Donna Wilkes
Encyclopedia
Donna Wilkes is an American film actress known for her roles in several films, most notably the starring role in 1984's Angel
, which became a cult classic. She has also appeared in several television programs such as Father Murphy
and the soap opera
Days of our Lives
. She appeared in the first season of the short-lived sitcom Hello, Larry
. Twice, she played characters much younger than she was in real life. Her character in Hello Larry was 15 when Wilkes was actually 20 years old in real life, whereas Molly Stuart, her character in the movie Angel
was supposed to be 15 years old as well, even though Wilkes was 25 years old at the time of filming.
. She was born in Spanish Harlem to Spanish/French mother and Irish father. Her father was a doctor and her mother was a nightclub singer. They divorced when she was 3 months old. When she was six, she did her first commercial at age six, for Keds Tennis sneakers. She trained in acting at Dominica American Theatre of Performing Arts, but stopped her training acting at age 11 to become a "normal student". At age 12, she went to live with her aunt and uncle in the Dominican Republic at age 12. Being a good student at high school, she skipped a few grades, graduating at the Collegio Santo Domingo at the age of 14. At age 15, she moved to Los Angeles, California, but unable to work at such a young age, she convinced many employers that she was 18 and married. Her first jobs included being a computer operator for an ambulance service, and as a secretary for a large corporation in Culver City. This added up to 16 hours a day for 5 days a week.
She began acting again at age 17. Her first role was the part of Meredith in the 1978 Universal Pictures film Almost Summer
, which also starred Tim Matheson
and Didi Conn
and she earned a SAG card for her work in the film. At around age 18, she became married to Billy Gray
, famous for his work on Father Knows Best
. Being 39, Gray was 21 years older at the time. The marriage didn't last long. She won the role of Pamela Prentiss on the Soap opera Days of our lives
had to be cut short which she played from 1983 to 1984. Her role was supposed to be for longer but had to be cut short when she became involved in the production of angel
Her best known role was in the 1984 Cult Classic
Sexploitation film Angel
where she played Molly Stewart/Angel, a high school honour student by day, and a Prostitute by night. On a budget of $3 Million, it was a box office success gathering $17,488,564. It Spawned 3 Unsuccessful sequels of which Wilkes had no involvement in. She was actually 25 at the time she played a 15 year old. She prepared for the role by spendong time in halfway houses and rehabilitation centers in LA to prepare for her role in the 1984 film, Angel. "I actually walked on the streets with these girls and talked with them... and I also talked to the people with the group called Children of the Night, and to the Hollywood Police Department, too."
Angel (1984 film)
Angel is a 1984 film directed by Robert Vincent O'Neill, and written by O'Neill with Joseph Michael Cala. It was released by New World Pictures.-Plot:...
, which became a cult classic. She has also appeared in several television programs such as Father Murphy
Father Murphy
Father Murphy is an American television drama series that aired on the NBC network from November 3, 1981 to September 18, 1983. Michael Landon created the series, was the executive producer, and also directed the show in partnership with William F...
and the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
. She appeared in the first season of the short-lived sitcom Hello, Larry
Hello, Larry
Hello, Larry is an American sitcom which aired on NBC from January 26, 1979, to April 30, 1980.-First season:Larry Alder is a radio talk show host who left Los Angeles after being divorced and moved to Portland, Oregon, with his two teenage daughters, Diane and...
. Twice, she played characters much younger than she was in real life. Her character in Hello Larry was 15 when Wilkes was actually 20 years old in real life, whereas Molly Stuart, her character in the movie Angel
Angel (1984 film)
Angel is a 1984 film directed by Robert Vincent O'Neill, and written by O'Neill with Joseph Michael Cala. It was released by New World Pictures.-Plot:...
was supposed to be 15 years old as well, even though Wilkes was 25 years old at the time of filming.
Biography
Donna Consuelos Wilkes was born on November 14, 1958 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She was born in Spanish Harlem to Spanish/French mother and Irish father. Her father was a doctor and her mother was a nightclub singer. They divorced when she was 3 months old. When she was six, she did her first commercial at age six, for Keds Tennis sneakers. She trained in acting at Dominica American Theatre of Performing Arts, but stopped her training acting at age 11 to become a "normal student". At age 12, she went to live with her aunt and uncle in the Dominican Republic at age 12. Being a good student at high school, she skipped a few grades, graduating at the Collegio Santo Domingo at the age of 14. At age 15, she moved to Los Angeles, California, but unable to work at such a young age, she convinced many employers that she was 18 and married. Her first jobs included being a computer operator for an ambulance service, and as a secretary for a large corporation in Culver City. This added up to 16 hours a day for 5 days a week.
