Betty Jane Kathleen Crowley, born on December 26, 1931, was a talented American actress who initially gained recognition as Miss New Jersey in 1949 and a contestant in the same year's Miss America pageant, where she finished sixth.
Following her pageant appearances, Crowley pursued a career in acting, specializing in playing seductive roles in television series and movies. She is perhaps best known for her recurring appearances in the popular TV series Maverick, opposite James Garner, Jack Kelly, and Roger Moore, in which she made a series record of eight episodes.
Throughout her career, Crowley made a total of 81 television appearances in various series and appeared in 20 movies between 1951 and 1970. Her filmography includes a mix of low-budget science fiction and horror movies, as well as appearances in many narrative television series produced during the late 1950s and 1960s.
Some of the notable television series she appeared in include Bourbon Street Beat, Surfside 6, Hawaiian Eye, 77 Sunset Strip, Bat Masterson, Bonanza, Branded, My Three Sons, Donna Reed, Perry Mason, Checkmate, Bronco, Route 66, Thriller, Batman, Disneyland, Family Affair, Rawhide, and The Lone Ranger.
Crowley was often mistaken for her acting contemporary Pat Crowley, who was also a frequent guest leading lady on various television series. However, the two actresses were not related and were never cast in the same episode.
Interestingly, Crowley's life and career were referenced in Philip Roth's novel American Pastoral, in which the protagonist marries Miss New Jersey 1949, Dawn Dwyer, who bears little resemblance to Crowley's actual life and career.
