Zale Parry
Zale Parry | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Parry as a guest star on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, 1965 | |
| Born | March 19, 1933 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | July 20, 2026 (aged 93) Tillamook, Oregon, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Spouse |
Parry Bivens
(m. 1955; div. 1963) |
| Children | 1 |
Zale Parry (March 19, 1933 – July 20, 2026) was an American pioneer scuba diver, underwater photographer and actress. She has been described as "California's underwater queen without a rival in sight".[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Parry was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 19, 1933,[2][3] as one of seven children. She learned to swim at an early age to avoid "being perpetually dunked" by her siblings.[4] When she was in the ninth grade she joined a Florida water show, and for three years she toured with the show through the Midwestern United States.[2] She was a swimming champion and studied dramatics at UCLA.[5]
Diving
[edit]As a young woman, while working in Santa Monica, California, for the Douglas Aircraft Company, after meeting co-worker (and future husband) Parry Bivens, Zale Parry became involved in pioneering diving and scientific work as reported in a 1955 issue of Sports Illustrated magazine.[6]
In 1954, Parry set a women's depth record to 209 feet,[4] exceeding the previous record of 80 feet.[5]
Acting
[edit]In 1954, Parry made her screen debut in Kingdom of the Sea, a Jack Douglas Production.[7] She appeared in 78 episodes of the series.[8] Because of her work in Kingdom of the Sea, Parry was tapped by the producers of the new show, Sea Hunt. Parry referred to Sea Hunt as an "underwater western".[citation needed] The lead character, Mike Nelson (played by Lloyd Bridges), was introduced to an undersea problem or villain at the start of the show. By the end of the half-hour show, he had resolved the problem.
Parry's acting continued on other shows, including GE Theatre, Wagon Train, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Peter Gunn, and The Magic Circus, et cetera. Parry continued as an actor for a number of years including many commercials and as a stunt woman on a wide variety of shows involving underwater scenes. By 1967, Parry's TV work was primarily in commercials.[1]
Parry doubled for Sophia Loren in the film Boy on a Dolphin (1957).[9] In 2006 she was in the film Tillamook Treasure, in which she played Sam, the owner of a hardware store.
Offices and recognition
[edit]Parry was a member of the board of directors of the Underwater Photographic Society.[5] She later became the society's president.[9] She was co-director of the International Underwater Film Festival.[9]
She was featured on the cover of the May 23, 1955 issue of Sports Illustrated magazine,[10] and she received the 1960 Water Sports Championship Award from Argosy magazine.[9]
Personal life and death
[edit]Parry married Parry Bivens, and she worked as a secretary while he was in medical school.[5] They had a daughter.[11]
Parry died in Tillamook, Oregon on July 20, 2026, at the age of 93.[12][13]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Witbeck, Charles (March 25, 1967). "She's the Underwater Queen of Television". The Times-Union. New York, Rochester. p. 35. Retrieved March 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Blonde State Skin Diver Swims on Screen, TV". Wisconsin State Journal. Wisconsin, Madison. March 16, 1958. p. 35. Retrieved March 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Gilliam, Brett. "Zale Parry, First Lady of Diving". Scuba Diving International. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- 1 2 Starr, Eve (January 1, 1958). "Zale Parry Holds Skin-Diving Record". The Houston Chronicle. p. 26. Retrieved March 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 4 "She's Happiest on Ocean Floor". Jackson Citizen Patriot. December 25, 1958. p. 8. Retrieved March 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Zale Parry: Under the Waves for Love". Sports Illustrated, May 23, 1955 Issue. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
- ↑ Newton, Dwight (June 19, 1957). "Day and Night". San Francisco Examiner. p. 23. Retrieved March 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Scott, Vernon (April 8, 1966). "Zale Parry: Underwater Cutie". Daily World. Louisiana, Opelousas. United Press International. p. 15. Retrieved March 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 4 "Zale Parry Named 'Air Queen' at Borrego Springs". Anaheim Bulletin. April 8, 1961. p. 10. Retrieved March 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Most Popular". CNN. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011.
- ↑ Thompson, Nelda (November 6, 1960). "Zale Parry feels at home in Davy Jones' locker". Lincoln Heights Bulletin-News. California, Los Angeles. p. 2. Retrieved March 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Diving Pioneer Zale Parry Dies Aged 93 | X-Ray Mag". xray-mag.com. 2026-07-21. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
- ↑ "Zale Parry, Pioneering Scuba Diver and 'Sea Hunt' Actress, Dies at 93". The Hollywood Reporter. July 23, 2026. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
External links
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