Jayne Kennedy Overton (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

Harrison; born October 27, 1951) is an American television personality, actress, model, corporate spokeswoman, producer, writer, public speaker, philanthropist, and sports broadcaster.

Personal life

Jayne Kennedy grew up in Wickliffe, Ohio, as one of six children. Her parents, Herbert and Virginia Harrison, taught their children "to aim high, give God most of the credit, suffer disappointments silently and avoid maliciousness". In high school, she was on the cheerleading squad, was a member of the National Honor Society and was three times elected the president of her high school class. A year after high school, Harrison met

Leon Isaac Kennedy Leon Isaac Kennedy (born June 1, 1948 or January 1, 1949) (sources differ) is an American actor, disc jockey, film producer and playwright. Kennedy's acting roles include Martel "Too Sweet" Gordone in Jamaa Fanaka's ''Penitentiary'' (1979), ''Peni ...

, a DJ and a struggling actor/writer. They married in 1971.

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

singer/songwriter

Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive director. He was the founder and front man of the Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chief ...

served as

best man A groomsman or usher is one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony and performs the first speech at the wedding. Usually, the groom selects close friends and relatives to serve as groomsmen, and it is considered an honor to be ...

at their wedding. They divorced in 1982. In May 1985, Kennedy married actor Bill Overton in Bermuda. The wedding was small and the parents of both Kennedy and Overton attended. The couple have four children: Overton's daughter Cheyenne (b. 1982) and their three daughters Savannah Re (b. November 20, 1985), Kopper Joi (b. May 17, 1989) and Zaire Ollyea (b. September 15, 1995). Kennedy and Overton celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in May 2020.

Career

Kennedy was crowned Miss Ohio in 1970 in the Miss USA Pageant; she went on to compete in the top ten of the national pageant. In 1971, Kennedy first appeared as a dancer on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and performed with Bob Hope's Bases Around the World Christmas Tour (Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Spain, and Cuba) which led to three years with the Dean Martin Show as a singer/dancer. Through the 1970's, Kennedy had guest roles in television shows such as The Six Million Dollar Man, Sanford and Son and Starsky & Hutch. The actress found work in many commercials of the era for such companies as Foster Grant, Chrystler and McDonald's. Kennedy also had a lead role in 1977 movie "Big Time" starring Christopher Joy and Tobar Mayo with a soundtrack by the film's producer, Smokey Robinson. In 1978, Kennedy replaced anchor Phyllis George on “NFL Today” on CBS. After a contractual dispute with CBS, Kennedy went on to host the short lived “Speak Up America” in 1980. Kennedy won a 1982

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture This article lists the winners and nominees for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. The award has also been called Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture. Out of 12 films which featured African-Americans in lea ...

award for her performance as Julie Winters in the 1981 film '' Body and Soul'' co-starring alongside her then–husband

. Kennedy won an Emmy award for her hosting of the 1982 Rose Bowl. Kennedy would go on in 1982 to begin hosting on the syndicated television show "Greatest Sports Legends". As host, she would interview many sports personalities including Kareem Abdul-Jabar and Johnny Unitas. During the mid-1980’s Kennedy was hired as a spokesmodel for the Coca-Cola Corporation’s “Tab” soft drink and for Jovan Musk perfume. Kennedy joined the exercise video craze of the mid-1980's with the release of her own video, "Love Your Body" which was distributed by RCA / Columbia Home Video. She advised in the video to " tablish a positive belief in yourself. Learn what your body needs and love it for what it is.” In 1990, Kennedy and her husband, Bill Overton, produced the “Journey of the African American” with performances in Atlanta and a 30 week run in Los Angeles. Kennedy has added her support to many charitable causes over the years through appearances and speaking engagements. Kennedy co-hosted the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars in 1986 which raised $10 million dollars for the United Negro College Fund. Kennedy was a key-note speaker at the Evanston Martin Luther King celebration in 1987. In 1988, Kennedy was the national spokesperson for the National Council of Negro Women which put on annual, nation-wide Black Family Reunion Celebration clinics and seminars. Kennedy was a speaker at the 12th Annual Freedom Fund Dinner in Columbia, South Carolina in 1990. “Aiken Standard” Columbia, SC; 17 May 1990, pg 8A

Selected filmography

Film * 1973: ''

Group Marriage Group marriage or conjoint marriage is a marital arrangement where three or more adults enter into sexual, affective, romantic, or otherwise intimate short- or long-term partnerships, and share in any combination of finances, residences, care ...

'' as Judy * 1975: '' Let's Do It Again'' as Girl at Factory * 1976: ''

The Muthers ''The Muthers'' is a 1976 women in prison film. It starred Jeannie Bell, Rosanne Katon, Trina Parks, Jayne Kennedy, Tony Carreon and John Montgomery. Quentin Tarantino later wrote, "So why is this cruddy little flick one of my favorite movies? It ...

