TGC's post about the jacket that Kim Darby wore in True Grit sent us to IMDb to see if there were any recent pictures of her. We noticed she had done a fair amount of work before her role in TG, and came here to comment on it, and discovered there was no thread dedicated to her. Now we realize her character wasn't exactly a "pal" but she was certainly a memorable character. Anyway, we hope Keith won't mind that we are starting this thread. We have followed his pattern in arranging the information. So without further adieu . . .

KIM DARBY
2277

Information from IMDb

Date of Birth

8 July 1947
Los Angeles, California, USA

Birth Name

Deborah Zerby

Mini Biography

The child of professional dancers, Kim Darby began her career studying dance with her father as well as Nico Charisse. At fourteen, she was granted special admission to Tony Barr's acting workshop at Desilu Studios on the Paramount Pictures lot. He wrote later that it was her remarkable openness, honesty, emotional readiness and focus that convinced him to bring her into his adult class. These traits have become the signature of her work in a career that has now spanned a period of more than forty years.

As a teenager, she earned her first acting roles in episodes of television shows including Mr. Novak, Dr. Kildare, The Eleventh Hour, Star Trek, and The Fugitive. Her reputation continued to grow with more work in film and television.

She was twenty-one when producer Hal Wallis saw her in an episode of Run For Your Life and decided to offer her the coveted role of Mattie Ross, opposite John Wayne's Rooster Cogburn, in True Grit. The classic western earned Wayne his only Oscar and made Kim Darby a film star.

Ms. Darby went on to star in a variety of productions, receiving a Golden Globe nomination for her work in Generation, and an Emmy Nomination for her role in the Rich Man Poor Man. Her feature films include The Strawberry Statement, The Grissom Gang, Better Off Dead, and Mockingbird Don't Sing; television movies include The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, and Enola Gay.

Still acting, since 1990 she has also been teaching her craft and is asked to give seminars at universities and film schools throughout the country. Her own training and lifelong experience over the last four decades has provided her with a rich perspective as well as a diverse collection of skills which she enjoys sharing with enthusiastic students.
IMDb Mini Biography By: Doug Kramer

Spouse

James Westmoreland (6 February 1970 - May 1970) (divorced) James Stacy (20 March 1968 - 26 June 1969) (divorced) 1 child
Trivia

Daughter of Jon Zerby.
Has one daughter with James Stacy.
When her parents, The Dancing Zerbys, were appearing in a Las Vegas showroom, she made her debut at the age of three, when the comedian introduced her on stage as the manager of the show. She kept the role and stayed in the act until she was old enough to go to school.
The daughter of dancers Jon Zerby and Inga Wiere, who were known as The Dancing Zerby's, a successful nightclub act in the 1940s and 1950s.
Gives seminars in acting and directing at film schools and universities. Taught film acting and directing at UCLA for 17 years.
Film acting and directing classes were mandated for all film students in the Entertainment Studies Department at UCLA, where she taught for 15 years (1990-2004).

Filmography Actress:



