Elizabeth Ward Gracen (born Elizabeth Grace Ward, April 3, 1961) is an American actress and beauty pageant contestant who won the title of Miss America in 1982.
Elizabeth Grace Ward was born on April 3, 1961, in Ozark, Arkansas, the daughter of Patricia Hampe, a nurse, and Jimmy Young Ward, a poultry worker. She was raised in Booneville, Arkansas. The family later moved to Russellville, Arkansas, where Ward dated University of Arkansas trainer Mike Walker and graduated from Russellville High School in 1979.[1] She was a junior accounting major at Arkansas Tech University at the time she entered the Miss America contest.[2] Instead of returning to Arkansas Tech, she used her Miss America scholarship money to study acting at HB Studios in New York City.
Career
Pageants and modeling
Gracen won the titles of Miss Arkansas in 1981 and Miss America in 1982. After her yearlong work as Miss America, she enrolled in acting classes then relocated to California to pursue a film and television career.
Gracen posed nude for Playboy magazine's May 1992 issue.[3]
Gracen, speaking about writing at TusCon 43 in Tucson, Arizona (2016)
In December 1999,[4] Gracen filed for bankruptcy protection.[4] After few television guest roles, and a supporting role in the made-for-television movie Interceptor Force 2, she took a long leave of absence from acting, beginning in 2002. Gracen began doing voiceover work for Blue Hours Productions, which has revived the classic radio anthology Suspense, which airs on Sirius XM. In 2012, Gracen did a character voice-over in the Malaysian animated science fiction film War of the Worlds: Goliath.
Directing, producing, and writing
In 2012, Gracen formed Flapper Films.[5] In 2014, she starred in Coherence, a sci-fi indie thriller.[6] In January 2016, Gracen established Flapper Press and self-published Shalilly, a young adult fantasy novel.[7]
Gracen made her directorial debut with a documentaryshort, "The Damn Deal," about three young drag queens from Arkansas who compete in female impersonator beauty pageants.
Personal life
Marriages and family
Gracen married Jon Birmingham in 1982, and they divorced in 1984.[citation needed]
In 1989, while filming Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat, she met actor Brendan Hughes, and they married soon after.[8] They divorced in 1994.
Gracen married Adam Murphy, and they have a daughter.[citation needed]
In 1992, rumors swirled that Gracen had had an affair with Clinton.[11] At first, Gracen dismissed this claim (as requested by Clinton's campaign manager Mickey Kantor);[9] however, in spring 1998 Gracen recanted her six-year-old denial and stated she had a one-night stand with Clinton in 1983.[4] After her claim, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, who was investigating Clinton in the Paula Jones lawsuit, issued a subpoena to have her testify to her claim in court.[12] However, Gracen eluded the subpoena[12] and was at one point able to avoid it because Highlander: The Raven was being filmed outside of the US.[4]Paula Jones's legal team was also unable to track down Gracen because she had made unscheduled trips to Las Vegas and the Caribbean.[12]
^ abcd. Comedy on Tap. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009.
^Palma, Claudia (August 13, 2015). "Lineage Performing Arts Center to screen documentary highlighting dancing with Parkinson's classes". The Pasadena Star-News. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
^Barnard, Linda (September 18, 2016). "Coherence: Comet shakes things up in thriller: review". thestar.com. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
^Keegan, Simon (April 13, 2016). "Highlander star and Miss America Elizabeth Gracen launches new career as children's book author". mirror.co.uk. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
^"Brendan Hughes". IMDb. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
^Kennedy, Helen (February 8, 2000). "She hitched her star to a wagon for the love of Bill, Hillary put her goals on hold and move to Ark. stick". New York Daily News.[permanent dead link]
^. January 14, 1999. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009.
^ abc"Big Year for the Bad News Bearers". The Washington Post. December 24, 1998.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elizabeth Gracen.
elizabeth, gracen, elizabeth, ward, gracen, born, elizabeth, grace, ward, april, 1961, american, actress, beauty, pageant, contestant, title, miss, america, 1982, gracen, 2016bornelizabeth, grace, ward, 1961, april, 1961, ozark, arkansas, alma, materhb, studio. Elizabeth Ward Gracen born Elizabeth Grace Ward April 3 1961 is an American actress and beauty pageant contestant who won the title of Miss America in 1982 Elizabeth GracenGracen in 2016BornElizabeth Grace Ward 1961 04 03 April 3 1961 age 62 Ozark Arkansas U S Alma materHB StudiosOccupationActressTitleMiss Arkansas 1981Miss America 1982PredecessorSusan PowellSuccessorDebra MaffettSpouse s Jon Birmingham m 1982 div 1984 wbr Brendan Hughes m 1989 div 1994 wbr Adam Murphy present Children1Websitewww wbr flapperfilms wbr com Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 2 1 Pageants and modeling 2 2 Acting 2 3 Directing producing and writing 3 Personal life 3 1 Marriages and family 3 2 Affair with Bill Clinton 4 Filmography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education EditElizabeth Grace Ward was born on April 3 1961 in Ozark Arkansas the daughter of Patricia Hampe a nurse and Jimmy Young Ward a poultry worker She was raised in Booneville Arkansas The family later moved to Russellville Arkansas where Ward dated University of Arkansas trainer Mike Walker and graduated from Russellville High School in 1979 1 She was a junior accounting major at Arkansas Tech University at the time she entered the Miss America contest 2 Instead of returning to Arkansas Tech she used her Miss America scholarship money to study acting at HB Studios in New York City Career EditPageants and modeling Edit Gracen won the titles of Miss Arkansas in 1981 and