Lois Chiles: Difference between revisions

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| death_place =
| death_place =
| occupation  = Actress, model
| occupation  = Actress, model
| yearsactive = 1972–2006
| yearsactive = 1972–2006, 2024–present
| spouse      = {{marriage|[[Richard Gilder]]|2005|May 12, 2020|end=died}}
| spouse      = {{marriage|[[Richard Gilder]]|2005|May 12, 2020|end=died}}
| relatives  = [[Eddie Chiles]] (uncle)
| relatives  = [[Eddie Chiles]] (uncle)
}}
}}


'''Lois Cleveland Chiles''' (born April 15, 1947)<ref name=Bio>[http://entertainment.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=249797&mp=b Profile], entertainment.msn.com; accessed April 9, 2016. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040918140544/http://entertainment.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?mp=b&c=249797 |date=September 18, 2004 }}</ref> is an American actress and former fashion model known for her role as [[Holly Goodhead]] in the [[James Bond (film series)|James Bond]] film ''[[Moonraker (film)|Moonraker]]'' (1979), and as a [[Hit and run (vehicular)|hit-and-run]] driver in ''[[Creepshow 2]]'' (1987).
'''Lois Cleveland Chiles''' (born April 15, 1947)<ref name=Bio>[http://entertainment.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=249797&mp=b Profile], entertainment.msn.com; accessed April 9, 2016. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040918140544/http://entertainment.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?mp=b&c=249797 |date=September 18, 2004 }}</ref> is an American actress and former fashion model known for her role as [[Holly Goodhead]] in the [[James Bond (film series)|James Bond]] film ''[[Moonraker (film)|Moonraker]]'' (1979), and as a [[Hit and run (vehicular)|hit-and-run]] driver in ''[[Creepshow 2]]'' (1987). Other screen credits include ''[[The Way We Were]]'' (1973), ''[[The Great Gatsby (1974 film)|The Great Gatsby]]'' (1974), ''[[Death on the Nile (1978 film)|Death on the Nile]]'' (1978), ''[[Broadcast News (film)|Broadcast News]]'' (1987), and the television role of Holly Harwood on ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'' (1982–1983).


Other screen credits include ''[[The Way We Were]]'' (1973), ''[[The Great Gatsby (1974 film)|The Great Gatsby]]'' (1974), ''[[Death on the Nile (1978 film)|Death on the Nile]]'' (1978), ''[[Broadcast News (film)|Broadcast News]]'' (1987), and the television role of Holly Harwood on ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'' (1982–1983).
==Early and personal life==
Chiles was born in [[Houston]], the daughter of Marion Clay Chiles and Barbara Wayne Kirkland Chiles. Her paternal uncle was oil tycoon and [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] owner [[Eddie Chiles]].<ref name="superiorpicsbio">{{cite web |url=http://www.superiorpics.com/lois_chiles/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917162746/http://www.superiorpics.com/lois_chiles/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 17, 2012 |title=Lois Chiles: biography |website=SuperiorPics.com }}</ref><ref>[https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800049442/bio Profile], Yahoo.com; accessed April 9, 2016. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522115109/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800049442/bio |date=May 22, 2011 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/if_you_dont_have_an_oil_well_get_one_eddie_chiles_of_western_company "If you don't have an oil well, get one!"], barrypopik.com; accessed April 9, 2016.</ref> She had two brothers: Clay Kirkland Chiles (who died in 1979),{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}} and William Edmonds Chiles, president and CEO of [[Bristow Helicopters|Bristow Group, Inc]]. She was raised in [[Alice, Texas]].
 
