Joey Heatherton
Joey Heatherton (born September 14, 1944) is an American actress, singer, and dancer known for her variety show performances, USO tours, and presence on 1960s–70s television. Learn about her early life, rise to fame, challenges, and legacy.
Introduction
Davenie Johanna “Joey” Heatherton is an American entertainer whose work in acting, dancing, and singing made her a popular face in the 1960s and 1970s. While she is best remembered as a frequent variety show personality and a sex symbol of her era, her career also spanned Broadway, television dramas, films, and live tours supporting U.S. troops.
Her life story reflects both the glamour and volatility of mid-20th-century entertainment, with peaks of acclaim, personal challenges, and later periods of relative quiet.
Early Life and Family
Joey Heatherton was born Davenie Johanna Heatherton on September 14, 1944 in Rockville Centre, New York (on Long Island). Her nickname “Joey” was derived from a blending of her names Davenie and Johanna.
She grew up in a performing family: her father, Ray Heatherton, was a Broadway performer and a television pioneer (notably the children’s TV show The Merry Mailman). Her mother, also named Davenie, had a background in dance. Joey has an older brother, Dick Heatherton (born in 1943), who later worked as a disc jockey.
From age six, Joey began training in ballet at the Dixon McAfee School of Dance. She went on to study under George Balanchine, and later studied modern jazz dance, voice, and dramatics. For schooling, she attended Saint Agnes Academy, a Catholic grade and high school.
Because of her early performing environment and training, she was primed for show business from a young age.
Career and Achievements
Broadway and Television Beginnings
As a teenager, Heatherton began performing professionally. Around 1959 (age ~15), she joined as a member of the ensemble and understudy in the original Broadway production of The Sound of Music. In the same era, she made TV appearances on The Perry Como Show (later Kraft Music Hall), playing a vivacious teen.
Her first dramatic TV role came in 1960 when she appeared in an episode of Route 66 as a rich, spoiled teen. In her early career she often portrayed teenage or youthful characters in episodic TV series, e.g. Mr. Novak, The Virginian, I Spy, The Nurses, It Takes a Thief.
Rise in Variety Shows & USO Tours
During the mid-1960s, Heatherton’s appeal grew significantly through her sensual dancing performances on television variety shows. Some viewers found her dancing provocative; critics sometimes described it as “sleazy eroticism.” In January 1965, she appeared on the premiere episode of Hullabaloo, a popular teen music/dance show, and performed a song entitled “Hullabaloo.” She also on The Tonight Show, for example instructing Johnny Carson in dancing “The Frug.”
Another important platform was The Dean Martin Show. She made numerous appearances on that show beginning in its first season (1965) and co-hosted Dean Martin Presents the Golddiggers (1968) along with Frank Sinatra Jr.
From 1965 into the 1970s, Heatherton toured extensively with Bob Hope’s USO troupe, entertaining U.S. military personnel overseas. Her performances were included in televised Hope specials (e.g. Christmas shows).
Film & Music
Heatherton also appeared in films. Among her early film credits:
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Twilight of Honor (1963) — she played Laura Mae Brown in what is regarded as an early role.
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Where Love Has Gone (1964) — she played Danielle Valerie Miller in the adaptation of the Harold Robbins novel.
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My Blood Runs Cold (1965) — she landed a lead role opposite Troy Donahue.
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Bluebeard (1972) — a thriller where she performed her only onscreen nude scene.
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The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington (1977) — she played Xaviera Hollander.
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Cry-Baby (1990) — she made a return to the screen in John Waters’ musical teen comedy.
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Reflections of Evil (2002) — in archival footage.
In 1972, Heatherton released The Joey Heatherton Album under MGM Records. The album peaked at #154 on the Billboard 200, and included singles such as “Gone” (which reached #24 on the Hot 100) and “I’m Sorry” (#87).
Later Years & Struggles
By the 1970s, Heatherton’s star had dimmed. She did television commercials (e.g. for RC Cola, Serta mattresses) and live performance in venues like Las Vegas. In 1975, she and her father starred in Joey & Dad, a short-lived CBS variety show.
Her personal life encountered difficulties:
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In 1969, Heatherton married Lance Rentzel, a Dallas Cowboys wide receiver. However, in November 1970, Rentzel was arrested for exposing himself to a 10-year-old girl. He pleaded guilty, and Heatherton filed for divorce in September 1971 (finalized in 1972).
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In July 1985, she was arrested for interfering with a government agent and disturbing the peace in Manhattan; she was acquitted in 1986.
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Also in 1986, she was arrested for theft of services (refusing to pay a hotel bill). She pled not guilty.
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Later that year, she was arrested in Rockland County, NY, after allegedly stabbing her former boyfriend/manager with a steak knife during a dispute and was also found in possession of less than a gram of cocaine. The court later found the search unconstitutional and dropped the drug charges.
Her later years have been relatively private; she is said to reside in Rockville Centre, leading a quieter life and making occasional appearances in media retrospectives.
Style, Persona & Influence
Joey Heatherton’s public persona blended innocence and sensuality — often described as a “sex symbol” of the 1960s–70s. Her dancing style, in particular, emphasized physical expression, charm, and charisma, but it also generated controversy in an era of shifting social norms.
Her appeal lay in versatility: she could dance, act, sing, host, and perform live, which allowed her to cross between Broadway, television variety, film, and USO stages. Her early formal training in ballet and modern jazz grounded her performance technique.
She left a mark on the variety show era of American television — a time when performers were expected to be multitalented. Her presence on Dean Martin Show, Hullabaloo, and late-night specials is often recalled in histories of that era.
Lessons & Reflections
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Early training builds versatility
Heatherton’s foundation in ballet, voice, and drama equipped her for multiple performance avenues — not just acting. -
Fame can be fleeting
Her career shows how quickly public taste and industry patterns can shift, especially in entertainment climates that prize youth and novelty. -
Public image carries weight
Her marriage crisis and legal troubles in later years impacted her professional trajectory. The personal and public often interconnect for performers. -
Legacy through memory
Though she withdrew from mainstream spotlight, Heatherton remains a figure of nostalgia—her performances evoke a specific era in American pop culture.
Conclusion
Joey Heatherton’s life is a portrait of mid-century American show business — radiant early success, cross-platform appeal, resilience, and eventual retreat from the limelight. She remains remembered for her dancing, her television presence, and her contributions to the variety show era.
If you'd like, I can also prepare a detailed filmography and TV appearances timeline, or dive deeper into her music tracks and USO performances. Which would you prefer?