Cynthia Chenault
Encyclopedia
Cynthia Chenault is an American television actress and producer/writer active from the mid-1950s to the present. She used the screen name 'Cindy Robbins' in her acting credits.
.
Her last acting role in television was on the television comedy series McHale's Navy
in 1964.
Her most well-known role was Carol Porter, one of the daughters in the one-season sit-com The Tom Ewell Show
(1960–61).
Her other television work consisted of appearances in comedy shows (Ensign O'Toole
, Father Knows Best, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
, Leave It To Beaver
), military/action shows (Steve Canyon, Whirlybirds
, Harbor Command
), westerns (Wagon Train
, Outlaws, The Tall Man
), and dramas (Perry Mason
, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
, Tightrope
, Dragnet).
. She was also a writer in 1984 for the TV cartoon series Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats
.
In 1986, she shared in the nomination for a Daytime Emmy in the category Outstanding Writing in a Children's Special, for the ABC Weekend Special The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn.
She had one child, actress Kimberly Beck
, born in Glendale, California, in January 1956.
Cynthia, then still known as Cindy Robbins, married Australian singer-songwriter Tommy Leonetti
in the mid-1960s. The two of them, plus her young daughter, moved to Sydney, Australia, and lived there for the remainder of the 1960s and for most of the 1970s before returning to America in the late 70's. Her husband Tommy died in 1979. She began around that time using her actual name for her writing credits, rather than her screen name.
Television career
Her first acting role on television was in 1955, in the episode Moonfire of the television western series Brave EagleBrave Eagle
Brave Eagle is a 26-episode half-hour western television series which aired on CBS from September 28, 1955, to March 14, 1956, with rebroadcasts continuing until June 6. Keith Larsen , who was of Norwegian descent, starred as Brave Eagle, a peaceful young Cheyenne chief...
.
Her last acting role in television was on the television comedy series McHale's Navy
McHale's Navy
McHale's Navy is an American television sitcom series which ran for 138 half-hour episodes from October 11,1962, to August 31, 1966, on the ABC network. The series was filmed in black and white and originated in a one-hour drama called Seven Against the Sea, broadcast on April 3, 1962...
in 1964.
Her most well-known role was Carol Porter, one of the daughters in the one-season sit-com The Tom Ewell Show
The Tom Ewell Show
The Tom Ewell Show was a television situation comedy broadcast in the United States in the 1960-61 television season.-Summary:The Tom Ewell Show was created by Madelyn Martin and Bob Carroll, Jr. , and produced by Tom Ewell's own production company...
(1960–61).
Her other television work consisted of appearances in comedy shows (Ensign O'Toole
Ensign O'Toole
Ensign O'Toole is a military comedy that aired on NBC from September 23, 1962, to May 5, 1963, with 31-year-old Dean Jones in the title role of a nonchalant Navy ensign during the early 1960s. Jones, born in 1931 in Alabama and a Navy veteran of the Korean War, played an officer aboard the...
, Father Knows Best, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet is an American sitcom, airing on ABC from October 3, 1952 to September 3, 1966, starring the real life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was brought to television where it continued its success, running on both radio and TV for a couple of years...
, Leave It To Beaver
Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver is an American television situation comedy about an inquisitive but often naïve boy named Theodore "The Beaver" Cleaver and his adventures at home, in school, and around his suburban neighborhood...
), military/action shows (Steve Canyon, Whirlybirds
Whirlybirds
Whirlybirds is an American drama television series....
, Harbor Command
Harbor Command
Harbor Command is a syndicated adventure/drama television series starring Wendell Corey as Captain Ralph Baxter, a fictitious officer of the United States Coast Guard. The 39-episode Ziv program aired in black and white from October 11, 1957, to July 4, 1958. Casey Walters appeared in all episodes...
), westerns (Wagon Train
Wagon Train
Wagon Train is an American Western series that ran on NBC from 1957–62 and then on ABC from 1962–65...
, Outlaws, The Tall Man
The Tall Man (TV series)
The Tall Man is an American Western television series that aired on NBC from 1960 to 1962. The series was produced by Revue Productions.-Synopsis:...