Chiles studied at the [[University of Texas at Austin]] and the former [[Finch College]] in New York City, where she was discovered by a ''[[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]]'' editor looking for a young woman to feature on the cover of the magazine's annual college issue.<ref name=Bio/> She landed the job and soon had contracts with [[Wilhelmina Models]] in New York and [[Elite Models]] in Paris. Later, she studied acting under [[Roy London]]<ref name=MFAH/> and [[Sandy Meisner]], among many others.<ref>Lois Chiles goes from Texas to Hollywood and back again, Houston Chronicle [https://www.chron.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/lois-chiles-goes-from-texas-to-hollywood-and-back-2087249.php]</ref> In her New York years, she befriended [[Tennessee Williams]], [[Andy Warhol]], [[Maureen Stapleton]], and models Patty Hanson and [[Grace Jones]].<ref>Lois Chiles goes from Texas to Hollywood and back again, Houston Chronicle [https://www.chron.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/lois-chiles-goes-from-texas-to-hollywood-and-back-2087249.php]</ref>


==Early and personal life==
Chiles moved from New York to Los Angeles around 1978 when she felt she no longer wanted to pursue modeling and focus on acting only.  It was also around this time that she lost her younger brother to cancer. Clay Chiles was 25 when he died in 1978 at M.D. Anderson of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, which affected her deeply.<ref>Lois Chiles goes from Texas to Hollywood and back again, Houston Chronicle [https://www.chron.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/lois-chiles-goes-from-texas-to-hollywood-and-back-2087249.php]</ref>
Chiles was born in [[Houston]], the daughter of Marion Clay Chiles and Barbara Wayne Kirkland Chiles. Her paternal uncle was oil tycoon and [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] owner [[Eddie Chiles]].<ref name="superiorpicsbio">{{cite web |url=http://www.superiorpics.com/lois_chiles/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917162746/http://www.superiorpics.com/lois_chiles/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 17, 2012 |title=Lois Chiles: biography |website=SuperiorPics.com }}</ref><ref>[https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800049442/bio Profile], Yahoo.com; accessed April 9, 2016. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522115109/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800049442/bio |date=May 22, 2011 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/if_you_dont_have_an_oil_well_get_one_eddie_chiles_of_western_company "If you don't have an oil well, get one!"], barrypopik.com; accessed April 9, 2016.</ref> She had two brothers: Clay Kirkland Chiles (died 1979),{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}} and William Edmonds Chiles, president and CEO of [[Bristow Helicopters|Bristow Group, Inc]]. She was raised in [[Alice, Texas]].


