Julie London Net Worth

What was Julie London's Net Worth?

Julie London was an American singer and actress who had a net worth of $4 million at the time of her death.

Julie London was best known for her smoky, intimate singing voice, her sultry album covers, and her signature recording of "Cry Me a River." She became one of the most popular female vocalists of the 1950s and 1960s, recording more than 30 albums and building a reputation as one of the great torch singers of her era.

Julie London also had a long acting career that began in the 1940s and included film, television, and later one of her most recognizable roles, Nurse Dixie McCall on the television series "Emergency!" Her screen image and musical image were closely linked: understated, glamorous, and cool rather than flashy. Although London often downplayed her own voice and acting ability, her recordings remained influential for decades, and her version of "Cry Me a River" became one of the definitive vocal performances of the mid-20th century.

Early Life

Julie London was born Julie Peck on September 26, 1926, in Santa Rosa, California. Her parents, Jack and Josephine Peck, were performers who worked as a song-and-dance team in vaudeville and radio. When London was a child, the family moved to San Bernardino, where her parents had a radio show and Julie occasionally performed.

The family later moved to Los Angeles, where London attended Hollywood Professional High School. As a teenager, she worked as an elevator operator in a department store. According to later accounts, her looks caught the attention of talent agent Sue Carol, the wife of actor Alan Ladd, which helped lead to screen tests and early film opportunities.

Film Career

London made her film debut in the 1944 adventure film "Nabonga," opposite Buster Crabbe. She appeared in a number of films during the 1940s, including "The Red House," but her career paused after she married actor Jack Webb in 1947 and largely stepped away from acting to focus on family life.

After her divorce from Webb, London returned to entertainment. One of her most notable dramatic roles came in the 1956 film "The Great Man," in which she played alcoholic singer Carol Larson. She later appeared in films including "Man of the West," "Voice in the Mirror," "The George Raft Story," and "The Third Voice." She also wrote the title song for "Voice in the Mirror."

Although she was often promoted for her beauty, London was capable of strong dramatic work and earned positive reviews when given serious roles. Still, her lasting fame would come from the combination of her film presence, album-cover image, and recording career.

Music Career

London's music career took off after she began working with jazz musician and songwriter Bobby Troup, who encouraged her to sing professionally. Her breakthrough came with the 1955 single "Cry Me a River," which was included on her debut album, "Julie Is Her Name." The single and album became major sellers and turned London into one of the defining female vocalists of the era.

Her voice was often described as smoky, breathy, husky, intimate, and suggestive. London herself joked that she had only "a thimbleful" of a voice and needed to sing close to the microphone. That limitation became her strength. Instead of belting, she created a close, late-night vocal style that sounded private, restrained, and effortlessly cool.

London recorded more than 30 albums, including "Julie Is Her Name," "Lonely Girl," "Calendar Girl," "About the Blues," "Make Love to Me," "London by Night," and "Easy Does It." Her album covers, often featuring glamorous and provocative photographs, became a major part of her image and helped make her one of the most visually recognizable singers of the period.

She was voted among the top female vocalists of the 1950s and frequently appeared on television variety programs hosted by stars such as Dinah Shore, Bob Hope, Steve Allen, and Perry Como. Even after her peak recording years, her music continued to be used in films and television, keeping her voice in circulation for new generations.

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Emergency!

In 1972, London took on one of her best-known television roles as Nurse Dixie McCall on "Emergency!" The series was produced by her first husband, Jack Webb, through his Mark VII Productions. Bobby Troup, London's second husband, also appeared on the show as Dr. Joe Early.

"Emergency!" aired from 1972 to 1977 and became a major part of London's later career. The role introduced her to a younger television audience and gave her a steady, high-profile acting job after her recording career had slowed. After the series ended, London made only one final film appearance before retiring from show business.

Personal Life

London married Jack Webb in 1947. Webb later became famous as the creator and star of "Dragnet." London and Webb had two daughters, Stacy and Lisa, before divorcing in 1953.

London later married Bobby Troup on New Year's Eve in 1959. Troup was a jazz musician, actor, and songwriter best known for writing "Route 66." He played a major role in encouraging London's singing career and later worked with her on "Emergency!" London and Troup had three children together: Kelly, Jody, and Reese. They remained married until Troup's death in 1999.

London suffered a stroke in the mid-1990s and was in poor health during her final years. She died on October 18, 2000, at the age of 74. She was survived by four children. Her daughter Stacy Webb had died several years earlier in a car accident.

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