), and dramas (Perry Mason
Perry Mason (TV series)
Perry Mason is an American legal drama produced by Paisano Productions that ran from September 1957 to May 1966 on CBS. The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner...
, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse is an American television anthology series produced by Desilu Productions. The show ran on CBS television between 1958 and 1960...
, Tightrope
Tightrope (TV series)
Tightrope is an American crime drama series that aired on CBS from September 1959 to September 1960. Produced by Russell Rouse and Clarence Greene in association with Screen Gems, the series stars Mike Connors as an undercover agent named "Nick" who was assigned to infiltrate criminal gangs...
, Dragnet).
Film career
She appeared in several films from 1957-59:- I Was a Teenage WerewolfI Was a Teenage WerewolfI Was a Teenage Werewolf is a 1957 horror film starring Michael Landon as a troubled teenager and Whit Bissell as the primary adult. It was co-written and produced by cult film producer Herman Cohen, and was one of the most successful films released by American International Pictures...
(1957) playing Pearl, Vic's Girl - Dino (1957), a Sal MineoSal MineoSalvatore "Sal" Mineo, Jr. , was an American film and theatre actor, best known for his performance as John "Plato" Crawford opposite James Dean in the film Rebel Without a Cause...
drama, playing Sylvia - Rockabilly Baby (1957), a film about family secrets and small-town life (featuring Les BrownLes BrownLes Brown may refer to:*Les Brown , U.S. Big Band leader, or his son, Les Brown Jr., leader since 2001*Les Brown , American author-See also:*Leslie Brown...
and His Band of Renown), playing Vougette #1 - Gunsight Ridge (1957), a Joel McCreaJoel McCreaJoel Albert McCrea was an American actor whose career spanned 50 years and appearances in over 90 films.-Early life:...
Western, playing the Bride - This Earth Is MineThis Earth Is MineThis Earth Is Mine is a 1959 drama film directed by Henry King and starring Rock Hudson and Jean Simmons. The film portrays the lives and loves of the Rambeau family, a California winemaking dynasty trying to survive during Prohibition in the United States.-Summary:Elizabeth , an English cousin of...
(1959), a Rock HudsonRock HudsonRoy Harold Scherer, Jr., later Roy Harold Fitzgerald , known professionally as Rock Hudson, was an American film and television actor, recognized as a romantic leading man during the 1950s and 1960s, most notably in several romantic comedies with Doris Day.Hudson was voted "Star of the Year",...
drama about California wine country, playing Buz Dietrick
Producing/Writing Career
In the mid-1980s, she produced/wrote several ABC Weekend Specials (notably, Pippi Longstocking) and a CBS Schoolbreak SpecialCBS Schoolbreak Special
CBS Schoolbreak Special is an American anthology series for teenagers that aired on CBS from April 1980 to January 1996. The series originally premiered under the title CBS Afternoon Playhouse, and was later changed during the 1984 - 85 season...
. She was also a writer in 1984 for the TV cartoon series Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats
Heathcliff (1984 TV series)
Heathcliff is an animated television series that debuted on September 5, 1984. It was the second series based on the Heathcliff comic strip and was produced by DIC Entertainment. It ran in syndication until 1988 with a total of 86 episodes...
.
In 1986, she shared in the nomination for a Daytime Emmy in the category Outstanding Writing in a Children's Special, for the ABC Weekend Special The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn.
Personal life
Cynthia Chenault was born January 5, 1937, in Hammond, Louisiana, USA.She had one child, actress Kimberly Beck
Kimberly Beck
Kimberly Beck is an American actress with over sixty television and film roles to her credit.-Biography:...
, born in Glendale, California, in January 1956.
Cynthia, then still known as Cindy Robbins, married Australian singer-songwriter Tommy Leonetti
Tommy Leonetti
Tommy Leonetti was an American pop singer-songwriter and actor of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. In Australia his most famous song was "My City of Sydney" and was used by the Australian TV channel ATN7 in Sydney for station identification into the 1980s...
in the mid-1960s. The two of them, plus her young daughter, moved to Sydney, Australia, and lived there for the remainder of the 1960s and for most of the 1970s before returning to America in the late 70's. Her husband Tommy died in 1979. She began around that time using her actual name for her writing credits, rather than her screen name.