Jill St. John

Jill St. John
Born	Jill Arlyn Oppenheim (1940-08-19) August 19, 1940 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1946–1980s (retired)
Known for	Tiffany Case in Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Notable work	Diamonds Are Forever, Holiday for Lovers, The Lost World, Tender Is the Night, Come Blow Your Horn, Who's Minding the Store?, Honeymoon Hotel, The Liquidator, The Oscar, Tony Rome, Sitting Target, The Concrete Jungle

Jill St. John (born Jill Arlyn Oppenheim; August 19, 1940) is a retired American actress. She is widely recognized for her portrayal of Tiffany Case, the inaugural American Bond girl in the James Bond series, featured in the 1971 film Diamonds Are Forever. Her filmography also includes notable titles such as Holiday for Lovers, The Lost World, Tender Is the Night, Come Blow Your Horn—which earned her a Golden Globe nomination—Who's Minding the Store?, Honeymoon Hotel, The Liquidator, The Oscar, Tony Rome, Sitting Target, and The Concrete Jungle.

Her television appearances span series such as Batman, The Big Valley, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Hart to Hart, Vega$, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Magnum, P.I., and Seinfeld. During her peak years in Hollywood, St. John was nearly as well-known for her social prominence and high-profile romantic liaisons within the entertainment industry. She is married to actor Robert Wagner, whom she met at age 18. Together, they have collaborated on close to a dozen film and stage projects, including the miniseries remake of Around the World in 80 Days.

Early life

Born Jill Arlyn Oppenheim at Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles on August 19, 1940, she is the daughter of Edward Oppenheim, a Brooklyn-born restaurateur, and his wife Betty (née Goldberg), a philanthropist from Philadelphia. She grew up without siblings but was surrounded by numerous cousins, as her mother was one of eight surviving children and her father one of three. Her parents were married in 1934. On her maternal side, her grandparents were Russian with partial Jewish heritage, while her paternal ancestors include great-great-grandparents who emigrated from Hessen, Germany and Amsterdam.

Raised in Encino, St. John participated in the Michael Panaieff Children's Ballet Company alongside future actresses Natalie Wood and Stefanie Powers. All three women eventually either married or worked professionally with actor Robert Wagner. At age 13, her stage mother Betty altered Jill’s surname to St. John to enhance its marketability.

Early acting

St. John first appeared on stage at the age of five in The Conspiracy at Geller's Theater Workshop on January 31, 1946. Reflecting on this time, she described herself as "precocious" and noted that she was able to read proficiently by the age of six. Her television debut occurred in 1948 when she joined the cast of Sandy Dreams, a children's musical fantasy series that also featured Richard Beymer. In December 1949, she portrayed Missie Cratchit in an early filmed version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, one of the pioneering televised adaptations of the classic 1843 tale. This production was recorded using kinescope technology and remains a rare surviving example of a complete live TV broadcast from the 1940s.

By the time she reached ten years old, St. John had become a regular performer on KTLA's Fantastick Studios, Ink. At eleven, she appeared in two episodes of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. Additionally, she had an uncredited part in the film Thunder in the East (1951) and featured in episodes of Sky King, Fireside Theatre, and Cavalcade of America.

Her education included attendance at Powers Professional School, and she earned her high school diploma from Hollywood Professional School by spring 1955 when she was fourteen years old. Reportedly possessing an IQ of 162, St. John enrolled at UCLA's Extension School at age fifteen.

During this period, she also contributed her voice to numerous radio programs, most notably Red Ryder and One Man's Family.

Universal Pictures

File:Saxon Summer Love.jpg

John Saxon, Shelley Fabares, John Wilder, and Jill St. John in Summer Love (1958)

In May 1957, at sixteen years old, St. John secured a seven-year contract with Universal Pictures, earning $200 weekly. Her first significant studio film role was opposite John Saxon in Summer Love (1958). She also made television appearances in shows such as The Christophers, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, and DuPont Show of the Month, including an adaptation of Junior Miss. She cited Kay Kendall as her role model.

20th Century Fox

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With Robert Wagner in 1959

St. John secured a contract with 20th Century Fox, which aimed to develop her into a leading actress. She portrayed the daughter of Clifton Webb in both The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker and Holiday for Lovers (each released in 1959), followed by a role in the adventure film The Lost World (1960).

Reflecting on her early roles, she remarked, "It was all starlet characters—daughters, nieces, girlfriends."

Fox exercised their option to retain her services. Subsequently, Warner Bros. borrowed St. John for the film The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961). She then secured a supporting role in Tender Is the Night (1962), a part for which she was selected over Jane Fonda.

