Departures of note

Leslie Parrish, born Marjorie Hellen, was an American actress, activist, environmentalist, writer, and producer. She began her career as a model under contract to NBC as 'Miss Color TV' before being signed by Twentieth Century Fox and later MGM. She gained wide attention in her first starring role as Daisy Mae in the 1959 film version of 'Li'l Abner,' where she adopted the stage name Leslie Parrish at the director's request.

She appeared in 'The Manchurian Candidate' (1962) as Laurence Harvey's on-screen fiancée, and starred opposite Kirk Douglas in 'For Love or Money' (1963) and Jerry Lewis in 'Three on a Couch' (1966). Her extensive television credits included guest roles on 'Star Trek,' 'Perry Mason,' 'The Wild Wild West,' 'Batman,' 'Mannix,' and 'The Big Valley.' She also served as associate producer on the film version of 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' (1973).

Beyond acting, Parrish became a passionate antiwar activist, founding the organization STOP (Speakers and Talent Organized for Peace) and joining the Jeannette Rankin Brigade. She campaigned for Tom Bradley, who became Los Angeles's first Black mayor in 1973, and helped create KVST-TV, an innovative viewer-sponsored public television station. Later in life she became a dedicated conservationist, founding the Spring Hill Wildlife Sanctuary on Orcas Island, Washington.