Harlene Wood
Harlene Wood | |
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Wood in the The Three Stooges film Cash and Carry (1937) | |
| Born | Evelyn Merchant August 25, 1913 Independence, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | April 2, 1995 (aged 81) Honokaʻa, Hawaii, U.S. |
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| Years active | c. 1934–1971 |
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| Children | 2 |
Harlene Wood (born Evelyn Merchant, August 25, 1913 – April 2, 1995), known throughout her multifaceted career as Harley Wood, Jill Martin, Jill Jackson, and Jill Jackson-Miller, was an American actor, songwriter, and author. She began her career in radio before appearing in over 20 films between 1935 and 1953, primarily in supporting roles in Westerns and comedy shorts, including three with The Three Stooges.
She retired from acting, and achieved lasting international recognition as a songwriter. Using the name Jill Jackson-Miller, she co-wrote the globally recognized peace anthem "Let There Be Peace on Earth" (1955) with her husband, Sy Miller. The song became a standard for peace movements and holiday events, earning her a George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedoms Foundation.