Connie Kreski
Encyclopedia
Connie Kreski was Playboy
magazine's Playmate of the Month for January 1968 and was Playmate of the Year for 1969. Kreski was born Constance Kornacki; she had long taffy-colored hair and blue eyes.
As a reward for her Playmate of the Year title, she received numerous gifts:
In April 1969 Kreski was signed by Anthony Newley
to play the feminine title role of Mercy Humppe in the Universal Pictures
film Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?
The movie was shot in Malta
and starred Milton Berle
, Joan Collins
, and George Jessel
.
Los Angeles Times
writer Joyce Haber mentioned Kreski in a newspaper column just days after the murder of Sharon Tate
by followers of Charles Manson
. Kreski was a member of the murdered actress' social circle along with John Phillips
, Michelle Phillips
, Tina Sinatra
, Jacqueline Bisset
, Michael Sarrazin
, and Andrew Prine
. Kreski was among those invited to the mansion Tate shared with her husband, director Roman Polanski
. The home was on Cielo Drive, Los Angeles
, California
. Haber said that some of those invited declined to attend on the fatal night of August 9, 1969.
Kreski died of a blocked carotid artery
on March 21, 1995 in Beverly Hills, California
.
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine's Playmate of the Month for January 1968 and was Playmate of the Year for 1969. Kreski was born Constance Kornacki; she had long taffy-colored hair and blue eyes.
As a reward for her Playmate of the Year title, she received numerous gifts:
- Shelby MustangShelby MustangThe Shelby Mustang is a high performance variant of the Ford Mustang which was built by Shelby American from 1965 through 1970. Following the introduction of the fifth generation Ford Mustang, the Shelby nameplate was revived in 2007 for new high performance versions of the Mustang.- 1965–1966 :The...
GT-500 (fastback 428 Cobra Jet) - Schwinn Varsity 10-speed bicycle
- Harley-DavidsonHarley-DavidsonHarley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
M-65 - Hart pair of skis, fur-jacket by Alpers Furs and outfit by Peter Kennedy
- Arctic Panther snowscoot with riding outfit
- JantzenJantzenJantzen is a brand of swimwear that was established in 1916 and first appeared in the city of Portland, Oregon, United States. The brand name later replaced the name of the parent company that manufactured the branded products...
swimsuits and scuba diving equipment by US Divers, - a pool cue, jewels, cosmetics, AM/FM car-stereo, Champagne, a typewriter...
In April 1969 Kreski was signed by Anthony Newley
Anthony Newley
Anthony George Newley was an English actor, singer and songwriter. He enjoyed success as a performer in such diverse fields as rock and roll and stage and screen acting.-Early life:...
to play the feminine title role of Mercy Humppe in the Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
film Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?
Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?
Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? is a 1969 British musical film directed by and starring Anthony Newley...
The movie was shot in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and starred Milton Berle
Milton Berle
Milton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
, Joan Collins
Joan Collins
Joan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
, and George Jessel
George Jessel (actor)
George Albert Jessel was an American illustrated song "model," actor, singer, songwriter, and Academy Award-winning movie producer. He was famous in his lifetime as a multitalented comedic entertainer, achieving a level of recognition that transcended his limited roles in movies...
.
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
writer Joyce Haber mentioned Kreski in a newspaper column just days after the murder of Sharon Tate
Sharon Tate
Sharon Marie Tate was an American actress. During the 1960s she played small television roles before appearing in several films. After receiving positive reviews for her comedic performances, she was hailed as one of Hollywood's promising newcomers and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for...
by followers of Charles Manson
Charles Manson
Charles Milles Manson is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders carried out by members of the group at his instruction...
. Kreski was a member of the murdered actress' social circle along with John Phillips
John Phillips (musician)
John Edmund Andrew Phillips , was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter and promoter . Known as Papa John, Phillips was a member and leader of the singing group The Mamas & the Papas...
, Michelle Phillips
Michelle Phillips
Michelle Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the 1960s group The Mamas & the Papas, and is the last surviving original member of the group.-Early life:...
, Tina Sinatra
Tina Sinatra
Christina "Tina" Sinatra is the youngest child of Frank Sinatra and his first wife, Nancy Barbato Sinatra. Christina's parents divorced when she was three years old...
, Jacqueline Bisset
Jacqueline Bisset
Jacqueline Bisset is an English actress. She has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award. She is known for her roles in the films Bullitt , Airport , The Deep , Class , and the TV series Nip/Tuck in 2006...
, Michael Sarrazin
Michael Sarrazin
Michael Sarrazin was a Canadian film and television actor who found fame opposite Jane Fonda in the drama film They Shoot Horses, Don't They? .- Early life :...
, and Andrew Prine
Andrew Prine
Andrew Lewis Prine is an American film, stage, and television actor.-Early life and career:Prine was born in Jennings, Florida. After graduation from Andrew Jackson High School in Miami, Prine made his acting debut three years later in an episode of CBS U.S. Steel Hour...
. Kreski was among those invited to the mansion Tate shared with her husband, director Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
. The home was on Cielo Drive, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Haber said that some of those invited declined to attend on the fatal night of August 9, 1969.
Kreski died of a blocked carotid artery
Carotid artery
Carotid artery can refer to:* Common carotid artery* External carotid artery* Internal carotid artery...
on March 21, 1995 in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
.
Film and television appearances
- Lost Flight (1969) .... Australian's Wife
- Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? is a 1969 British musical film directed by and starring Anthony Newley...
(1969) .... Mercy Humppe - IronsideIronside (TV series)Ironside is a Universal television series which ran on NBC from September 14, 1967 to January 16, 1975. The show starred Raymond Burr as the wheelchair-using Chief of Detectives, Robert T. Ironside. The character's debut was in a TV-movie on March 28, 1967. The original title of the show in the...
- "A Matter of Love and Death" .... Arlene (1 episode, 1969) - The Bold Ones (TV series) .... Waitress (1 episode, 1969)
- Love, American StyleLove, American StyleLove, American Style is an hour-long TV anthology produced by Paramount Television and originally aired between September 1969 and January 1974...
- Love and the Big Night/Love and Those Poor Crusaders' Wives/Love and the V.I.P. Restaurant (1970) TV Episode (segment "Love and the V.I.P. Restaurant") - The Trackers (1971) (TV) .... Becky Paxton
- Un homme est mort (aka "The Outside Man") (1972) .... Rosie
- The Black Bird (1975) .... Decoy Girl
- Captains and the Kings (1976) (mini) TV Series .... Pearl Gray
- Aspen (1977) (mini) TV Series (uncredited) .... Jackie Camerovsky