Cold Ones (2007) .... Barbs
The Storyteller (2005) .... Mildy Torres
You Are So Going to Hell! (2004) .... Louise
"For the People" .... Janine Woods (1 episode, 2002)
... aka Para la gente (USA: Spanish title)
- Textbook Perfect (2002) TV episode .... Janine Woods
"Dark Realm" .... Tilly Lawless (1 episode, 2001)
... aka Monde des ténèbres, Le (France)
- Emma's Boy (2001) TV episode .... Tilly Lawless
Mockingbird Don't Sing (2001) .... Louise Standon
NewsBreak (2000) .... Frances Johnson
"The X Files" .... Kathy Lee Tencate (1 episode, 2000)
... aka The X-Files (USA)
- Sein und Zeit (2000) TV episode .... Kathy Lee Tencate
"Becker" .... Katherine (1 episode, 1999)
- Point of Contact (1999) TV episode .... Katherine
The Last Best Sunday (1999) .... Mrs. Summers
"Profiler" .... Ilene Klinger (1 episode, 1996)
- Cruel and Unusual (1996) TV episode .... Ilene Klinger
The Secret of Lizard Woman (1996) (TV) .... Jo Howland
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) .... Debra Strode
... aka Hall6ween (USA)
... aka Halloween 666: Curse of Michael Myers
... aka Halloween: The Origin of Michael Myers
"Murder, She Wrote" .... Joan Kemp / ... (2 episodes, 1984-1995)
- Film Flam (1995) TV episode .... Joan Kemp
- We're Off to Kill the Wizard (1984) TV episode .... Laurie Bascomb
Deadly Embrace (1989) (uncredited)
Teen Wolf Too (1987) .... Professor Brooks
"Crazy Like a Fox" .... Jenny Fenwick (1 episode, 1986)
- A Fox at the Races (1986) TV episode .... Jenny Fenwick
"Riptide" .... Beverly (1 episode, 1986)
- A Matter of Policy (1986) TV episode .... Beverly
"Scarecrow and Mrs. King" .... Elizabeth Sullivan (1 episode, 1985)
- Over the Limit (1985) TV episode .... Elizabeth Sullivan
Better Off Dead... (1985) .... Jenny Meyer
... aka Better Off Dead (USA)
Embassy (1985) (TV) .... Sue Davidson
First Steps (1985) (TV) .... Sherry Petrofsky
"This Is the Life" (1 episode, 1985)
- The Face of Gabriel Ortiz (1985) TV episode
"Hotel" .... Jean Lawrence (1 episode, 1984)
... aka Arthur Hailey's Hotel
- Ideals (1984) TV episode .... Jean Lawrence
"E/R" .... Mrs. Johnson (1 episode, 1984)
- Only a Nurse (1984) TV episode .... Mrs. Johnson
"The Facts of Life" .... Doris Garrett (1 episode, 1984)
- Joint Custody (1984) TV episode .... Doris Garrett
"The Mississippi" (1 episode, 1984)
- Abigail (1984) TV episode
"Trapper John, M.D." .... Cassie Thomas / ... (2 episodes, 1983-1984)
- A Little Knife Music (1984) TV episode .... Marsha Huber
- Past Imperfect (1983) TV episode .... Cassie Thomas
Summer Girl (1983) (TV) .... Mary Shelburne
... aka The Hands That Rob the Cradle
Close Ties (1983) (TV) .... Evelyn
"The Love Boat" .... Wendy / ... (3 episodes, 1979-1982)
- Tomorrow Lady, The/Father, Dear Father/Still Life (1982) TV episode .... Sarah Curtis
- Disco Baby/Alas, Poor Dwyer/After the War/Ticket to Ride/Itsy Bitsy: Part 1 (1979) TV episode .... Wendy
- Disco Baby/Alas, Poor Dwyer/After the War/Ticket to Ride/Itsy Bitsy: Part 2 (1979) TV episode .... Wendy
The Capture of Grizzly Adams (1982) (TV) .... Kate Brady
"Fantasy Island" .... Rebecca Walters (1 episode, 1982)
- Challenge, The/A Genie Named Joe (1982) TV episode .... Rebecca Walters
Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb (1980) (TV) .... Lucy Tibbets
"The Last Convertible" (1979) TV mini-series .... Ann Rowan
Flatbed Annie & Sweetiepie: Lady Truckers (1979) (TV) .... Ginny LaRosa (segment "Sweetiepie")
... aka Flatbed Annie
... aka Girls of the Road (UK)
The One and Only (1978) .... Mary Crawford
"Family" .... Lily Barker (1 episode, 1978)
- Princess in the Tower (1978) TV episode .... Lily Barker
"Rich Man, Poor Man" (1976) TV mini-series .... Virginia Calderwood
... aka Rich Man, Poor Man - Book I
"Baretta" .... Anne (1 episode, 1975)
- The Goodbye Orphan Annie Blues (1975) TV episode .... Anne
"Wide World Mystery" .... Helen (1 episode, 1975)
- Mirror of Deception (1975) TV episode .... Helen
"Thriller" .... Helen (1 episode, 1975)
- Good Salary, Prospects, Free Coffin (1975) TV episode .... Helen
"Archer" .... Leslie Griffith (1 episode, 1975)
- The Body Beautiful (1975) TV episode .... Leslie Griffith
"Petrocelli" .... Donna (1 episode, 1975)
- The Kidnapping (1975) TV episode .... Donna
"Police Story" .... Barbara Nations / ... (2 episodes, 1974)
- Captain Hook (1974) TV episode .... Jennie Hill
