Lori Nelson, Glamorous '50s Starlet, Dead at 87

Lori Nelson, whose big-screen claim to fame was as the damsel in distress in the horror flick "Revenge of the Creature," died August 23 at 87.

THR reports that Nelson, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, died at home in L.A.

Nelson was born Dixie Kay Nelson on August 15, 1933, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, growing up in Encino, California. She won a contract with Universal-International the day she turned 17, making her film debut in "Bend of the River" (1952) with Jimmy Stewart, Rock Hudson and Julie Adams.

She went on to appear in "Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair" (1952) and "Francis Goes to West Point" (1952), both installments in popular movie series.

Nelson recalled having to be persuaded to appear in "Revenge of the Creature," the 1955 sequel to "Creature from the Black Lagoon" (1954). The 3D cult classic co-starred John Agar and marked Clint Eastwood's acting debut. Critically panned, it — like the Gill-man it creature-featured — followed her everywhere. "The one I didn't want to do was 'Revenge of the Creature,'" Nelson told Western Clippings in an undated interview. "Science fiction was considered bottom of the barrel in those days. Of course, that's the picture I am most remembered for. It's very ironic!"

One of her other most memorable roles was as brainy Greta Hanson on 39 episodes of the TV version of "How to Marry a Millionaire" (1957-1958). She left the role after a season.

Nelson's other film work included in the Douglas Sirk melodrama "All I Desire" (1953); the campy Jane Russell adventure "Underwater!" (1954); "Day the World Ended" (1955), directed by Roger Corman; the well-regarded noir drama "I Died a Thousand Times" (1955); the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis film "Pardners" (1956); and the teen dramas "Hot Rod Girl" (1955) and "Untamed Youth" (1957).

Mostly retired from acting after 1961, she made just two TV appearances and three films thereafter, including 2005's "The Naked Monster," in which she gamely reprised her "Revenge of the Creature" role.

Nelson famously dated Tab Hunter in the '50s, before he came to terms with being gay. They split amicably. She was also engaged to Burt Reynolds.

Nelson went on to marry and divorce composer Johnny Mann. In 1983, she wed LAPD Det. Joseph J. Reiner, who survives her.