Chiles studied at the [[University of Texas at Austin]] and the former [[Finch College]] in New York City, where she was discovered by a ''[[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]]'' editor looking for a young woman to feature on the cover of the magazine's annual college issue.<ref name=Bio/> She landed the job and soon had contracts with [[Wilhelmina Models]] in New York and [[Elite Models]] in Paris. Later, she studied acting under [[Roy London]].<ref name=MFAH/> She dated [[Don Henley]] but the relationship ended, and in 2005, she married money manager [[Richard Gilder]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Lattman|first=Peter|title=Lois Chiles Talks About Being a Bond Girl|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/07/lois-chiles-talks-about-being-a-bond-girl/|newspaper=New York Times|date=November 7, 2012|access-date=April 9, 2016}}</ref> They are both honorary co-chairs of [[Northfield Mount Hermon School|Northfield Mount Hermon]], a school in Massachusetts. Gilder donated money to the school and they named the Chiles Theater after her.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nmhschool.org/news/richard-gilder-%E2%80%9950-gives-5-million-financial-aid |title=Richard Gilder '50 Gives $5 Million for Financial Aid &#124; Northfield Mount Hermon |access-date=September 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914220509/https://www.nmhschool.org/news/richard-gilder-%E2%80%9950-gives-5-million-financial-aid |archive-date=September 14, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Gilder died in 2020.<ref name="roberts2020-05-14">{{cite news |title=Richard Gilder, Donor to Parks, Museum and History, Dies at 87 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/14/nyregion/richard-gilder-dead.html |first=Sam |last=Roberts |date=May 14, 2020 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
She dated [[Don Henley]] but the relationship ended, and later for a time, dated [[William S. Paley]].<ref>Lois Chiles goes from Texas to Hollywood and back again, Houston Chronicle [https://www.chron.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/lois-chiles-goes-from-texas-to-hollywood-and-back-2087249.php]</ref> In 2005, she married money manager [[Richard Gilder]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Lattman|first=Peter|title=Lois Chiles Talks About Being a Bond Girl|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/07/lois-chiles-talks-about-being-a-bond-girl/|newspaper=New York Times|date=November 7, 2012|access-date=April 9, 2016}}</ref> They were both honorary co-chairs of [[Northfield Mount Hermon School|Northfield Mount Hermon]], a school in Massachusetts. Gilder donated money to the school and they named the Chiles Theater after her.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nmhschool.org/news/richard-gilder-%E2%80%9950-gives-5-million-financial-aid |title=Richard Gilder '50 Gives $5 Million for Financial Aid &#124; Northfield Mount Hermon |access-date=September 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914220509/https://www.nmhschool.org/news/richard-gilder-%E2%80%9950-gives-5-million-financial-aid |archive-date=September 14, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Gilder died in 2020.<ref name="roberts2020-05-14">{{cite news |title=Richard Gilder, Donor to Parks, Museum and History, Dies at 87 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/14/nyregion/richard-gilder-dead.html |first=Sam |last=Roberts |date=May 14, 2020 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Chiles enjoyed a successful modeling career in the early 1970s. After her role in the independent 1972 blaxploitation film ''[[Together for Days]]'' opposite [[Clifton Davis]], Chiles appeared in the successful 1973 studio release ''[[The Way We Were]]'', as the college girlfriend of [[Robert Redford]]. She was then cast as Jordan Baker in ''[[The Great Gatsby (1974 film)|The Great Gatsby]]'' (1974) alongside [[Mia Farrow]] and, once again, Robert Redford. She again shared the screen with Farrow in the [[Agatha Christie]] adaptation ''[[Death on the Nile (1978 film)|Death on the Nile]]'' (1978).
Chiles enjoyed a successful modeling career in the early 1970s. After her role in the` 1972 blaxploitation film ''[[Together for Days]]'' opposite [[Clifton Davis]], Chiles appeared in supporting roles in some of the biggest films of the 1970s.  She played the college girlfriend of [[Robert Redford]] in the successful 1973 studio release ''[[The Way We Were]]''. She was then cast as Jordan Baker in ''[[The Great Gatsby (1974 film)|The Great Gatsby]]'' (1974) alongside [[Mia Farrow]] and, once again, Redford. She again shared the screen with Farrow in the [[Agatha Christie]] adaptation ''[[Death on the Nile (1978 film)|Death on the Nile]]'' (1978). She also appeared in a small but key role in the thriller ''[[Coma (1978 film)|Coma]]'' (1978).


As [[NASA]] [[astronaut]], scientist, and [[Bond girl]] Dr. [[Holly Goodhead]], Chiles appeared opposite [[Roger Moore]] in ''[[Moonraker (film)|Moonraker]]'' (1979).
In her most famous role as [[NASA]] [[astronaut]], scientist, and [[Bond girl]] Dr. [[Holly Goodhead]], Chiles appeared opposite [[Roger Moore]] in ''[[Moonraker (film)|Moonraker]]'' (1979). Chiles had initially been approached to star in the previous Bond film ''[[The Spy Who Loved Me (film)|The Spy Who Loved Me]]'', but she declined the role because she was taking a break from acting at the time.<ref name=Bio/>


Chiles had initially been approached to star in the previous Bond film ''[[The Spy Who Loved Me (film)|The Spy Who Loved Me]]'', but she declined the role as she was taking a break from acting at the time.<ref name=Bio/> She also appeared in a small role in the [[Thriller film|thriller]] ''[[Coma (1978 film)|Coma]]'' (1978), one of the many films in which she played a murder victim.<ref>[http://www.cinemorgue.com/loischiles.html Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923203600/http://www.cinemorgue.com/loischiles.html |date=September 23, 2015 }}, Cinemorgue.com; accessed April 9, 2016.</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=October 2018}}
She appeared in the music video for the [[Tony Powers]] song ''Odyssey'' in 1982.