- The Wyatt Earp Syndrome (1974) TV episode .... Barbara Nations
This Is the West That Was (1974) (TV) .... Calamity Jane
The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd (1974) (TV) .... Ruby Hardgrave
... aka Pretty Boy Floyd
"Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law" .... Perry (1 episode, 1974)
- I've Promised You a Father: Part 2 (1974) TV episode .... Perry
"Marcus Welby, M.D." .... Perry (1 episode, 1974)
... aka Robert Young, Family Doctor
- I've Promised You a Father: Part 1 (1974) TV episode .... Perry
"Love Story" .... Ellie (1 episode, 1973)
- Joie (1973) TV episode .... Ellie
"Ironside" .... Samantha (1 episode, 1973)
... aka The Raymond Burr Show (USA: syndication title)
- Downhill All the Way (1973) TV episode .... Samantha
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) (TV) .... Sally Farnham
... aka Nightmare (Europe: English title: video box title)
"Ghost Story" .... Cindy (1 episode, 1973)
... aka Circle of Fear (USA: new title)
- Dark Vengeance (1973) TV episode .... Cindy
"Cool Million" (1 episode, 1972)
- Hunt for a Lonely Girl (1972) TV episode
"The Streets of San Francisco" .... Holly Jean Berry (1 episode, 1972)
- Pilot (1972) TV episode .... Holly Jean Berry
The People (1972) (TV) .... Melodye Amerson
The Grissom Gang (1971) .... Barbara Blandish
Red Sky at Morning (1971) (uncredited)
Norwood (1970) .... Rita Lee Chipman
The Strawberry Statement (1970) .... Linda
Generation (1969) .... Doris Bolton Owen
... aka A Time for Caring
... aka A Time for Giving (UK)
True Grit (1969) .... Mattie Ross
"Run for Your Life" .... Carol Sherman / ... (2 episodes, 1966-1968)
- Carol (1968) TV episode .... Carol Sherman
- Hang Down Your Head and Laugh (1966) TV episode .... Tina
Flesh and Blood (1968) (TV) .... Faye
"Bonanza" .... Trudy Loughlin (1 episode, 1967)
... aka Ponderosa (USA: rerun title)
- The Sure Thing (1967) TV episode .... Trudy Loughlin
"Judd for the Defense" .... Cassie Rossiter (1 episode, 1967)
- Conspiracy (1967) TV episode .... Cassie Rossiter
"Gunsmoke" .... Angel / ... (3 episodes, 1967)
... aka Gun Law (UK)
... aka Marshal Dillon (USA: rerun title)
- Vengeance: Part 2 (1967) TV episode .... Angel
- Vengeance: Part 1 (1967) TV episode .... Angel
- The Lure (1967) TV episode .... Carrie Neely
"The Man from U.N.C.L.E." .... Sandy True (2 episodes, 1967)
- The Five Daughters Affair: Part II (1967) TV episode .... Sandy True
- The Five Daughters Affair: Part I (1967) TV episode .... Sandy True
Ironside (1967) (TV) .... Ellen Wells
"The Road West" .... Sister Marie Aimee (1 episode, 1967)
- Fair Ladies of France (1967) TV episode .... Sister Marie Aimee
"Star Trek" .... Miri (1 episode, 1966)
... aka Star Trek: TOS (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka Star Trek: The Original Series (USA: informal title)
- Miri (1966) TV episode .... Miri
"The Fugitive" .... Ruth Simmons / ... (2 episodes, 1965-1966)
- Joshua's Kingdom (1966) TV episode .... Ruth Simmons
- An Apple a Day (1965) TV episode .... Sharon Wolfe
"Ben Casey" .... Gail McBride (1 episode, 1966)
- Where Did All the Roses Go? (1966) TV episode .... Gail McBride
The Restless Ones (1965) .... April
"The John Forsythe Show" .... Deidre Miller (1 episode, 1965)
- 'Tis Better to Have Loved and Lost (1965) TV episode .... Deidre Miller
"The Donna Reed Show" .... Katy Dalton (1 episode, 1965)
- The Mysterious Smile (1965) TV episode .... Katy Dalton
Bus Riley's Back in Town (1965) .... Gussie
"Mr. Novak" .... Judy Wheeler / ... (2 episodes, 1963-1965)
- The Silent Dissuaders (1965) TV episode .... Judy Wheeler
- To Lodge and Dislodge (1963) TV episode .... Julie Dean
"Wagon Train" .... Heather Heatherington (1 episode, 1964)
... aka Major Adams, Trail Master
- The Story of Hector Heatherington (1964) TV episode .... Heather Heatherington
"Dr. Kildare" .... Patsy Carey / ... (2 episodes, 1964)
- What's Different About Today? (1964) TV episode .... Sandy Kimball
- A Nickel's Worth of Prayer (1964) TV episode .... Patsy Carey
"The Eleventh Hour" .... Gina Fields (2 episodes, 1964)
- Does My Mother Have to Know?: Part 2 (1964) TV episode .... Gina Fields
- Does My Mother Have to Know?: Part 1 (1964) TV episode .... Gina Fields
"The Farmer's Daughter" .... Alexandra (1 episode, 1964)
- Katy and the Prince (1964) TV episode .... Alexandra
Bye Bye Birdie (1963) (uncredited) .... High school student


