Without
a doubt (and I am not alone on this one!), there is no other actress
that could have portrayed the role of Dulcey Coopersmith better
than the lovely and talented Jill Townsend. Add to this from Stuart
Whitman, "We knew when we interviewed Jill Townsend that
she was Dulcey. There was absolutely no question about it."
Born to parents Joan and Robert Townsend, Jill was born January 25, 1945 in Santa Monica, California. She is the oldest of sister's Joey and Claire and brother's Bob and Jeffery.
Jill's interest in becoming an actress began when she was 2 years old. "When I was a little girl, my mother would take me to the theatre alot.....Broadway.....it was really quite magical. From the moment that I saw Mary Martin fly in the Broadway production of Peter Pan, I figured that if I wanted to fly, I'd have to go into theatre!" Jill was also influenced by her grandparents. "My grandfather would play music and teach me little show tunes on the piano along with other things." Jill's grandfather was himself no stranger to the entertainment business. Some of his work included composing and conducting the musical scores to the films of the world famous Marx Bros. "Not for one moment from the time that I was 2 or 3 years old, until I gave up acting nearly 40 years later, did I ever imagine that I would be doing anything else than acting" comments Townsend. Jill adds "After 40 years I realized that I wanted to live the kind of life that people want to make into a film...not make a film about other people's lives."
Jill's education in acting began at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, from where she later graduated in 1963. She then attended The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England and graduated in 1965. In that same year, her employment as an actress came about when she earned a leading role in the Broadway play "Inadmissable Evidence". Some of Jill's other acting work from1965 to 1979 included:
Jill's role as the young and beautiful Dulcey Coopersmith in Cimarron Strip came in 1967 at the age of 21. "I really loved doing this series", claims Townsend. "Everyone who was involved was so kind and had such a great sense of humor. We were like one big family, always having fun. Stuart Whitman was especially kind to me throughout the series. Because I was so young at that time, he and Percy Herbert would screen many of the young gentleman who would ask me on a date. Stuart was very much a protector and Percy a loving caretaker."
Working with many of the veteran actors that guest starred on Cimarron Strip was a wonderful experience according to Jill. Some of the actors that she particularly enjoyed working with were Joseph Cotton, Broderick Crawford, and Steve Inhat. "I especially loved working with Joseph Cotton when we filmed the episode Whitey", states Townsend. "He was such a talented actor. Broderick Crawford was another great actor who was very much devoted to his work. He always arrived on the set earlier than anyone else, and I particularly remember how seriously he took his role of A-1 Joe Lehigh in the episode Blue Moon Train". The one guest star that Jill most vividly remembers was the late Steve Inhat, who portrayed Felix Gauge in the episode The Hunted. "He was the most intense actor that I had ever met" comments Townsend. "I had never seen an actor who was more serious and so into the portrayal of his character than Steve Inhat".
While working on Cimarron Strip had it's fun moments, it also had it's risky ones as well. "One day while on the set of Cimarron, guest star Leslie Nielson and I were sitting down rehearsing our lines for the episode - Beast That Walks Like A Man. While doing so, we suddenly heard a loud explosion from one of the guns that was used in the show. Now eventhough these guns were using blank cartridges there was still a projectile that would shoot out of the gun when it was discharged. As the gun went off one of the discharged projectiles came flying right above my head and through my hair. I really didn't know what happend at first, but I later found out. It was certainly one of those very close calls that I'll never forget."
When Cimarron Strip cancelled at the end of it's first season, it was a very hard time for all of the cast members. "It was a difficult thing for us all to accept because we all really loved doing this series very much. I was absolutely heart broken."
After Cimarron Strip Jill's talents were still very much in demand. She guest starred in various other television shows, such as The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., The Virginian, The Wild Wild West, Bonanza, The Name Of The Game, Hawk, Ironside, and Family Affair.
After 1979 Jill directed much of her energy toward other endeavors. She attended the London School of Journalism and later published articles in the financial section of Daily Mail (in the U.K.). From 1979 to 1981 Jill ran for political office in the U.K. and was involved in work related to environmental legislation. She was also Assistant to the Chairman for Windsor Cable Television and worked in marketing, public relations, and program development. From 1981 to 1989 Jill studied "Behavioral Aspects in International Relations" at The University of Surrey in the U.K. and Harvard Law School. Jill's work as a mediator, facilitator, negotiator, and teacher has taken her throughout the world to countries such as Switzerland, The Middle East, South East Asia, South Africa, and the South Atlantic. Her existing role as a Council Facilitator and Trainer in various schools and organizations keep her constantly busy.
Jill and her husband Robert Sorel happily live in a country setting in the Southern California area. She is the mother of one son, Luke who is 25.
Eventhough the days of Cimarron Strip are gone they are still something that Jill fondly remembers. "It was a magical time and one that I know I will never forget." Her role as the young and lovely Dulcey Coopersmith fit Cimarron Strip to total perfection. She was the portrait of beauty and innocence, caught in the middle of a ravaged, changing, violent frontier. In every episode, Dulcey captured the hearts of thousands of viewers everywhere. I believe today that she still is. All your fans say, " Thanks Jill for all the great memories!"