Biography

Perry Sheehan Adair was born as Margaret Sheehan in Brooklyn, New York on August 17, 1921. After graduating from St. Brendan's High School, she attended a business college, then started on her professional career as a John Robert Powers model in New York City. She moved to Hollywood in 1949.

Perry had several small acting roles at RKO, Columbia and Paramount Pictures before she was signed to a seven-year contract with MGM in 1950. Perry was featured in over 50 films as a supporting cast member, some of which are listed in her IMDb credits. She was an official pin-up girl for the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. In 1955, she worked as a model for Max Factor cosmetics.

On June 3, 1957, Perry moved to Las Vegas when she married J. Carlton Adair who was a co-owner of the Las Vegas Dunes Hotel and Casino. They had two daughters, Susan and Valerie.

At the Dunes, she produced, wrote and starred in "Noon at the Dunes," a live talk show that was broadcast every day from the Dunes Hotel on a local network. The show later became the Perry Sheehan Adair show and aired on Channel 8. Perry was very involved with volunteer work, namely with Screen Actors Guild activities. She served as President of the Screen Actors Guild (Nevada Branch) and as a member of the SAG National Board of Directors. She was also active in numerous charitable organizations. She held positions as the director of Opportunity Village, as director of St. Jude's Women's Auxiliary, as a charter member and officer of the Assistance League of Las Vegas, and as President of St. Anne's Hospital Auxiliary in Los Angeles.

Between raising two daughters and her philanthropic endeavors, Perry also continued to work as an actress. Her first appearance on screen was in 1951 in the short One Wild Night (1951). While some of her subsequent roles were uncredited, when she worked, she worked with great stars. In 1952, she played a nurse in "Your For Me" starring Peter Lawford, Jane Greer, and Gig Young. Also in 1952, she appeared as a secretary in Washington Story (1952) starring Van Johnson and Patricia Neal.

In 1953, Perry received sixth billing as Lieutenant Laurence in "Battle Circus" starring Humphrey Bogart, June Allyson, and Keenan Wynn. There were seven more uncredited roles between 1953 and 1954. In 1954, she played a bridesmaid in "The Long, Long Trailer" directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. In 1979, Perry played Mrs Phillips in "The Electric Horseman" starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. She appeared in all three episodes of the miniseries "Lucky Chances" in 1990 as the court clerk. Her last on-screen appearance was as Mrs. Bindle in "The Entertainers" (1991) starring Bob Newhart.

Her husband, J. Carlton Adair died on September 6, 1993 and Perry continued to live in Las Vegas until her death at age 95 on March 6, 2017. Surviving her were her two daughters Susan and Valerie, and two sisters, Emily Arena and Esther Tansey.
- IMDb mini biography by: awordlover