Jean Marie Ingels

Jean Marie (Ingels) Clarke began her career as a model, becoming a New York cover girl and TV commercial spokeswoman. A flair for comedy won her a commercial with comedian Buddy Hackett and brought her to the attention of Screen Gems, MGM and 20th - all of which offered her contracts. While working in sitcoms she became a comedy sketch artist 'regular' on Truth or Consequences and with Johnny Carson in his Mighty Carson Art Players and also worked in Specials with Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Julie Andrews and Danny Kaye as well as films with Elvis and Jerry Lewis. While working in television she also won rave reviews in Louis John Carlino's ensemble play, "Telemachus Clay" and co-starred with John Milford in "Room Service", following this with a two-year stint in repertory, where she acted, directed, and began writing for both theatre and film. While being considered for staff work on both "Capitol" and "Days of Our Lives" she was offered a contract by Aaron Spelling and became writer/story editor on "Hotel", with a short stint on "Nightingales". With the cancellation of both shows she was slated for the staff of (Charlie's) "Angels 88", possibly the first show Aaron Spelling ever had rejected by a network - sending Jean back to long form, her first love, and also to the fine art she had neglected, showing her paintings and sculpture in the Laguna Festival of Arts and Orange County Art & Jazz. These were followed by two one-woman shows in Los Angeles as well as group exhibits throughout Southern California. In addition to the above, Jean is a produced playwright, been a journalist with two bylines, a restaurant critic for "Epicurean Rendezvous" and published award-winning poetry. Currently, Jean is a novelist with two books and a short-story collection to her credit, with a third novel in progress. (1/1/12)