Janee Michelle

Janee Michelle
Born	Geneva Leona Mercadel 1946 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Other names	Gee Tucker
Occupation(s)	Actress, model, dancer, entrepreneur
Years active	1964–present
Known for	The House on Skull Mountain (1974)

Janee Michelle (originally named Geneva Leona Mercadel; born 1946), who is also recognized by the name Gee Tucker, is an American actress, former model, dancer, and entrepreneur. She gained prominence for her performance in the 1974 horror movie The House on Skull Mountain. Her professional journey encompasses work in film, television, theater, and print advertising. Her first acting appearance was in the 1964 short film The Legend of Jimmy Blue Eyes.

The decision to use the stage name Janee Michelle was influenced by her talent agent and film studio, who felt her birth name might not resonate well with audiences. Her praised role in the 1968 television series The Outcasts opened doors to several film opportunities. She appeared alongside her then-husband Robert DoQui in a 1969 episode of The Governor & J.J. as well as in the 1970 movie Soul Soldier.

In 1977, Michelle was crowned queen of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Zulu parade, becoming the first Zulu queen to don two gowns crafted by Bob Mackie, renowned for his collaborations with Cher. After ending her marriage with DoQui in 1978, she wed New Orleans politician Robert H. Tucker, Jr. in 1979 and adopted the name Gee Tucker.

Together in 1980, they established Tucker and Associates, a management consulting firm that secured a $26 million contract with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in 1990—marking the largest contract awarded to a minority-owned business in Louisiana at that time. During this period, they also initiated Integrated Logistical Support to assist with contract operations.

Following their separation, Michelle retained ownership of Tucker and Associates, while Tucker maintained control of Integrated Logistical Support. Upon Tucker’s retirement in 2008, their daughter Iam Tucker assumed the presidency of Integrated Logistical Support. After Hurricane Katrina, Michelle acquired Sophie's Gelato, an ice cream parlor located on Magazine Street, where she personally crafts gelato on-site.

Early life

Born as Geneva Leona Mercadel in New Orleans, Louisiana, Janee Michelle’s paternal great-grandfather was a shoemaker who emigrated from Champagne, France to New York before settling in New Orleans. Her family lineage includes prominent figures such as former New Orleans mayor Sidney Barthelemy, with deep roots in the city’s 7th Ward.

The Mercadel family traditionally engaged in construction work, a trade some relatives continue today. Michelle’s maternal ancestry comprises African, French, German, Italian, and Choctaw origins. Raised within a devout household, her father Walter F. Mercadel worked as a barber while her mother was a beautician. She has three siblings: an older brother named Walbert and two younger sisters, Zernell and Zona.

At age thirteen, Michelle organized and directed a dance production at the YWCA in New Orleans and earned the title Miss New Orleans in 1960. Encouraged by her junior high principal Leah McKenna to pursue a career in entertainment, she achieved fifteen awards recognizing her language skills during high school. Due to her mother’s health issues worsened by New Orleans’ climate, she transferred from New Orleans schools to Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. While supporting her family through her father’s unemployment period, she worked as a cook.

Michelle graduated from Manual Arts ranked 25th out of a class of 500 students and pursued higher education at both Los Angeles City College and Woodbury College, where she distinguished herself in English studies. Additionally, she undertook drama training at Actors Studio West and participated in the Columbia Film Workshop.

Entertainment

Michelle's professional journey encompasses acting, modeling, and dancing, with credits spanning movies, television shows, theater productions, and commercial campaigns. While still attending high school, she traveled regularly to perform as a dancer in the Las Vegas area. Her dance training included ballet and Cuban styles, leading to performances at notable venues such as the Hollywood Palladium and Tropicana Las Vegas. On stage, her roles included appearances in productions like MacBird!, The Vagina Monologues, and In the Blink of an Eye.

Her initial television experience involved commercials for Ultra Sheen hair care products by Johnson Products Company. In 1964, using her birth name Geneva Mercadel, she landed her first film role in the Academy Award-nominated short The Legend of Jimmy Blue Eyes, although her contract did not include residual payments for television broadcasts. To boost her professional appeal, she adopted the stage name Janee Michelle, which preserved elements of her original name while providing a distinctive identity.

In 1967, The Chicago Defender forecasted her rising prominence within American cinema. That same year, she graced the cover of Jet magazine alongside Ronnie Eckstine, highlighting their performances in his debut film The Love-Ins, which represented her most significant film role up to that time. A review in Variety commended her casting choice. Her well-received portrayal in the television series The Outcasts opened doors to further film opportunities and a guest role on Love, American Style with Greg Morris.

Michelle was featured among Ebony magazine's Fifty Eligible Girls of 1969 and appeared again on the cover of Jet, recognized as one of Hollywood's most attractive actresses and noted as an emerging African-American talent alongside peers such as Gloria Foster. She expressed that racial obstacles in the entertainment industry were decreasing and challenged stereotypes regarding African-American women's routes to achievement.

In 1969, Michelle co-starred with her husband Robert DoQui in an episode of The Governor & J.J., followed by their collaboration in the 1970 film Soul Soldier, where she played the female lead. Their characters were involved in a love triangle that included nude scenes. The movie received mixed critiques, with some reviewers commenting negatively on the performances.

In 1973, Michelle helped establish Kwanza, a nonprofit organization based in Hollywood managed by African American actresses dedicated to providing continuous charitable food assistance. Initially focused on delivering holiday meals to 75 families during Christmas, by 1976 Kwanza had expanded its reach to support over 2,000 people annually.

