Perkins, Millie (1938—)

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Perkins, Millie (1938—)

American actress. Born on May 12, 1938, in Passaic, New Jersey; daughter of a sea captain; married Dean Stockwell (an actor), in 1960 (divorced 1964); married Robert Thom (a writer-director).

Selected filmography:

The Diary of Anne Frank (1959); Wild in the Country (1961); Ensign Pulver (1964); Wild in the Streets (1968); Cockfighter (1974); Lady Cocoa (1975); The Witch Who Came from the Sea (1976); Table for Five (1983); At Close Range (1986); Jake Speed (1986); Slamdance (1987); Wall Street (1987); Two Moon Junction (1988); Pistol (1991); The Birth of a Legend (1991); Sharkskin (1991).

A petite brunette with haunting eyes, Millie Perkins had just launched a successful modeling career when she was chosen over numerous other hopefuls for the coveted role of Anne Frank in the film version of The Diary of Anne Frank (1959), based on the famous diaries of the young Jewish girl who died in Auschwitz. Despite the enormous hype surrounding the film, and her credible debut performance, Perkins failed to become an established star. She made sporadic appearances over the years in some 15 films, the last of which was Sharkskin (1991). The actress has been married twice: to actor-director Dean Stockwell and to writer-director Robert Thom.