'' as Serena * 1977: ''Big Time'' as Shana Baynes * 1978: ''

Death Force ''Death Force'' (also known as ''Vengeance Is Mine'') is a 1978 martial arts exploitation film directed by Cirio H. Santiago and written by Howard R. Cohen. The film is an international co-production of the Philippines and the United States, an ...

'' (aka ''Fighting Mad'') as Maria Russell * 1981: '' Body and Soul'' as Julie Winters + + NAACP Image Award: Best Actress Television * 1973: '' Ironside'' as Maylene (Season 7, episode 12: "The Last Payment") * 1974: '' Banacek'' as Girl Demonstrator (Season 2, episode 6: "Rocket to Oblivion") * 1974: ''

Sanford and Son ''Sanford and Son'' is an American sitcom television series that ran on the NBC television network from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977. It was based on the British sitcom ''Steptoe and Son'', which initially aired on BBC One in the United ...

'' as Brenda (Season 4, episode 5: "There'll Be Some Changes Made") * 1975: ''

The Six Million Dollar Man ''The Six Million Dollar Man'' is an American science fiction and action television series, running from 1973 to 1978, about a former astronaut, USAF Colonel Steve Austin, portrayed by Lee Majors. After a NASA test flight accident, Austin is reb ...

'' as Louise (Season 3, episode 4: "The Song and Dance Spy") * 1976: ''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974 to January 10, 1980, and remains in syndication. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investigator ...

'' as Janice (Season 2, episode 21: "Foul on the First Play") * 1977: ''

The New Adventures of Wonder Woman ''Wonder Woman'', later known for seasons 2 and 3 as ''The New Adventures of Wonder Woman'', is an American Superhero fiction, superhero television series based on the DC Comics comic book superhero of the same name. It stars Lynda Carter as Won ...

'' as Carolyn Hamilton (Season 2, episode 5: "Knockout") * 1977: '' Police Woman'' as Cora (Season 4, episode 4: "The Inside Connection") * 1978-1980: ''

NFL Today ''The NFL Today'' is an American football television program on CBS that serves as the pre-game show for the network's National Football League (NFL) game telecasts under the ''NFL on CBS'' brand. The program features commentary on the latest new ...

'' – Reporter (NFL pre-game show) * 1979: ''Mysterious Island of Beautiful Women'' as Chocolate (TV movie) * 1980: ''

CHiPs ''CHiPs'' is an American crime drama television series created by Rick Rosner and originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983. It follows the lives of two motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The serie ...

'' as Pat Blake (Season 3, episode 18: "Kidnap") * 1980: ''

Circus of the Stars ''Circus of the Stars'' was an annual television special, broadcast by the CBS network in the United States, in which celebrities performed circus-type acts. With 19 shows in total, the first was broadcast in 1977 and the last was in 1994. Ove ...

'' #5 (TV special) * 1981: ''

'' as Paula Woods (Season 5, episode 12: "Mitchell and Woods") * 1981: ''

The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy/drama television series that aired on ABC from 1977 to 1986; in addition, four three-hour specials aired in 1986, 1987, and 1990. The series was set on the luxury passenger cruise ship MS ''Pac ...

'' as Kelsey (Season 4, episodes 25 & 26: "This Year's Model/The Model Marriage/Vogue Rogue/Too Clothes for Comfort/Original Sin", Parts 1 & 2) * 1983: ''

'' as Kate Langley (Season 6, episode 20: "The Zinging Valentine/The Very Temporary Secretary/Final Score") * 1983: ''

Diff'rent Strokes ''Diff'rent Strokes'' is an American television sitcom, which aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, r ...

'' as Mrs. Jenkins (Season 6, episode 7: "The Moonlighter") * 1984: ''

Benson Benson may refer to: Animals *Benson (fish), largest common carp caught in Britain Places Geography Canada *Rural Municipality of Benson No. 35, Saskatchewan; rural municipality *Benson, Saskatchewan; hamlet United Kingdom * Benson, Oxfordshire ...

'' as Elizabeth Burnett (Season 6, episode 3: "Let's Get Physical") * 1986: ''

'' as Elizabeth Burnett (Season 7, episode 20: "Three on a Mismatch") * 1986: '' 227'' as Betty Mumphry (Season 2, episode 3: "Washington Affair")

References

External links

* *
The Legend of Jayne Kennedy ... Nuff
* Jayne Kennedy Overton Website - A Mother Daughter Thin

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Jayne Living people African-American female models 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Washington, D.C. African-American actresses American beauty pageant winners American sports announcers Miss USA 1970s delegates National Football League announcers People from Lake County, Ohio Women sports announcers 1951 births 20th-century African-American women 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American women 21st-century African-American people