Leslie Parrish, ‘Li’l Abner’ and ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ Actress, Dies at 90

Leslie Parrish, the actress known for starring in the 1959 musical film “Li’l Abner” and appearing in “The Manchurian Candidate,” has died at 90.

Parrish lived in Washington state and died late last year, according to Erica Berdan, a daughter of her second husband, writer Richard Bach.Hollywood Reporter was first to report.

Born Marjorie Hellen on March 18, 1935, in Melrose, Massachusetts, Parrish moved to New York in 1953 and began working as a model. She signed with 20th Century Fox in 1954 and appeared in films including “Daddy Long Legs” and “The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing.”

She became known as Leslie Parrish when she played Daisy Mae in the 1959 film “Li’l Abner,” opposite Peter Palmer. She later appeared in films such as “Portrait of a Mobster,” “For Love or Money,” “Three on a Couch” and “Sex and the Single Girl.”

One of her most memorable roles came in John Frankenheimer’s 1962 thriller “The Manchurian Candidate.” She played Jocelyn Jordan, whose Queen of Diamonds costume becomes a key part of the film’s plot. Parrish said the role was her favorite.

On television, she appeared in many popular shows. In 1967, she played Carolyn Palamas in “Star Trek” and ice skater and villain Glacia Glaze in “Batman.”

Parrish later became deeply involved in the peace movement and political activism. She helped organize antiwar events, raised money for peace efforts and participated in protests, including demonstrations at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

In 1981, she married Richard Bach, author of “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.” She helped him regain the copyrights to his books after his bankruptcy and later worked as an associate producer on the film adaptation of “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.” The couple divorced in 1999.

Parrish also devoted significant effort to conservation. She and Bach helped protect 168 acres of forest and wildlife habitat on Washington’s Orcas Island through the Spring Hill Wildlife Sanctuary.

Reflecting on the conservation work, Parrish once said it was the accomplishment she was most proud of and one that would outlast her.