The neighbors in Hyde Park knew her as "Tootie", the devoted daughter who came to take care of her ailing mother. She had the back porch enclosed and turned into a bedroom so she could stay with her mother full time. She was a devout Jevhovah's Witness and was active in raising awareness of the persecution of fellow Jehovah's Witness in Malawi. On October 10, 2002, Tootie was asleep in her bedroom when a space heater malfunctioned and burst into flames. Tootie's mother managed to escape, but emergency workers removed an unconscious Tootie from the home. She died from burns and smoke inhalation. Her neighbors never knew of Tootie's prior life of fame.
Tootie was Teresa Graves, the iconic star of the 1974 police action series Get Christie Love! Patterned after 70s blaxploitation films, Get Christie Love! was very popular, despite only lasting one season. Teresa had worked her way up in show business, first starting as a member of the easy listening group The Doodletown Pipers, then becoming a regular on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In in its third season. But, it was Get Christie Love! that made Teresa a household name. She retired from acting in 1983.
When she died in that house fire in 2002, she was just "Tootie" to those closest to her.
Tootie was Teresa Graves, the iconic star of the 1974 police action series Get Christie Love! Patterned after 70s blaxploitation films, Get Christie Love! was very popular, despite only lasting one season. Teresa had worked her way up in show business, first starting as a member of the easy listening group The Doodletown Pipers, then becoming a regular on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In in its third season. But, it was Get Christie Love! that made Teresa a household name. She retired from acting in 1983.
When she died in that house fire in 2002, she was just "Tootie" to those closest to her.
4 comments:
Thank you so much for sharing this with us, and a lovely portrait also.
You've done a beautiful portrait of a really special memory.
Sometimes I need to be reminded of the struggle of others to slam things back into their correct perspective. Thank you.
maureen. www.thepizzagang.com
Awesome boots ....my daughter has been on a search for that very style in black.....she has some very worn john fluvogs......can you share where you found them....wondering if they have a store in Vancouver...I love the bottom one but wonder if the first one wouldn't go better with the boots... My daughter loves forever 21....adorable clothes their!! Happy New year whatever you pick!! Hope we see a photo of the end result!!! It's a blue moon on the eve too!!
Hugs Giggles
Wow! this brings back memories. I was a young Marine just back from Vietnam when I first saw her on Laugh In. She was SMOKIN hot.
I hadn't thought about her in years...I'm sorry to hear she passsed. I enjoy your informative posts.
Happy New Year.
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