Donna Butterworth

Donna Lee Butterworth (February 23, 1956 – March 6, 2018) was an American actress, best known for starring opposite Elvis Presley in the 1966 musical comedy Paradise, Hawaiian Style, when she was 10 years old.[1]

Donna Butterworth
Born
Donna Lee Butterworth

(1956-02-23)February 23, 1956
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMarch 6, 2018(2018-03-06) (aged 62)
Hilo, Hawaii
OccupationActress
Years active1965–1967

Butterworth's career as an actor and performer was brief; however, during that short time, she received critical acclaim.[2]

Biography

Donna Lee Butterworth was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 23, 1956, the daughter of Isabella "Isa" Chalfant.[3][4] She had one sibling, a brother named William "Bill" Butterworth.[2]

Butterworth's family lived in Pennsylvania for the first three years of her life before they moved to Hawaii, where Butterworth remained until her death. She learned to play the ukulele soon after moving to Hawaii.[5]

Performing Hawaiian music from an early age, Donna gave concerts around the islands, performed with Don Ho,[2] and appeared on The Dean Martin Show,[6] The Danny Kaye Show and The Hollywood Palace.[7] She was nominated for a golden globe award for her role in the 1965 film The Family Jewels.[8] In 1966, she appeared opposite Elvis Presley, singing several duets with him in Paradise, Hawaiian Style.[5] Little Leatherneck, an unsold sit-com pilot film in which she appeared, aired on ABC television as part of the 7-week 1966 series Summer Fun.[9]

Butterworth ultimately left acting after her brief stardom; she continued in the entertainment business as a singer.[2]

Death

Donna Butterworth died on March 6, 2018 at a medical center in Hilo, Hawaii from undisclosed causes. She was 62 years old.[2]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1965The Family JewelsDonna Peyton
1966Paradise, Hawaiian StyleJan Kohana
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References
  1. Joyce, Kathleen (March 14, 2018). "Donna Butterworth dead; former child star who worked with Elvis and Jerry Lewis was 62". Fox News. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  2. "Hawaii child actress, singer Donna Butterworth dies at 62". hawaiitribune-herald.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  3. Hawaii Tribune Herald (March 10, 2018). "Obituaries". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  4. "Hubert Chalfant's Obituary on Las Vegas Review-Journal". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  5. "Interview with Donna Butterworth (Elvis' co-star 'Paradise Hawaiian Style)". www.elvis.com.au. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  6. "The Dean Martin Show". Getty Images. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  7. "Donna Butterworth, Kid Co-Star of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lewis, Dies at 62". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 13, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  8. "Donna Butterworth". www.goldenglobes.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  9. 1962-, Goldberg, Lee (July 5, 2015). Unsold television pilots : 1955-1989 (New ed.). Calabasas, CA. ISBN 9781511590679. OCLC 933301010.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)


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