Miss America in 1982 After her yearlong work as Miss America she enrolled in acting classes then relocated to California to pursue a film and television career Gracen posed nude for Playboy magazine s May 1992 issue 3 Acting Edit Gracen made her professional feature film debut in Three For The Road with Charlie Sheen Her film credits also include a featured role in Marked for Death opposite Steven Seagal Pass The Ammo with Tim Curry and the CBS feature 83 Hours Till Dawn with Peter Strauss and Robert Urich Gracen starred in Lower Level and Discretion Assured with Michael York On television Gracen has appeared in Shelley Duvall s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Sidney Sheldon s The Sands of Time and The Death of the Incredible Hulk She also appeared with a starring role in the series Extreme for NBC and the syndicated series Renegade and Queen of Swords Gracen s best known acting role has been as the recurring character Amanda a 1 200 year old immortal in the series Highlander The Series and its spin off series Highlander The Raven Gracen speaking about writing at TusCon 43 in Tucson Arizona 2016 In December 1999 4 Gracen filed for bankruptcy protection 4 After few television guest roles and a supporting role in the made for television movie Interceptor Force 2 she took a long leave of absence from acting beginning in 2002 Gracen began doing voiceover work for Blue Hours Productions which has revived the classic radio anthology Suspense which airs on Sirius XM In 2012 Gracen did a character voice over in the Malaysian animated science fiction film War of the Worlds Goliath Directing producing and writing Edit In 2012 Gracen formed Flapper Films 5 In 2014 she starred in Coherence a sci fi indie thriller 6 In January 2016 Gracen established Flapper Press and self published Shalilly a young adult fantasy novel 7 Gracen made her directorial debut with a documentary short The Damn Deal about three young drag queens from Arkansas who compete in female impersonator beauty pageants Personal life EditMarriages and family Edit Gracen married Jon Birmingham in 1982 and they divorced in 1984 citation needed In 1989 while filming Sundown The Vampire in Retreat she met actor Brendan Hughes and they married soon after 8 They divorced in 1994 Gracen married Adam Murphy and they have a daughter citation needed Affair with Bill Clinton Edit According to Gracen some time in 1983 she had a one night stand with future President Bill Clinton when he was Governor of Arkansas 9 10 She was married at the time 9 as was he In 1992 rumors swirled that Gracen had had an affair with Clinton 11 At first Gracen dismissed this claim as requested by Clinton s campaign manager Mickey Kantor 9 however in spring 1998 Gracen recanted her six year old denial and stated she had a one night stand with Clinton in 1983 4 After her claim Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr who was investigating Clinton in the Paula Jones lawsuit issued a subpoena to have her testify to her claim in court 12 However Gracen eluded the subpoena 12 and was at one point able to avoid it because Highlander The Raven was being filmed outside of the US 4 Paula Jones s legal team was also unable to track down Gracen because she had made unscheduled trips to Las Vegas and the Caribbean 12 Filmography EditThree for the Road 1987 Nadine Pass the Ammo 1988 Christie Lynn The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 1989 Lisa 1989 Mary The Death of the Incredible Hulk 1990 Jasmin Marked for Death 1990 Melissa The Flash 1990 TV Series 1 episode Celia Wayne 83 Hours Til Dawn 1990 Maria Ranfield Sundown The Vampire in Retreat 1991 Alice Lower Level 1992 Hillary The Sands of Time 1992 Final Mission 1993 Caitlin Cole Time Trax episode 7 1993 Sydney Discretion Assured 1993 Miranda Highlander The Series 1992 1998 Amanda Murder She Wrote 1994 Michelle Scarlotti The Expert 1995 Liz Pierce Extreme 1995 Callie Manners Kounterfeit 1996 Bridgette Highlander The Raven 1998 1999 Amanda Queen of Swords Counterfeit Queen 2000 Carlotta Charmed Bite Me 2002 Vampire Queen Interceptor Force 2 2002 Adriana Sikes War of the Worlds Goliath 2012 Lt Jennifer Carter voice Coherence 2013 BethReferences Edit Elizabeth Ward Gracen 1961 Encyclopedia of Arkansas Archived from the original on March 14 2012 Retrieved January 11 2012 Thomas DeBlack A Century Forward The Centennial History of Arkansas Tech University Walsworth Publishing Company 2016 Unknown Playboy May 1992 a b c d All the President s Women Elizabeth Ward Gracen Comedy on Tap Archived from the original on February 13 2009 Palma Claudia August 13 2015 Lineage Performing Arts Center to screen documentary highlighting dancing with Parkinson s classes The Pasadena Star News Retrieved March 21 2016 Barnard Linda September 18 2016 Coherence Comet shakes things up in thriller review thestar com Retrieved July 14 2016 Keegan Simon April 13 2016 Highlander star and Miss America Elizabeth Gracen launches new career as children s book author mirror co uk Retrieved July 14 2016 Brendan Hughes IMDb Retrieved March 13 2021 a b c Beauty queen apologises for tryst Gainesville Sun Associated Press April 26 1998 Retrieved March 15 2017 permanent dead link Kennedy Helen February 8 2000 She hitched her star to a wagon for the love of Bill Hillary put her goals on hold and move to Ark stick New York Daily News permanent dead link Elizabeth Gracen the Clinton reign of terror January 14 1999 Archived from the original on February 4 2009 a b c Big Year for the Bad News Bearers The Washington Post December 24 1998 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elizabeth Gracen Elizabeth Gracen at IMDbAwards and achievementsPreceded bySusan Powell Miss America1982 Succeeded byDebra MaffettPreceded byLencola Sullivan Miss Arkansas1981 Succeeded byMicki PetrusPreceded byBobbie Candler National Sweetheart1980 Succeeded byGloria Gilbert Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elizabeth Gracen amp oldid 1138222649, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