Filmograph - Herself:



Halloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006) (V) .... Herself
Lesley Ann Warren: A Cinderella Story (2000) (TV) .... Herself
... aka Celebrity: Lesley Ann Warren (Australia)
"The David Frost Show" .... Herself (1 episode, 1970)
- Episode dated 11 November 1970 (1970) TV episode .... Herself


Archive Footage:



Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 1 (1999) (TV) (uncredited) .... Herself
Rodgers & Hammerstein: The Sound of Movies (1996) (TV) (uncredited) .... Liesl (screen test)
The Karate Killers (1967) .... Sandy True

Kim Darby had a decent career before True Grit, and has been very successful in the time since as well, as evidenced by her full filmography spanning the years from 1963 to 2007.

Her character Mattie Ross was one you loved to hate, she was so very annoying! She only appeared one time with John Wayne, in his Academy award-winning

True Grit (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065126/) (1969) .... Mattie Ross (http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0018755/)

Interestingly enough, she appeared with John Wayne co-stars Jim Hutton and Pedro Armendariz Jr. in a made-for-TV horror movie in 1973,

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069992/) (1973) (TV) .... Sally Farnham
(see a clip from it in the YouTube forum (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=4299))

She and Glen Campbell worked again just a year after True Grit, in a film called

Norwood (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066162/) (1970) .... Rita Lee Chipman

You can read more about her at the following web sites -

Kim Darby Official Site (http://www.kimdarby.com/home.html)
Kim Darby's MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/kimdarby)

Another interesting thing, that I heard recently, is that she is dating Johnny Crawford (who played Chuck Connor's son in The Rifleman).

Interesting facts, she sure doesn't look 21 in TG

Thanks for thread Jim, and yes the format does looks remarkably familiar!!
One support, that I momentarily considered, then passed by.
As we all know, she was no 'Pal'' but in my eyes any co-star,
falls into the the Pals profiles.

Interestingly, Mia Farrow was the first choice for

True Grit, (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=1823)

but she was unavailable.