Comedy

St. John played a significant role in Come Blow Your Horn (1963), starring opposite Frank Sinatra. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.

In 1963, she described herself as "a comedienne," adding, "I've never claimed to be a dramatic actress, but I am very funny."

Following this, she appeared in several comedic films: Who's Minding the Store? (1963) alongside Jerry Lewis, Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (1963) with Dean Martin, and Honeymoon Hotel (1964) featuring Robert Morse and Nancy Kwan.

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With comedian Bob Hope and entourage at LAX in 1964

By 1964, she stated, "Now I play the sexy comedienne, which suits me perfectly. Comedy has always been my passion."

Her television guest appearances included shows such as Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Burke's Law, The Rogues, and Theatre of Stars. In 1964, she appeared alongside Lauren Bacall and Bacall’s then-husband Jason Robards, Jr. in the drama series Mr. Broadway, specifically in the episode titled "Take a Walk Through the Cemetery." Additionally, she participated in several variety specials featuring Bob Hope.

MGM cast her as the female lead in the spy parody The Liquidator (1965) opposite Rod Taylor, followed by a role in The Oscar (1966) with Stephen Boyd.

St. John appeared as Molly—the moll of the Riddler—in both the first and second episodes of the television series Batman. Notably, her character became the first to be killed off during an episode of that series. Around this period, she also guest-starred on an episode of The Big Valley.

Universal return

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Wagner and St. John in How I Spent My Summer Vacation (1967)

St. John secured a contract with Universal Studios. She appeared in the television film Fame Is the Name of the Game (1966) and held a supporting role in How I Spent My Summer Vacation (1967), which starred her future spouse Robert Wagner.

Following this, she featured in Bob Hope's comedy Eight on the Lam (1967), then acted alongside Wagner again in Banning (1967), and appeared with Doug McClure in The King's Pirate (1967).

In 1966, she expressed her ambition: "My aim is to reach a stage where I have demonstrated my abilities as an actress sufficiently to be more selective about the roles I accept. I want to pick parts that I know I can perform well." St. John was nearly cast in the lead for The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967), a role that ultimately went to Sharon Tate.

She reunited with Frank Sinatra for Tony Rome (1967) and starred in the television movie The Spy Killer (1969), which gained enough popularity to warrant a sequel, Foreign Exchange (1970). Additionally, she made a guest appearance on The Name of the Game. In 1971, she appeared in the TV movie Decisions! Decisions! alongside Bob Newhart and Jean Simmons.

James Bond

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With Lana Wood on the set of Diamonds Are Forever (1971). In 2019, Wood questioned whether this photo was authentic.

St. John reached her career pinnacle portraying Tiffany Case, a diamond smuggler and James Bond’s romantic interest, in Diamonds Are Forever (1971), starring opposite Sean Connery. She holds the distinction of being the first American actress cast as a Bond girl. The character Tiffany is depicted as confrontational, outspoken, and bold, contrasting with earlier Bond girls who were portrayed as more reserved; film analysts suggest she represents a stereotypical critique of American femininity.

In 1972, she starred with Oliver Reed in the British crime film Sitting Target. After completing this project, she decided to pause her acting career, later stating that "doing two films consecutively was draining... I realized I needed a different lifestyle."

Television

St. John starred in the television films Saga of Sonora (1973) and Brenda Starr (1976), taking on the lead role in the latter. Her television guest appearances include episodes of Vega$, The Love Boat, Magnum, P.I., Fantasy Island, and Matt Houston. Additionally, she featured in the pilot episode of Hart to Hart. Although initially cast as the princess in Day of the Assassin (1979), she withdrew after her deposit failed to arrive on schedule, leading to Susana Dosamantes taking over the role.

After spending ten years in Aspen, Colorado, St. John returned to Hollywood as her main base in 1981. Reflecting on her comeback, she noted, "I really don't have to work, but you know what? I got bored." During this period, she appeared in the TV movies Two Guys from Muck (1982) and Rooster (1982). She also held a leading role as Warden Fletcher in the prison drama feature The Concrete Jungle (1982) and had a minor part in The Act (1983).

Between 1983 and 1984, St. John co-starred with Dennis Weaver in the short-lived soap opera Emerald Point N.A.S., portraying Deanna Kinkaid, the scheming former sister-in-law of Thomas Mallory. The cast also included another former Bond girl, Maud Adams.

