Judy Tyler was a promising young actress who had a bright future ahead of her. She had starred in Broadway musicals, TV shows, and movies, including the iconic Jailhouse Rock with Elvis Presley. However, her life was cut short by a horrific car accident that claimed her and her husband’s lives in 1957. Here is the story of Judy Tyler’s cause of death and how it affected her fans and co-stars.
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Early Life and Career
Judy Tyler was born Judith Mae Hess on October 9, 1932, in Manhattan, New York. She came from a show business family, as her father was a trumpeter with famous bands such as Paul Whiteman and Benny Goodman, and her mother was a former Ziegfeld Follies dancer. Judy was encouraged to study dance and acting from a young age, and she won a “Miss Stardust” beauty contest in 1949.
Judy’s acting career began as a teenager, with regular appearances on Howdy Doody as Princess Summerfall Winterspring from 1950 to 1953. She also became a chorus girl, following in her mother’s footsteps, and landed a starring role in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Pipe Dream in 1955. Life magazine did a story on rising Broadway talent with Judy on its cover as one of the up-and-coming stars.
Hollywood Breakthrough and Marriage
Judy was offered an opportunity to pursue a career in Hollywood, and she appeared in the film Bop Girl Goes Calypso in 1957. However, her most memorable role was opposite Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock, which was also released in 1957. Judy played Peggy Van Alden, a music promoter who helps Elvis’s character become a rock star. The film was a huge success and showcased Judy’s talent and charisma.
Judy married twice in her short life. Her first husband was Colin Romoff, a pianist and conductor whom she married in 1950 when she was only 18 years old. They divorced in 1957 after seven years of marriage. Her second husband was Gregory Lafayette, an actor whom she married on March 31, 1957, just three months before their deaths. They had no children by either marriage.
The Fatal Car Crash
A few days after filming Jailhouse Rock, Judy and Gregory began driving home to New York from Hollywood. They were traveling with their pets, a dog and a cat, in their 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible. While driving through Wyoming on July 3, 1957, they were involved in an automobile accident on U.S. Route 287 near Rock River.
According to The New York Times, police said that Gregory swerved to avoid hitting a car that was towing a trailer and collided with another vehicle driven by Paul Reed. The impact was so severe that Judy was killed instantly, aged 24, and Gregory died the next day, aged 19. The passenger in Reed’s car, Don Jones, also died from his injuries. The driver of the trailer-towing car was not injured.
The Aftermath and Legacy
The news of Judy Tyler’s cause of death shocked and saddened her fans and co-stars. Elvis Presley was reportedly so distraught that he could not attend her funeral or watch Jailhouse Rock for many years. He said that she was “the most beautiful girl I ever saw” and that he “cried like a baby” when he heard about her death. Singer-actor Kenny Baker recorded a tribute song in her memory titled “Goodbye Little Star”.
Judy Tyler’s last film appearance was on Perry Mason as Irene Kilby in “The Case of the Fan Dancer’s Horse”, which aired on December 28, 1957, nearly six months after her death. She was buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. Her grave marker reads: “Our Darling Daughter – A Star On Earth – A Star In Heaven”.
Judy Tyler’s cause of death was a tragic loss for the entertainment industry and for those who knew and loved her. She had a promising career ahead of her and could have achieved much more if fate had not intervened. She is remembered as one of the most beautiful and talented actresses of her generation, who left behind a lasting legacy in film and music history.
