Rosalind Miles (actress)

Rosalind Miles (actress)

Rosalind Miles | |
---|---|
Born | Rosalind Beatrice Medlock[1] (1940-01-15)January 15, 1940 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
Residence | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Other names | Rosalind Miles Rosalind Miles–Davis |
Education | Terrell High School |
Occupation | Actress, model |
Years active | 1971–1982 |
Known for | Arna Asby – Shaft's Big Score! |
Spouse(s) | James W. Powell (m.1963;div.1966) Robert L. Miles (m.1968;div.1969) Todd A. Davis [2](m.1979; died 2013) |
Partner(s) | Jim Kelly (1973–1976) |
Rosalind Beatrice Medlock (born January 15, 1940), known professionally as Rosalind Miles is an American former film and television actress and model.[3] Miles is most known for her roles in film during the early to late 1970s. Miles appeared in mostly American blaxploitation films[4] such as; Shaft's Big Score! (1972), The Black Six (1973) and Friday Foster (1975).[5]
Rosalind Miles | |
---|---|
Born | Rosalind Beatrice Medlock[1] (1940-01-15)January 15, 1940 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
Residence | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Other names | Rosalind Miles Rosalind Miles–Davis |
Education | Terrell High School |
Occupation | Actress, model |
Years active | 1971–1982 |
Known for | Arna Asby – Shaft's Big Score! |
Spouse(s) | James W. Powell (m.1963;div.1966) Robert L. Miles (m.1968;div.1969) Todd A. Davis [2](m.1979; died 2013) |
Partner(s) | Jim Kelly (1973–1976) |
Life and career
Born Rosalind Beatrice Medlock in Fort Worth, Texas, Miles is the daughter of Roscoe and Johnnie Mae (née Chambers) Medlock, both teachers. Miles grew up an only child and became a fashion model for the John Robert Powers modeling agency in 1956. Miles attended Terrell High School, graduating in 1958. Miles moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue her career in acting. Miles worked as a waitress in a local restaurant when she was discovered by a talent scout. In 1971, Miles made her film debut in Russel Vincent's How's Your Love Life? as Julie. Miles had several television appearances before her most notable role. In 1972, Miles played Arna Asby, the girlfriend of Shaft in the action film Shaft's Big Score!.[6]After Shaft, Miles received a lead role as Erica in Al Adamson's 1974 crime film I Spit on Your Corpse (also known as Girls For Rent).[7][8] Miles had roles in such film as The Black Six (1973), The Manhandlers (1974).[9]
Miles appeared alongside Pam Grier as Cloris Boston, a fashion model, in 1975's blaxploitation film Friday Foster. In 1977, Miles auditioned for the role of Coretta Scott King for the NBC television mini-series based on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King, but the role was portrayed by Cicely Tyson.[10] Miles last acting role was in Ernest Tidyman's To Kill A Cop in 1978. Miles was a part of the production of Guys and Dolls with her husband Todd Davis in 1981. Miles retired from acting in 1982.
Personal life
Miles has been married three times. Her first marriage was to her high school sweetheart James W. Powell from August 28, 1963 to August 1966. From January 1968 until October 1969, Miles was married to Robert L. Miles and actor Todd Davis from March 1979 until his death in 2013. Miles dated actor and martial artist Jim Kelly from 1973 to 1976. Miles has no children.[11] She currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1971 | How's Your Love Life? | Julie | |
Here's Lucy | Stewardess/Waitress | Lucy Helps David Frost Go Night-Night 2 episodes; (Season 4, Episode 12) (Nov. 29, 1971) The Case of the Reckless Wheelchair Driver (Season 5, Episode 6) (Oct. 16, 1972) | |
1972 | Columbo | Nancy | Short Fuse 1 episode; (Season 1, Episode 6) (Jan. 19, 1972) |
Shaft's Big Score! | Arna Asby | ||
1973 | The Black Six | Ceal | |
1974 | I Spit on Your Corpse | Erica | |
The Manhandlers | Mo | ||
1975 | Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan | Rose Jackson | Television Movie |
The Turning Point of Jim Malloy | Bo-Peep | Television Movie | |
Friday Foster | Cloris Boston | ||
1976 | Starsky and Hutch | Dorothy Nedloe | Bounty Hunter (Season 1/Episode 22 – Apr. 21, 1976) |
Baretta | Big Mama | Can't Win for Losin' (Season 3/Episode 11 – Dec. 15, 1976) | |
1977 | Benny and Barney: Las Vegas Undercover | Alice | Television Movie |
1978 | To Kill A Cop | Ida | Television Movie |