She appeared in the music video for the [[Tony Powers]] song ''Odyssey'' in 1982.
Chiles lost her youngest brother to [[non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]] in 1978, which contributed to her decision to take a three-year hiatus from acting. The time away took a toll on her film career, and she struggled to find roles of the caliber she previously enjoyed.  Still, she appeared as a season-long guest star in the 1982–1983 season of television's ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'', playing independent oil heiress Holly Harwood who becomes entangled with [[Bobby Ewing|Bobby]] and [[J.R. Ewing]].  Her film roles were smaller, though film critic [[Pauline Kael]] gave her good notices for her performances in [[Alan Alda]]'s ''[[Sweet Liberty]]'' (1986) and her portrayal of reporter Jennifer Mack in [[James L. Brooks]]' ''[[Broadcast News (film)|Broadcast News]]'' (1987) was also well received, as was her turn in [[George A. Romero]]'s horror flick ''[[Creepshow 2]]'' in 1987, as a hit-and-run driver.<ref>[http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?r=1&ean=13131141993&pwb=2&z=y&afsrc=1 ''Creepshow 2'' review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213170629/http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?r=1&ean=13131141993&pwb=2&z=y&afsrc=1 |date=February 13, 2009 }}, barnesandnoble.com; accessed April 9, 2016.</ref> In 1989, she appeared uncredited in a cameo as the estranged mother of [[Ione Skye]]'s character in ''[[Say Anything...]]'' (1989).{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}


Chiles lost her youngest brother to [[non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]] in 1979, which contributed to her decision to take a three-year hiatus from acting. The time away took a toll on her film career, and she struggled to find roles of the caliber she previously enjoyed, although film critic [[Pauline Kael]] gave her good notices for her performances in [[Alan Alda]]'s ''[[Sweet Liberty]]'' (1986).{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} Her portrayal of reporter Jennifer Mack in [[James L. Brooks]]' ''[[Broadcast News (film)|Broadcast News]]'' (1987) was also well received, as was her turn in [[George A. Romero]]'s horror flick ''[[Creepshow 2]]'' in 1987, as a hit-and-run driver.<ref>[http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?r=1&ean=13131141993&pwb=2&z=y&afsrc=1 ''Creepshow 2'' review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213170629/http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?r=1&ean=13131141993&pwb=2&z=y&afsrc=1 |date=February 13, 2009 }}, barnesandnoble.com; accessed April 9, 2016.</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=October 2018}} In 1989, she appeared uncredited in a short but effective cameo as the  estranged mother of [[Ione Skye]]'s character in ''[[Say Anything...]]'' (1989).{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
In 1985, she appeared as "Maggie" in ''[[Cat on a Hot Tin Roof]]'' in Los Angeles opposite [[Terence Knox]] and directed by [[Jose Ferrer]]. She stated that it was a major personal triumph to play the demanding role for her as she was not stage-trained.<ref>Lois Chiles goes from Texas to Hollywood and back again, Houston Chronicle [https://www.chron.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/lois-chiles-goes-from-texas-to-hollywood-and-back-2087249.php]</ref>


She has since appeared as a stuffy high-school principal in the 1996 [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]] film ''[[Wish Upon a Star]]'', and as a frightened cruise passenger in the critically panned ''[[Speed 2: Cruise Control]]'' in 1997. She made a [[cameo appearance]] in the international release of the 1997 [[James Bond (film series)|Bond]] spoof ''[[Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery]]'', though her scene was cut from the United States release.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
She has since appeared as a stuffy high-school principal in the 1996 [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]] film ''[[Wish Upon a Star]]'', and as a frightened cruise passenger in the critically panned ''[[Speed 2: Cruise Control]]'' in 1997. She made a [[cameo appearance]] in the international release of the 1997 [[James Bond (film series)|Bond]] spoof ''[[Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery]]'', though her scene was cut from the United States release.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}


She has worked in television, playing [[J.R. Ewing]]'s love interest Holly Harwood in the 1982–1983 season of ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'' and guest appearances in series such as ''[[Hart to Hart]]'' (as a psychotic split-personality model), ''[[In the Heat of the Night (TV series)|In the Heat of the Night]]'', ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'', and ''[[The Nanny]]'' (with another Bond girl, [[Ivana Miličević]]). Later career high points included the indie films ''[[Diary of a Hitman]]'' (1991) and ''[[Curdled (film)|Curdled]]'' (1996).<ref name=Bio/> In 2005, friend [[Quentin Tarantino]], with whom she had previously worked on the set of ''Curdled'', recruited her to appear in the two-episode finale of season five of ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'', which he wrote and directed.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}
Other episodic television work included guest appearances in series such as ''[[Hart to Hart]]'' (as a psychotic split-personality model), ''[[In the Heat of the Night (TV series)|In the Heat of the Night]]'', ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'', and ''[[The Nanny]]''. Later career high points included the indie films ''[[Diary of a Hitman]]'' (1991) and ''[[Curdled (film)|Curdled]]'' (1996).<ref name=Bio/> In 2005, friend [[Quentin Tarantino]], with whom she had previously worked on the set of ''Curdled'', recruited her to appear in the two-episode Season 5 finale of ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'', which he wrote and directed.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}


