Introduction
Gunilla Hutton (born May 15, 1944) is a Swedish-born American actress and singer, best known for her roles as the second Billie Jo Bradley (1965–66) on Petticoat Junction (1963-70). She was also a regular cast member in the television series Hee Haw from 1969 until 1992.
Early life
Gunilla Hutton was born as Gunilla Wiklund on May 15, 1944, in Gothenburg, Sweden. She was raised in Fort Worth, Texas, where she attended Arlington Heights High School.
Career
Hutton made her screen debut in 1965 with a minor role in "The Case of the Feather Cloak" episode of the TV series Perry Mason. The same year, she played a model in an episode of Burke's Law.
She then landed the recurring role of Billie Jo Bradley on the series Petticoat Junction. She was seen regularly in 34 episodes in 1965-66.
1979 saw her film debut with the role of Suzanne in James Polakof's comedy Swim Team, starring James Daughton and Stephen Furst.
In 1969-1992, she was a regular cast member in the television series Hee Haw.
Hutton's last television credit was Fantasy Island in which she was seen in two episodes: "Rogues to Riches/Stark Terror" (1980) and "Hard Knocks/Lady Godiva" (1981).
Personal life
Hutton had an extramarital relationship with Nat King Cole. She telephoned his wife, Maria Cole, to tell her to divorce him. Maria, in turn, confronted her husband and Cole ended the relationship with Hutton after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
On January 10, 1970, she married Allan Freeman. They had one daughter, Amber.
In 2016, she was profiled in the book "X Child Stars: Where Are They Now?" by Kathy Garver and Fred Ascher.
Singles discography
- You Can Say the Prettiest Things Sometimes / The Greatest Story Never Told—Dial 1015–1972
- Chowchilla Dust / We've Got Old Fashioned Love—Green Mountain 415–1973
- You're Gonna Get Loved / See The Lady Cryin' -- ABC/Dot 17525—October 1974
- Cody / The End of Our Love Song—ABC/Dot 17548—April 1975