Irish McCalla: The Jungle Queen Who Became a Hollywood Icon

Irish McCalla is not only remembered as a beautiful face on television but also as a cultural icon of womanly independence and strength in the days of Hollywood’s gold. Better known as Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, in the 1950s, McCalla created her own place in history when women action heroines didn’t even exist. Her athletic build and death-defying stunts made her a star to contend with on TV, and her charm gave young audiences a heroine they’d never seen before.

But McCalla’s life wasn’t quite so one-dimensional as a TV role. She. She was also a prosperous pin-up girl, a good mother, and a versatile artist afterward whose work was well known internationally throughout the United States. It is a path of humble beginnings, from the tiny Nebraska town to an international phenomenon. McCalla’s is a story of determination, adaptability, and. lasting charm. Her is one of working hard, striving, and. a continuous ability to reinvent. herself in leaving. a lasting mark on entertainment and art.

Quick Bio

Who Was Irish McCalla?

Irish McCalla, born Christmas Day in 1928 as Nellie Elizabeth McCalla, was an American model, artist, and actress. The groundbreaking television series, Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, cast her and brought her fame from 1955 to 1956. Despite the series only consisting of 26 episodes, it successfully established McCalla as a household name and cemented her position as the first female action star on television.

Aside from television, McCalla’s lasting fame can also be detected in her career as a pin-up girl, in which she was frequently painted by great artist Alberto Vargas. Later, McCalla diversified into painting, becoming an accomplished painter with shows across the country. This very rare combination of appearance, grit, and artistic ability made her more than a Hollywood starlet but a culture icon who impressed in many art forms.

Early Life

Irish McCalla was raised in a big family with seven siblings. She was kept by her mother, Nettie, at home, and her father, Lloyd, worked as a butcher. The family moved from place to place, residing in many towns across Iowa and Nebraska. Despite the difficulties of being in a big household, McCalla was determined early in life, working at home with aspirations for a life of ease.

At 17, she relocated to California to reside with some of her siblings. She took a series of jobs to survive, such as working in an aircraft factory and waiting tables, before entering modeling. These years were focused on her survival and learning to be independent, which would later benefit her when she was suddenly thrust into the spotlight as a Hollywood star.

Career Beginnings

Prior to being Sheena, McCalla also worked as a model. Her striking height and energetic looks made her attractive to photographers and illustrators, securing her position as one of the legendary “Vargas Girls” of pin-up illustrations. Modeling exposed her to the world of entertainment and gave her the self-assurance to seek careers in acting.

In the early 1950s, an accidental sighting of her working out with a bamboo spear on a Malibu beach gave her her breakthrough. This chance encounter led to her landing the role of Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. Although she never studied acting, her physique and innate charm before the camera got her hired. The program, filmed in Mexico, had McCalla swinging from vines, fighting beasts, and performing death-defying stunts, which she did herself in most instances. The role made her a symbol of strength and courage to audiences worldwide.

Who Was Irish McCalla Married To?

McCalla was married thrice in her life. Her first marriage was with Patrick McIntyre in 1951, and they have two sons, Sean and Kim. The marriage lasted till 1957, but it was a significant period in her life when she had to balance motherhood along with adapting to the growing demands of her career.

McCalla wed actor and scholar Patrick Horgan in 1958, a man famous for his passion for theater and books. They were married until 1969, after which McCalla remained active in her acting and soon dedicated increasing amounts of energy to her work. Her third marriage took place in 1982 with Chuck Rowland. The two moved to Arizona, although they divorced in 1989. Through all the turmoil of her marriages, McCalla remained close to her family and children.

Irish McCalla’s Physical Appearance

Nearing 5 feet 9 inches tall, McCalla’s athletic physique and strong features predisposed her to a career in action films. Her blonde hair and commanding on-screen presence created an imposing figure that perfectly suited the jungle heroine she portrayed. Her stature and body strength were unusual among women stars of the period, and they provided her with an advantage when it came to action parts.

Her on-screen persona was also inclined to lean towards glamour, owing to her pin-up model status. Off-screen, she indulged in the high-glamour sophistication of Hollywood during the 1950s, but on-screen, she enjoyed power and adventure. It was via this balance between glamour and power that she managed to differentiate herself in a profession where there were numerous others and provide a heroine who was both stunning and brazen.

Net Worth

Although McCalla did not achieve the same level of financial success in Hollywood as the biggest industry stars, her work as Sheena, along with commercial modeling and later sales of her paintings, provided her with a good living. During the height of her TV stardom, she was receiving a respectable income from her starring role and ancillary publicity. Although the series did not last long, the exposure created opportunities for work in film and guest appearances that extended deep into the 1960s.

Later in her life, she earned her livelihood from her art. She created landscapes, wild animals, and Western subjects for galleries and private buyers. Although her net worth remains undisclosed, she achieved self-made success and wealth independently, transitioning from entertainment to painting throughout her lifetime.

Legacy

Despite McCalla passed away in 2002 from a battle with a brain tumor, her vision and legacy live on. She was not only an actress but also a trailblazer of women in television who showed that women could be physically strong, courageous, and adventurous on TV. Her Sheena persona gave way to many action heroines, who subsequently tread her path, making way for actresses such as Wonder Woman’s Lynda Carter and modern-day female superheroes.

Her painting, still in great demand by collectors today, also guarantees her presence as an artist forevermore. McCalla’s recognition in being able to transition from Hollywood heroine to serious artist demonstrates an uncommon sight ability to adapt. Although deceased, her legacy in entertainment and in painting guarantees she will be more than remembered as a jungle queen but as a woman who took the world’s adventures on her chin and in stride.