She began acting again at age 17. Her first role was the part of Meredith in the 1978 Universal Pictures film Almost Summer
Almost Summer
Almost Summer is a 1978 motion picture directed by Martin Davidson, and produced by Motown Productions for Universal Pictures. It is the only Motown theatrical feature not to center around African-American characters...
, which also starred Tim Matheson
Tim Matheson
Tim Matheson is an American actor, director and producer. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of the smooth-talking Eric 'Otter' Stratton in the 1978 comedy National Lampoon's Animal House and has had a variety of other well-known roles, including providing the voice of the lead character...
and Didi Conn
Didi Conn
Didi Conn is an American film, stage and television actress.-Personal life:Conn was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of a clinical psychologist. "Didi" was her childhood nickname...
and she earned a SAG card for her work in the film. At around age 18, she became married to Billy Gray
Billy Gray
William Patrick "Billy" Gray was an English professional association footballer and manager who played initially as a winger....
, famous for his work on Father Knows Best
Father Knows Best
Father Knows Best is an American radio and television comedy series which portrayed a middle class family life in the Midwest. It was created by writer Ed James in the 1940s.-Radio:...
. Being 39, Gray was 21 years older at the time. The marriage didn't last long. She won the role of Pamela Prentiss on the Soap opera Days of our lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
had to be cut short which she played from 1983 to 1984. Her role was supposed to be for longer but had to be cut short when she became involved in the production of angel
Her best known role was in the 1984 Cult Classic
Cult Classic
Cult Classic is a Blue Öyster Cult studio recording released in 1994, containing remakes of many of the band's previous hits.-Track listing:# " The Reaper" - 5:05# "E.T.I...
Sexploitation film Angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
where she played Molly Stewart/Angel, a high school honour student by day, and a Prostitute by night. On a budget of $3 Million, it was a box office success gathering $17,488,564. It Spawned 3 Unsuccessful sequels of which Wilkes had no involvement in. She was actually 25 at the time she played a 15 year old. She prepared for the role by spendong time in halfway houses and rehabilitation centers in LA to prepare for her role in the 1984 film, Angel. "I actually walked on the streets with these girls and talked with them... and I also talked to the people with the group called Children of the Night, and to the Hollywood Police Department, too."
Fansite
In February 2008, she made contact to a fansite about her called DonnaWilkesOnline.com ran by two fans named Christine and Shannon. The letter stated:Partial filmography
- Jaws 2Jaws 2Jaws 2 is a 1978 thriller film and the first sequel to Steven Spielberg's Jaws , which is based on Peter Benchley's novel of the same name...
(1978) - Almost SummerAlmost SummerAlmost Summer is a 1978 motion picture directed by Martin Davidson, and produced by Motown Productions for Universal Pictures. It is the only Motown theatrical feature not to center around African-American characters...
(1978) - The Incredible Hulk (TV series) (1978)
- Hello, LarryHello, LarryHello, Larry is an American sitcom which aired on NBC from January 26, 1979, to April 30, 1980.-First season:Larry Alder is a radio talk show host who left Los Angeles after being divorced and moved to Portland, Oregon, with his two teenage daughters, Diane and...
(1979) - Diff'rent Strokes (TV series)Diff'rent StrokesDiff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...
(1979) - SchizoidSchizoid (film)Schizoid is a 1980 horror film directed and written by David Paulsen.-Plot:Julie is an advice columnist for the city newspaper who begins to receive anonymous notes threatening murder and worse...
(1980) - Father Murphy (TV series)Father MurphyFather Murphy is an American television drama series that aired on the NBC network from November 3, 1981 to September 18, 1983. Michael Landon created the series, was the executive producer, and also directed the show in partnership with William F...
(1982) - Blood SongBlood SongBlood Song is a 1982 horror film directed by Robert Angus and Alan J. Levi and starring Frankie Avalon.-Plot:...
(1982) - Days of our LivesDays of our LivesDays of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
(1983–1984) - AngelAngel (1984 film)Angel is a 1984 film directed by Robert Vincent O'Neill, and written by O'Neill with Joseph Michael Cala. It was released by New World Pictures.-Plot:...
(1984) - Grotesque (1988)
- FBI: The Untold Stories (TV series)FBI: The Untold StoriesF.B.I.:The Untold Stories was a police drama anthology series which was aired in the United States by ABC from 1991 to 1993.Unlike ABC's The F.B.I., which was one of the network's major successes of the late 1960s and early 1970s, F.B.I.:The Untold Stories had no ongoing characters or storylines;...
(1991)