In the spring of 2002, she taught a course in film acting at the [[University of Houston]].<ref name=MFAH>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090213182608/http://www.mfah.org/films.asp?par1=1&par2=1&par3=748&par4=1&par5=1&par6=1&par7=&lgc=6&eid=&currentPage= Profile], mfah.org; accessed April 9, 2016.</ref> Unlike some "Bond girls", Chiles has said that "being a Bond girl is a fun way to be remembered", although she jokes that being asked to sigh "Oh, James" is annoying because "you can't live up to people's fantasies".<ref>[http://stumpedmagazine.com/Articles/bond-girls-article.html Talking to Bond Girls] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716160525/http://stumpedmagazine.com/Articles/bond-girls-article.html |date=July 16, 2011 }}, stumpedmagazine.com; accessed August 3, 2014.</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=October 2018}}
In the spring of 2002, she taught a course in film acting at the [[University of Houston]].<ref name=MFAH>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090213182608/http://www.mfah.org/films.asp?par1=1&par2=1&par3=748&par4=1&par5=1&par6=1&par7=&lgc=6&eid=&currentPage= Profile], mfah.org; accessed April 9, 2016.</ref> Unlike some "Bond girls", Chiles has said that "being a Bond girl is a fun way to be remembered", although she jokes that being asked to sigh "Oh, James" is annoying because "you can't live up to people's fantasies".<ref>[http://stumpedmagazine.com/Articles/bond-girls-article.html Talking to Bond Girls] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716160525/http://stumpedmagazine.com/Articles/bond-girls-article.html |date=July 16, 2011 }}, stumpedmagazine.com; accessed August 3, 2014.</ref> On other occasions, she stated "I'm proud I'm a Bond Girl. It's not bad at all."<ref>Lois Chiles goes from Texas to Hollywood and back again, Houston Chronicle [https://www.chron.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/lois-chiles-goes-from-texas-to-hollywood-and-back-2087249.php]</ref>
 
Mostly retired from film, she has spent her later years focusing on art and dividing her time between Houston and New York.<ref name=CuratedTexan>[https://curatedtexan.com/2023/10/houstonian-lois-chiles-that-70s-woman/], CuratedTexan.com; accessed August 25, 2025.</ref> Her most recent film credit is ''[[Guns & Moses]]'' (2024).


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0001042|name=Lois Chiles}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0001042|name=Lois Chiles}}
* [https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/33514%7C0/Lois-Chiles#overview Lois Chiles] at [[Turner Classic Movies]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121102110354/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/33514%7C0/Lois-Chiles/#overview Lois Chiles] at [[Turner Classic Movies]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080210071851/http://www.ultimatedallas.com/dallasinterviews/lois.htm Interview with Lois Chiles focusing on her role on "Dallas"]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080210071851/http://www.ultimatedallas.com/dallasinterviews/lois.htm Interview with Lois Chiles focusing on her role on "Dallas"]



Latest revision as of 00:01, 17 December 2025

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Wikidata image

Lois Cleveland Chiles (born April 15, 1947)[1] is an American actress and former fashion model known for her role as Holly Goodhead in the James Bond film Moonraker (1979), and as a hit-and-run driver in Creepshow 2 (1987). Other screen credits include The Way We Were (1973), The Great Gatsby (1974), Death on the Nile (1978), Broadcast News (1987), and the television role of Holly Harwood on Dallas (1982–1983).

Early and personal life

Chiles was born in Houston, the daughter of Marion Clay Chiles and Barbara Wayne Kirkland Chiles. Her paternal uncle was oil tycoon and Texas Rangers owner Eddie Chiles.[2][3][4] She had two brothers: Clay Kirkland Chiles (who died in 1979),Script error: No such module "Unsubst". and William Edmonds Chiles, president and CEO of Bristow Group, Inc. She was raised in Alice, Texas.