Later career

St. John and Robert Wagner collaborated on several projects including the miniseries Around the World in 80 Days (1989), the film Something to Believe In (1998), and The Calling (2002). They both made brief appearances as themselves in Robert Altman's Hollywood satire The Player (1992).

Starting in 1996, they toured nationally together performing the play Love Letters. In 1997, they appeared jointly at the conclusion of "The Yada Yada" episode on the sitcom Seinfeld.

Separately from Wagner, St. John acted in Out There (1995) and The Trip (2002).

In 2014, she portrayed Mrs. Claus opposite Wagner’s Santa Claus in the TV movie Northpole, marking her first screen role after a 12-year hiatus. Although she has since retired from acting, St. John continues to engage actively in community affairs.

Avocation

In 1972, St. John largely distanced herself from Hollywood and relocated to Aspen, dedicating her time to personal pursuits and culinary interests. Alongside figures such as Goldie Hawn and Jack Nicholson, she is recognized as one of the celebrities who contributed to Aspen's rise in popularity.

Her passion for cooking evolved into a notable culinary presence, featuring in monthly cooking segments on ABC-TV's Good Morning America and authoring a column for USA Weekend magazine throughout the 1980s. This journey culminated with the publication of The Jill St. John Cookbook (1987), which combined nutritious recipes with personal stories.

Beyond cooking, St. John launched a handcrafted Angora sweater enterprise and cultivated interests in orchid cultivation, skiing, hiking, rafting, camping, and gardening. She described herself in 1987 as "a mountain gal now," expressing her love for outdoor activities and using freshly harvested vegetables and herbs.

Charity work

During the Vietnam War, St. John performed for American troops through United Service Organizations (USO) events.

She established the Aunts Club, a Rancho Mirage-based collective of women who each contribute a minimum of $1,000 annually to financially support a child in need.

Politics

In 2023, St. John sought election to the Aspen Fire Department board but was not successful. Politically, she affiliates with the Republican Party.

Personal life

St. John has been married four times, with her spouses as follows:

• Neil Dubin (May 12, 1957 – July 3, 1958; divorced) — At age 16, St. John eloped with Dubin to Yuma, Arizona. Due to her minor status, questions arose regarding the legality of the marriage ceremony. To validate their union, Dubin’s parents arranged a subsequent wedding in Los Angeles eleven days later on May 23. Dubin was an heir to a linen fortune; however, St. John later accused him of harassment and ridicule.
• Lance Reventlow (March 24, 1960 – October 30, 1963; divorced) — Reventlow was the son of Barbara Hutton, heiress to the F. W. Woolworth fortune. The divorce settlement awarded St. John $86,000. Despite their separation and remarriages thereafter, she has referred to Reventlow as "my late husband" in interviews.
• Jack Jones (October 14, 1967 – February 28, 1969; divorced) — Jones cited his demanding singing career and extensive travel as factors leading to their divorce.
• Robert Wagner (May 26, 1990 – present) — The couple initially met in 1959 while under contract at 20th Century Fox and have been partners since Valentine's Day 1982.

Between these marriages, St. John dated numerous personalities from entertainment, sports, and politics including Gianni Bulgari, Sammy Cahn, Michael Caine, Oleg Cassini, Barry Coe, Sean Connery, Robert Evans, Glenn Ford, David Frost, Jack Haley Jr., Bill Hudson, Henry Kissinger, Sidney Korshak, Peter Lawford, George Lazenby, Jim Lonborg, Trini López, Tom Mankiewicz, George Montgomery, Joe Namath, Jack Nicholson, Hugh O'Brian, Ogden Mills Phipps, Roman Polanski, Alejandro Rey, Tom Selleck, Frank Sinatra, Robert Vaughn, Giovanni Volpi, Adam West and David L. Wolper.

Additionally, she has been romantically linked with criminal court judge Jerome M. Becker; ski instructor Ricky Head; Olympic skiing champion Brownie Barnes; plastic surgeon Steven Zax; investment broker Lenny Ross; Chicago businessman Delbert W. Coleman; and Brazilian entrepreneur Francisco "Baby" Pignatari. In 1974, she was engaged to Miami real estate developer Robert Blum but ended the engagement before marriage.

St. John is stepmother to three daughters:

• Katie Wagner (born 1964), daughter of Wagner and Marion Marshall
• Natasha Gregson (born 1970), daughter of Richard Gregson and Natalie Wood; raised by Wagner and St. John following Wood’s passing
• Courtney Wagner (born 1974), daughter of Wagner and Wood

In 2007, Wagner and St. John sold their Brentwood ranchette residence—where they had lived since 1983—for approximately $14 million and moved permanently to Aspen.