Her most prominent cinematic role came in 1974 as Lorena Christophe in the horror movie The House on Skull Mountain, which gained wider recognition following its DVD release. In this film, she portrayed the romantic interest of Victor French’s character. Critics lauded her performance for both her charisma and screen presence. In 2014, Michelle appeared in a television commercial promoting AARP health insurance.

New Orleans Mardi Gras

In 1977, Michelle's cousin, Anthony "Chuck" Mercadel, was crowned king of the Zulu parade during the New Orleans Mardi Gras. After reconnecting, he invited Michelle to be his queen. Although she initially declined to avoid appearing as a secondary choice, she accepted the role when the original queen candidate became unavailable and adjusted her plans accordingly.

Michelle traveled from Hollywood to New Orleans specifically for the parade, where the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club welcomed her with formal honors. She made history as the first Zulu queen to don two different gowns—one for the parade and another for the ball—both created by Bob Mackie, renowned for designing Cher’s stage costumes. Her parade attire consisted of a gold-and-cinnamon brocade embellished with topaz stones, while her ball gown was a white, figure-hugging dress decorated with crystals and bugle beads. Instead of a traditional tiara, she opted for a pearl-encrusted headpiece. Her unique style of walking at the ball became widely emulated throughout the city.

Business

Following her divorce from DoQui in 1978, Michelle married Robert H. Tucker, Jr. in 1979, adopting the name Gee Tucker, relocating back to New Orleans, and embarking on a business career. After Tucker’s unsuccessful ventures into politics, he convinced Michelle to join him in business rather than continue her employment with Copeland. In 1980, they launched Tucker and Associates, a management consulting enterprise.

Initially generating modest income, Michelle also held roles in management and marketing outside their firm. At first, they chose not to seek support from the Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) program, preferring to compete on their own merit. Despite lacking formal business training, Michelle acquired entrepreneurial skills through practical experience.

By 1990, Tucker and Associates had grown to employ 225 staff members with annual revenues near $11 million. That year marked a milestone when they obtained a $26 million contract for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve—the largest contract awarded to any minority-owned company in Louisiana via the SBA 8(a) program. During this period, they established Integrated Logistical Support, where Michelle held the position of vice president. The couple divorced before completing this contract, after which Michelle reverted to her maiden name. She maintained control and leadership of Tucker and Associates, serving as its president and CEO, while Tucker retained ownership of Integrated Logistical Support.

Michelle also served on the board of directors at Hibernia National Bank when it was listed among the Forbes 500 companies and was chief operating officer of Tucker and Associates as of 2002. In 2003, contracts with eleven firms connected to former mayor Marc Morial, including both companies Michelle helped establish, were terminated by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. Beyond her corporate roles, she has contributed as a board member for the Louisiana Children's Museum and volunteered with Drugs Off the Street.

Moreover, Michelle is proprietor of Sophie's Gelato in New Orleans.

Awards

In 1991, Michelle earned recognition as a YWCA Role Model. The National Council of Negro Women honored her in 1995 as one of five outstanding community leaders of the year. She has been distinguished as New Orleans Woman Business Owner of the Year and was a recipient of the Best of Black Business Award. Additionally, the Business and Professional Women's Foundation acknowledged her with their Employer of the Year title, while the American Council for Career Women presented her with their Achiever's Award.

Personal life

Michelle married Albert S. Hubbard on July 22, 1966, in Marin County, California, when she was twenty years old; their marriage ended in divorce by January 1968.

Her second marriage was to Robert DoQui on April 25, 1969, in San Francisco. DoQui had four children from a previous relationship, with whom Michelle formed a strong bond. In an interview conducted in 1969, she mentioned how DoQui’s style influenced her wardrobe choices and expressed support for the traditional breadwinner role, while also encouraging women's employment if they desired. Their son, Robert Diago DoQui, born in 1971, later pursued a career as an actor and writer. Michelle and Robert DoQui divorced in June 1978.

Michelle encountered Robert Tucker through family ties at the 1977 Zulu parade and wed him in 1979. Their daughter, Iam Christian Tucker, was born in 1983. The couple separated after nineteen years of marriage.

Film

Title	Year	Role	Notes	Ref(s)
The Legend of Jimmy Blue Eyes	1964	Club Patron	Featured in a non-speaking part of this Golden Globe Award-winning short film.
Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion	1965	Girl in Pit
The Love-Ins	1967	Lamelle
Soul Soldier	1970	Julie Brown	Lead female role including nude scenes with Robert DoQui.
The Mephisto Waltz	1970	Agency Chief's Girlfriend
Scream Blacula Scream	1973	Gloria	Follow-up to Blacula.
The House on Skull Mountain	1974	Lorena Christophe	Recognized as her most notable role.

Television

Title	Episode	Year	Role	Notes	Ref(s)
Mr. Novak
The Outcasts	"My Name is Jemal"	1968	Michelle	Favorable response led to several film opportunities.
Julia	"The Champ is No Chump"	1968	Marva Le Bouse
Ironside	"Due Process of the Law"	1968	Helen Tobin
The Governor & J.J.	"Rhyme with Reason"	1969		Performed alongside Robert DoQui.
Love, American Style	"Love and the Uncoupled Couple"	1970	Dessie Smith	Co-starred with Greg Morris.
The F.B.I.	"The Architect"	1970	Mary Borden	Appeared with Billy Dee Williams.
Bewitched	"Sisters at Heart"	1970	Dorothy Wilson
Sanford and Son	"Tower Power"	1974	Sandra
In the Heat of the Night	"A Necessary Evil"	1988	Arlene Jeffson
Star-Crossed	"An Old Accustom'd Feast"	2014	Vendor