Chiles studied at the University of Texas at Austin and the former Finch College in New York City, where she was discovered by a Glamour editor looking for a young woman to feature on the cover of the magazine's annual college issue.[1] She landed the job and soon had contracts with Wilhelmina Models in New York and Elite Models in Paris. Later, she studied acting under Roy London[5] and Sandy Meisner, among many others.[6] In her New York years, she befriended Tennessee Williams, Andy Warhol, Maureen Stapleton, and models Patty Hanson and Grace Jones.[7]

Chiles moved from New York to Los Angeles around 1978 when she felt she no longer wanted to pursue modeling and focus on acting only. It was also around this time that she lost her younger brother to cancer. Clay Chiles was 25 when he died in 1978 at M.D. Anderson of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, which affected her deeply.[8]

She dated Don Henley but the relationship ended, and later for a time, dated William S. Paley.[9] In 2005, she married money manager Richard Gilder.[10] They were both honorary co-chairs of Northfield Mount Hermon, a school in Massachusetts. Gilder donated money to the school and they named the Chiles Theater after her.[11] Gilder died in 2020.[12]

Career

Chiles enjoyed a successful modeling career in the early 1970s. After her role in the` 1972 blaxploitation film Together for Days opposite Clifton Davis, Chiles appeared in supporting roles in some of the biggest films of the 1970s. She played the college girlfriend of Robert Redford in the successful 1973 studio release The Way We Were. She was then cast as Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby (1974) alongside Mia Farrow and, once again, Redford. She again shared the screen with Farrow in the Agatha Christie adaptation Death on the Nile (1978). She also appeared in a small but key role in the thriller Coma (1978).

In her most famous role as NASA astronaut, scientist, and Bond girl Dr. Holly Goodhead, Chiles appeared opposite Roger Moore in Moonraker (1979). Chiles had initially been approached to star in the previous Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, but she declined the role because she was taking a break from acting at the time.[1]

She appeared in the music video for the Tony Powers song Odyssey in 1982.

Chiles lost her youngest brother to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1978, which contributed to her decision to take a three-year hiatus from acting. The time away took a toll on her film career, and she struggled to find roles of the caliber she previously enjoyed. Still, she appeared as a season-long guest star in the 1982–1983 season of television's Dallas, playing independent oil heiress Holly Harwood who becomes entangled with Bobby and J.R. Ewing. Her film roles were smaller, though film critic Pauline Kael gave her good notices for her performances in Alan Alda's Sweet Liberty (1986) and her portrayal of reporter Jennifer Mack in James L. Brooks' Broadcast News (1987) was also well received, as was her turn in George A. Romero's horror flick Creepshow 2 in 1987, as a hit-and-run driver.[13] In 1989, she appeared uncredited in a cameo as the estranged mother of Ione Skye's character in Say Anything... (1989).Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In 1985, she appeared as "Maggie" in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in Los Angeles opposite Terence Knox and directed by Jose Ferrer. She stated that it was a major personal triumph to play the demanding role for her as she was not stage-trained.[14]

She has since appeared as a stuffy high-school principal in the 1996 Disney film Wish Upon a Star, and as a frightened cruise passenger in the critically panned Speed 2: Cruise Control in 1997. She made a cameo appearance in the international release of the 1997 Bond spoof Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, though her scene was cut from the United States release.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Other episodic television work included guest appearances in series such as Hart to Hart (as a psychotic split-personality model), In the Heat of the Night, Murder, She Wrote, and The Nanny. Later career high points included the indie films Diary of a Hitman (1991) and Curdled (1996).[1] In 2005, friend Quentin Tarantino, with whom she had previously worked on the set of Curdled, recruited her to appear in the two-episode Season 5 finale of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which he wrote and directed.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In the spring of 2002, she taught a course in film acting at the University of Houston.[5] Unlike some "Bond girls", Chiles has said that "being a Bond girl is a fun way to be remembered", although she jokes that being asked to sigh "Oh, James" is annoying because "you can't live up to people's fantasies".[15] On other occasions, she stated "I'm proud I'm a Bond Girl. It's not bad at all."[16]

Mostly retired from film, she has spent her later years focusing on art and dividing her time between Houston and New York.[17] Her most recent film credit is Guns & Moses (2024).

