McCallum and Ireland divorced in 1967.

In 1968, Ireland married Charles Bronson. She had first met him when he and McCallum were filming The Great Escape some years earlier. Together they had a daughter, Zuleika, and adopted a daughter, Katrina. They remained married until Ireland's death in 1990.

Death

Ireland was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984. After her diagnosis, Ireland wrote two books chronicling her battle with the disease (at the time of her death, she was writing a third book) and became a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. In 1988, she testified before Congress about medical costs and was given the American Cancer Society's Courage Award from then-President Ronald Reagan.

On May 18, 1990, Ireland died of breast cancer at her home in Malibu, California.

For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Jill Ireland has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6751 Hollywood

In 1991, Jill Clayburgh portrayed Ireland in the made-for-television movie Reason for Living: The Jill Ireland Story, which told of her later years, including her fight with breast cancer. Clayburgh herself would die from cancer (leukaemia) in November 2010.

Filmography

Film

1955 The Woman for Joe Bit Part

Oh... Rosalinda!! Lady

Simon and Laura Burton's Receptionist Uncredited

1956 Three Men in a Boat Bluebell Porterhouse

1957 There's Always a Thursday Jennifer Potter

Hell Drivers Jill, Pull In Waitress Alternative title: Hard Drivers

Robbery Under Arms Jean Morrison

1958 The Big Money Doreen Firth

1959 Carry on Nurse Jill Thompson

The Desperate Man Carol Bourne

The Ghost Train Murder Sally Burton Alternative title: Scotland Yard: The Ghost Train Murder

1960 Girls of the Latin Quarter Jill

1961 So Evil, So Young Ann

Jungle Street Sue Alternative title: Jungle Street Girls

Raising the Wind Janet Alternative title: Roommates

1962 The Battleaxe Audrey Page

Twice Round the Daffodils Janet Alternative title: What a Carry On: Twice Round the Daffodils

1968 Villa Rides Girl in restaurant

1969 Twinky Girl at airport Uncredited

1970 Rider on the Rain Nicole Alternative title: Le Passager de la Pluie

Città violenta Young Bram Alternative title: Violent City

Cold Sweat Moira

1971 Someone Behind the Door Frances Jeffries Alternative title: Quelqu'un derrière la porte

1972 The Valachi Papers Maria Reina Valachi

The Mechanic The Girl Alternative title: Killer of Killers

1973 Valdez Horses Catherine Alternative titles: Chino, Valdez the Halfbreed & Wild Horses

1975 Breakout Ann Wagner

Hard Times Lucy Simpson Alternative titles: Street Fighter & The Streetfighter

Breakheart Pass Marica

1976 From Noon till Three Amanda

1979 Love and Bullets Jackie Pruit

1982 Death Wish II Geri Nichols

1987 Assassination Lara Royce Craig

Caught Janet Devon

Television

Year Title Role Notes

1959 The Voodoo Factor Renee Unknown episodes

1960 Juke Box Jury 1 episode

1961 Armchair Theatre Sybil Vane 1 episode

Kraft Mystery Theatre 1 episode

Ghost Squad Anna 1 episode

1963 Richard the Lionheart Marianne 1 episode

1964 Ben Casey Julie Carr 1 episode

The Third Man Julia 1 episode

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Julie Lyle 1 episode

1964–1967 The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Various roles 5 episodes

1965 My Favorite Martian Zelda 1 episode

1965–1966 Twelve O'Clock High Alyce Carpenter/Sara Blodgett 2 episodes

1966 The Wackiest Ship in the Army 1 episode

Shane Marian Starrett 17 episodes

1967 Star Trek Leila Kalomi 1 episode

1968 Mannix Ellen Kovak 1 episode

1969 Daniel Boone Angela 1 episode

1972 Night Gallery Ann Loring 1 episode

1980 The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything Charla O'Rourke Television movie