Introduction
Jacqueline Ray is a former American actress and model. She was born on July 17, 1952, in Burbank, California, and rose to fame in the 1980s for her roles in movies such as “In Like Flynn” and “Beyond the Universe.” In this article, we will provide a detailed overview of Jacqueline Ray’s life, career, and controversies.
Early Life and Career
Jacqueline Ray started her career as a model and later transitioned to acting. Her first acting role was in the TV series “The Killers,” which aired in 1964. She went on to appear in several other TV series, including “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” and “Magnum, P.I.”
In 1980, Ray appeared in her first major movie role in “The Concrete Jungle,” in which she played a tough inmate. She continued to work in movies throughout the 1980s, including “Beyond the Universe” and “In Like Flynn,” which was her last acting role.
Personal Life
Jacqueline Ray was married three times. Her first marriage was to Sheb Wooley, a country singer and actor, with whom she had a daughter named Arwen. Her second marriage was to actor Tom Selleck, whom she met while working on “Magnum, P.I.” The couple married in 1971 and had a son named Kevin.
However, the marriage was short-lived, and they divorced in 1982. In 1986, Jacqueline Ray married Clarence Barry Witmer, a construction worker, and they remained married until his death in 1992.
Controversies
In 2014, Jacqueline Ray was arrested for hiring a hitman to kill her son-in-law, Leon Bauchum. Bauchum had reportedly abused Ray’s daughter Arwen, and Ray wanted to protect her daughter. However, the hitman turned out to be an undercover police officer, and Ray was arrested for conspiracy to commit murder.
In 2016, Ray pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. She was released on parole in early 2021, after serving nearly 7 years in prison.
Legacy
Despite her short-lived career in Hollywood, Jacqueline Ray remains a memorable figure in the entertainment industry. She was known for her tough, no-nonsense roles and her striking beauty. Her role in “The Concrete Jungle” is particularly noteworthy, as it was one of the few movies at the time to feature a strong female lead.
Jacqueline Ray’s legacy, however, is also marred by the controversy surrounding her arrest and conviction for conspiracy to commit murder. While she maintains that she was only trying to protect her daughter, the severity of her actions and subsequent imprisonment have undoubtedly overshadowed her earlier accomplishments.
Conclusion
Jacqueline Ray had a brief but noteworthy career in the entertainment industry, and her roles in movies and TV shows from the 1960s through the 1980s are still remembered by fans of the era. However, her legacy has been tarnished by her involvement in a murder-for-hire plot, which resulted in her spending nearly 7 years in prison. Despite this controversy, Jacqueline Ray remains a complex figure whose life and career are worthy of examination and reflection.