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1972 Together for Days Shelley
1973 The Way We Were Carol Ann
1974 The Great Gatsby Jordan Baker
1978 Coma Nancy Greenly
1978 Death on the Nile Linnet Ridgeway
1979 Moonraker Dr. Holly Goodhead
1981 Hart to Hart Mary Scott / Scottie TV series, Season 2 (1 episode)
1982 Odyssey Unnamed Music video for Tony Powers song
1982–1983 Dallas Holly Harwood TV series, Season 6 (22 episodes) and Season 7 (2 episodes)
1984 Raw Courage Ruth
1986 Sweet Liberty Leslie
1986 Dark Mansions Jessica Drake TV movie
1987 Creepshow 2 Annie Lansing (segment "The Hitchhiker")
1987 Tales from the Hollywood Hills: A Table at Ciro's Lita Nathan TV movie
1987 Broadcast News Jennifer Mack
1989 Say Anything... Diane's Mother (uncredited)
1989 Twister Virginia
1990 Burning Bridges Claire Morgan TV movie
1990 In the Eye of the Snake Claire Anzer—Marc's Mother
1990 Murder, She Wrote Millie Bingham Stafford TV series, Season 7 (1 episode)
1991 Veronica Clare TV series, Seasons 1 and 2 (1 episode each)
1991 Bis ans Ende der Welt Elsa Farber
1991 Diary of a Hitman Sheila
1992 Obsessed Louise TV movie
1993 In the Heat of the Night Muriel Gray TV series, Season 6 (1 episode)
1993 Civil Wars Alexandra Phelps TV series, Season 2 (1 episode)
1993 Crossroads Renee TV series, Season 1 (1 episode)
1993 Lush Life Lucy TV movie
1994 L.A. Law Camilla Greer TV series, Season 8 (1 episode)
1995 The Babysitter Bernice Holsten
1995 Flipper Allison Van Rijn TV series, Season 1 (1 episode)
1996 Curdled Katrina Brandt
1996 Wish Upon a Star Principal Mary Mittermiller TV movie
1997 Bliss Eva
1997 The Nanny Elaine TV series, Season 4 (1 episode)
1997 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Steamrolled Henchman's Wife (uncredited)
1997 Speed 2: Cruise Control Celeste
1998 Black Cat Run Ada Bronnel
2000 Eventual Wife Susan's Mother short
2002 Any Day Now Judge TV series, Season 4 (1 episode)
2002 Warning: Parental Advisory Susan Baker TV movie
2005 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jillian Stokes TV series, Season 5 (episode: "Grave Danger")
2006 Kettle of Fish Jean
2024 Guns & Moses

References

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  1. a b c d Profile, entertainment.msn.com; accessed April 9, 2016. Template:Webarchive
  2. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. Profile, Yahoo.com; accessed April 9, 2016. Template:Webarchive
  4. "If you don't have an oil well, get one!", barrypopik.com; accessed April 9, 2016.
  5. a b Profile, mfah.org; accessed April 9, 2016.
  6. Lois Chiles goes from Texas to Hollywood and back again, Houston Chronicle [1]
  7. Lois Chiles goes from Texas to Hollywood and back again, Houston Chronicle [2]
  8. Lois Chiles goes from Texas to Hollywood and back again, Houston Chronicle [3]
  9. Lois Chiles goes from Texas to Hollywood and back again, Houston Chronicle [4]
  10. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. Creepshow 2 review Template:Webarchive, barnesandnoble.com; accessed April 9, 2016.
  14. Lois Chiles goes from Texas to Hollywood and back again, Houston Chronicle [5]
  15. Talking to Bond Girls Template:Webarchive, stumpedmagazine.com; accessed August 3, 2014.
  16. Lois Chiles goes from Texas to Hollywood and back again, Houston Chronicle [6]
  17. [7], CuratedTexan.com; accessed August 25, 2025.

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External links

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