- Born
- Birth nameJennifer Lee O'Neill
- Nickname
- Jenn
- Height5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
- Jennifer O'Neill, a Brazilian-American actress, model, and author, emerged as a captivating figure in entertainment through her multifaceted career. Hailing from Rio de Janeiro, she arrived in the United States as an infant, later blossoming into a renowned Ford model and CoverGirl spokesperson for three decades, her iconic campaigns preserved in the Smithsonian's American History Museum. O'Neill's acting journey ignited with a debut alongside John Wayne in Howard Hawks's Rio Lobo, but her haunting portrayal of Dorothy in the 1971 classic Summer of '42 cemented her as a household name, enchanting audiences despite her brief 12-minute role. She continued to shine in films like David Cronenberg's Scanners and Luchino Visconti's The Innocent, showcasing her versatility across genres. Beyond the screen, O'Neill's passion for storytelling led to authoring memoirs like Surviving Myself and From Fallen to Forgiven, where she candidly shared her struggles with postpartum depression and personal tragedies. A dedicated activist, she founded the Hope and Healing at Hillenglade Foundation in Nashville, offering equine therapy to veterans with PTSD. O'Neill's resilience, shaped by nine marriages and raising three children, reflects her commitment to relationships over Hollywood's allure. Occasionally gracing screens in projects like I'm Not Ashamed, she remains an inspirational speaker, weaving humor and faith into her "All that Glitters" conferences. Known for her radiant beauty and emotional depth, O'Neill's legacy endures as a trailblazer who balanced stardom with profound personal purpose.- IMDb mini biography by: Angel
- SpousesMervin Sidney Louque, Jr.(1996 - present)Richard Alan Brown(December 9, 1993 - June 9, 1995) (divorced)Neil Leonard Bonin(December 9, 1992 - May 7, 1993) (divorced)Richard Alan Brown(July 13, 1986 - January 18, 1989) (divorced, 1 child)John Lederer(1979 - 1983) (divorced, 1 child)Jeff Barry(June 2, 1978 - June 26, 1979) (divorced)Nick De Noia(March 28, 1975 - February 26, 1976) (divorced)Joseph Roster(1972 - 1974) (divorced)Deed Rossiter(April 24, 1965 - June 11, 1971) (divorced, 1 child)
- ChildrenCooper AlanReis Michael LedererAimee Rossiter
- ParentsOscar Delgado O'Neill Jr.Irene Freda Lilian Taylor
- RelativesMichael Lee O'Neill(Sibling)
- A former Ford model, for 30 years she was the face and spokeswoman for Cover Girl cosmetics, and is catalogued in the Smithsonian Institute's American History Museum, Center for Commercial Advertising.
- Married nine times to eight different men (she married husband #6 twice). Her ninth marriage, to Mervin Sidney Louque, has lasted longer than her other eight marriages combined.
- Became an overnight film star and made an immediate "older woman" impact on young boys everywhere in the coming-of-age film Summer of '42 (1971), despite the fact that she was only in the movie for 12 minutes.
- Her father was Oscar O'Neill (1919-2009), a WWII bomber pilot who flew B-17s and once had his plane shot down over Germany where he survived a prison camp. After the war he went back to England to marry Irene ("Rene").
- Accidentally shot herself in the abdomen on October 22, 1982 at her home in Bedford Hills, New York.
- I cared very much about being a good actress, and I learned over the years. But it wasn't my main motivating force in life; that was my drive for relationships. The concept of letting a great offer go for the sake of a marriage is unheard of in America. I didn't make popular decisions. I never moved to Hollywood. I didn't take my clothes off to act. Hollywood never owned me. My need for love owned me.
- It's always intimidating to meet an icon.
- What I really mean is, if you're going to make a move, do it while you can enjoy it, while it's still exciting, before you wrinkle. Remember, don't cut off your nose to spite your profile.
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