A longstanding feud exists between St. John and her husband's former sister-in-law, actress Lana Wood. This animosity dates back to 1971 when Sean Connery was romantically involved with both women during the filming of Diamonds Are Forever. Their decades-long conflict has included two notable public disputes: one in September 1999 when St. John declined to be photographed alongside Wood at a Bond girl reunion for Vanity Fair magazine; and another in February 2016 when Wood confronted Wagner at an event honoring St. John in Palm Springs concerning the reopened investigation into Natalie Wood’s death by drowning near Santa Catalina Island in 1981.

Film

Year	Title	Character	Additional Information
1951	Thunder in the East	English Girl	Not credited
1958	Summer Love	Erica Landis
1959	The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker	Kate Pennypacker
	Holiday for Lovers	Meg Dean
1960	The Lost World	Jennifer Holmes
1961	The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone	Barbara Bingham
1962	Tender Is the Night	Rosemary Hoyt
1963	Come Blow Your Horn	Peggy John	Golden Globe nomination—Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy
	Who's Minding the Store?	Barbara Tuttle
	Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?	Toby Tobler
1964	Honeymoon Hotel	Sherry Nugent
1965	The Liquidator	Iris MacIntosh
1966	The Oscar	Laurel Scott
1967	Eight on the Lam	Monica
	Banning	Angela Barr
	The King's Pirate	Mistress Jessica Stephens
	Tony Rome	Ann Archer
1971	Diamonds Are Forever	Tiffany Case
1972	Sitting Target	Pat Lomart
1982	The Concrete Jungle	Warden Fletcher
1983	The Act	Elise
1992	The Player	Jill St. John
1998	Something to Believe In	Dr. Joanne Anderson
2002	The Trip	Mary Oakley
	The Calling	Elegant Lady

Television

Year	Title	Role(s)	Remarks
1948	Sandy Dreams
1949	The Christmas Carol	Missie Cratchit	Television Special
1950	Fantastick Studios, Ink
1951–1952	The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show	Sherry Kelly / Jill Kelly
1952	Sky King	Gretchen Gluckman
1953	Fireside Theatre
1954	Cavalcade of America
1957	The Christophers
	Schlitz Playhouse	Eloise
	The DuPont Show of the Month	Lois Graves
1963–1965	Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre	Janie Douglas / Faith / Bunky
1964	Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea	Carol	Uncredited
	Mr. Broadway || Herself||
	Burke's Law || Pinky Likewise||
1965	The Rogues	Jena Tate
rowspan=3	1966	Batman	Molly
	The Big Valley	Barbary Red
	Fame Is the Name of the Game	Leona Purdy	TV movie
1967	How I Spent My Summer Vacation	Nikki Pine	TV movie
1968–1971	Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
rowspan=2	1969	The Spy Killer	Mary Harper	TV movie
	The Name of the Game	Michelle Howell
1970	Foreign Exchange	Mary Harper	TV movie
rowspan=2	1971	The Red Skelton Hour	Freida
	Decisions! Decisions!	Andrea Winters	TV movies
rowspan=2 | 1973	Old Faithful	Miss Roberts
Saga of Sonora	Molly
1976	Brenda Starr	Brenda Starr
1977	Telethon	Fran Sullivan
1979	Hart to Hart	Sylvia Maxwell
1979–1982	The Love Boat	Laura / Sandy Wilson / Claire Dalrymple / Mitzi De Risi
1980	Vega$	Mavis Graham
1981–1982	Fantasy Island	Ellen Layton / Jane Doe / Helen of Troy
rowspan=4 | 1982	Magnum, P.I.	Jan Kona	Episode: "Three Minus Two"
Two Guys from Muck	Miss Demandt	TV movies
Rooster	Joanna Van Eegan
Matt Houston	Karen Ann Douglas	Episode: "X-22"
1983–1984	Emerald Point N.A.S.	Deanna Kincaid	19 episodes
1986	Dempsey and Makepeace	Mara Giardino	2 episodes
1988	J.J. Starbuck	Rachel Capstone	Episode: "A Song from the Sequel"
1989	Around the World in 80 Days	Woman mistaken for Princess Aouda
1995	Out There	Bunny Wells	TV movie
1997	Seinfeld	Mrs. Abbott	Episode: "The Yada Yada"
2014	Northpole	Mrs. Claus	TV movie

External links

• Template:First word/ Jill St. John at IMDb
• Template:Tcmdb name
• Video message available on Cameo