Bob Bailey Mucker

Jill St. John, born Jill Arlyn Oppenheim on August 19, 1940, is a retired American actress with a career spanning decades in film and television. She gained significant recognition for her portrayal of Tiffany Case in the 1971 James Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever," making her the first American actress to play a Bond girl. Her filmography includes "Holiday for Lovers," "The Lost World," and "Come Blow Your Horn," for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. St. John also had a prolific television career, appearing in popular shows such as "Batman," "The Big Valley," "Hart to Hart," and "Magnum, P.I."

Beyond her acting roles, St. John was known for her active social life during her Hollywood career. She is married to actor Robert Wagner, and they have collaborated on numerous screen and stage productions. St. John began her career at a young age, making her stage debut at five and her television debut at nine. She attended UCLA and was noted for having a high IQ of 162. After a break from acting in the 1970s, she returned to Hollywood, continuing her work in television movies and series before eventually retiring from acting.

Born Jill Arlyn Oppenheim in Los Angeles, Jill St. John's parents were Edward Oppenheim, a restaurateur, and Betty Goldberg Oppenheim, a philanthropist. Raised in Encino, she was part of the Michael Panaieff Children's Ballet Company alongside future actresses Natalie Wood and Stefanie Powers. From a young age, St. John displayed a preference for practical interests, reportedly preferring a toy cash register over dolls. Her mother, Betty, changed her surname to the more marketable "St. John" when Jill was 13, by which time she had already begun working in the entertainment industry. She made her stage debut at the age of five and her television debut at nine, demonstrating an early aptitude for performance.

Jill St. John's career began in earnest with early roles in television, including "Sandy Dreams" and "The Christmas Carol." By her early teens, she was a regular on "Fantastick Studios, Ink." and appeared on "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show." She attended Hollywood Professional School and later UCLA, where her high IQ of 162 was noted. St. John signed with Universal Pictures at 16, making her major film debut in "Summer Love." She later signed with 20th Century Fox, appearing in films like "The Lost World" and "Holiday for Lovers." Her role in "Come Blow Your Horn" earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. She also starred in comedies such as "Who's Minding the Store?" and "Honeymoon Hotel." St. John's most iconic role was Tiffany Case in the 1971 James Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever," noted for her portrayal of a more assertive Bond girl.

St. John's career extended into the 1980s and beyond, with appearances in television movies like "Fame Is the Name of the Game" and "Brenda Starr." She guest-starred on numerous popular series, including "Vega$"," "The Love Boat," and "Magnum, P.I.". She also played Warden Fletcher in the 1982 prison film "The Concrete Jungle." A notable period in her life involved a decade-long sabbatical in Aspen, Colorado, where she pursued personal interests and cooking, largely stepping away from Hollywood. She returned to acting due to boredom, appearing in TV movies and series. She reunited with her husband, actor Robert Wagner, for several projects, including the miniseries "Around the World in 80 Days" and a guest appearance on "Seinfeld." Her final acting role was as Mrs. Claus in the TV movie "Northpole" in 2014, after which she retired from acting.

“I'm a comedienne, I've never pretended to be a dramatic actress. But I'm very funny.”

“Now I play the sexy comedienne, which is my forte, Comedy is what I've always wanted to do.”

“one should not confuse the artist with the man.”

“My goal is to be at a point where I have so proved myself as an actress that I can be more discriminating in the roles I choose. I want to be able to choose the parts I know I can do next.”

“two pictures in a row was exhausting... I decided I needed a new way of life.”