When Darby arrived on the set, she had a brusque attitude.
She was often rude, and seemed determined to show,
that she was not impressed by working with John Wayne.


Duke considered her a spoiled brat, and quickly realized,
they did not have much in common.
He said,
I went over and tried to get some rapport...
but I didn't have much luck
Director did everything to make a sympathetic relationship,
it was not easy, but the end result, was that she played a a great part.
The producer Hal Wallis. noted,
the picture was a winner, Duke was extaordinary,
and Darby matched him with precision.

Thanks for thread Jim, and the format looks remarkably familiar!!
Hey . . . we learned from the BEST! And your position as the MASTER provider of the "Pals" threads is not in any danger. Having put together just one has provided us with an even greater respect for your work in that area.

While none of us considers her a 'pal' they were certainly more pal-sy by the end of the movie, when her character wanted his to be buried next to her. And he jumped a four-rail fence for her, right?

If I remember correctly, Duke had also considered the singer Karen Carpenter for the role.

Chester :newyear:

I've always viewed Darby as an odd duck. I think her part in True Grit was her most memorable work. It's a shame she had a bad attitude. She might have learned something from JW.

Many of you may be unaware that our member Jeffrey Wayne Sutherland, in addition to being a John Wayne impersonator, is also an accomplished celebrity interviewer with his own cable TV show, Jeff's Star Talk.

I discovered that at the 2009 Golden Boot Awards, Jeff interviewed (among others) Kim Darby of True Grit fame and Fess Parker, who just passed away this week. I thought you might enjoy seeing the clip.

Kim Darby is the first brief interview, followed by Fess Parker, finishing the segment with Morgan Woodward.

DKaJ1y5h0ps

That is one of the great things about this board, the members looking for and sharing all these great clips and facts with each other. Thanks for sharing this, Jim and Sue.

Mark

Thanks for posting that, Chester. I really enjoyed it. First time I've seen Kim Darby in about 35 yrs. And Morgan Woodward, he was one of my favorite character actors. Ther was no mistaking him on screen with that deep prominent voice. And I wonder if most people know that he was a regular on The Life And Legen Of Wyatt Earp for a couple of years as Shotgun Gibbs. He had a big bushy mustache but, that deep voice was still there. And, he was also "The Man With No Eyes", in Cool Hand Luke. The guard who never spoke, wore the sunglasses and was quick with the rifle.

That's funny that Kim Darby would say what she said, I heard from a few sources that she didn't like Duke and there was friction from time to time. She just had a baby and was a difficult person to work with at the time. Now that's what I read and heard from others. It was good to see Fess Parker there and hear about his time between Davy to Daniel including the competition between the networks. Very interesting. Thanks Chester and Mrs for the clip.

Cheers :cool: Hondo

Wow. Kim Darby looks and sounds exactly the same.
As you say Mike, it's most odd that we have all grown up,
understanding that she didn't like and get on with Duke!!
Duke is even quoted as saying
he didn't get on with here and that she was
a spoiled brat, see the Kim Darby thread.
On this she said the complete opposite.
I have also copied these couple of posts to
the Kim Darby thread.
Great also to see Fess Parker.

Looking at her work over time. She was a busy person with television and the silver screen. She didn't seem to stay long with shows only appearing once in most of them, and the movies were one time deals. Most of the movies were unmemorable from what I see, not knowing most of them, the others recycle movies that were fair at best. Not one I can see that I would have except True Grit. I do remember her in Star Trek, but don't recall her in anything else.

I guess what I am saying is she may be a fine actress, but her filmography is not very impressive. There in not a movie that stands out that gives her a name except True Grit and I think she cursed it. Of course that is my opinion. Some of you may be more into her work than I am.

Cheers :cool:

The thanks go to Jeff Sutherland, for his insight in interviewing these folks while they're still standing tall and kickin'.

As for Kim Darby, I suspect that the years and adult maturity could override any negative thoughts from her youth. At the same time, this was the biggest thing that had ever happened in her life, working on True Grit with some big stars. Good for her, that she was at the event!

Chester :newyear: