Many a time, it is said that it is easier to become famous than remain famous. While this is generally true, it is truer for people like Gunilla Hutton. It would be trivial to name names but if you check, you will find that many celebrated figures have left the limelight a long time ago and we can’t even tell what’s up with them at the moment.
Luckily, some of these figures left an impression that would last for several generations and are as such, still deemed relevant and remembered. Nonetheless, being famous hardly lasts forever. At some point, celebrities for one reason or another would gradually and at times, rapidly disappear from the heart of a society that once couldn’t have enough of them.
It rarely matters if the celebrities became less famous because they left their art form or because their performances are no longer as electrifying as it once was; it is always disappointing and quite painful when a famous name is mentioned and met with blank stares. For this reason, we’ve decided to remind this community of people like Gunilla Hutton from time to time.
Who is Gunilla Hutton?
For those who haven’t completely forgotten who Gunilla Hutton is, it is most probable that the last time you noticed her was in MeTV’s 2015 promotion of Petticoat Junction – a sitcom series she starred on between 1965 and 1966. She took over portraying Billie Jo Bradley in the CBS series that started airing in 1963 from Jeannine Riley who played the character from 1963 to 1965. Meredith MacRae later took over the role from Hutton and played it from 1966 until 1970 when the curtains were drawn on the sitcom.
Arguably, the Billie Jo Bradley character is the acting role Gunilla is most known for. Nevertheless, you will find her in 1977’s Fantasy Island and in the country music tv variety show – Hee Haw.
Disregarding the foregoing, Gunilla Hutton is most known to many for her association with Nate King Cole, the popular American jazz musician who died in February 1965.
Quick Facts You Need to Know About Gunilla Hutton
1. Age and Place of Birth
From what know, Hutton was born on the 15th day of May and in the year 1942. Her place of birth was in the second-largest city (Gothenburg) in Europe’s Scandinavian nation – Sweden.
2. She Came to America in Pursuit of a Career in Showbiz
Although there may be other unknown circumstances surrounding Gunilla Hutton’s coming to the United State of America and making it her home, it has been commonly assumed that she came to the country in order to attain her dreams of making a career in the show business and entertainment industry.
3. Gunilla First Settled in Fort Worth, Texas
While one can’t precisely tell the age at which Gunilla Hutton came to America, it is known that she came in at a tender age and settled in Fort Worth, Texas. This is why the 16th-largest city of the United States (Fort Worth) is widely regarded as where she was brought up. In fact, she got her high school education from the city.
4. She Had a Dramatic Romantic Affair With Nat King Cole
In her heydays, she wasn’t only an actress but equally a singer. It was through singing that she meet and became lovers with the late, great jazz pianist and vocalist – Nat King Cole.
As the story goes, Gunilla Hutton was touring with Nat in his stage show when he noticed her and crazily fell in love with her. Even after he was hospitalized for lung cancer which eventually claimed his life, Nat wouldn’t let go of his love for Hutton who was 23 years younger than him.
Gunilla’s reciprocating of Nat’s love earned her the hostility of his wife, Maria and the drama that unfolded until Nat passed on was of huge public interest.
5. Gunilla Hutton Was Once Married
The most know romantic relationship of Gunilla Hutton was the one she had with Nat. Only a handful of people are aware that she was married to Allan Freeman. It is believed that the marriage which started in 1970 ended in 2014. But this cannot be substantiated as almost nothing is known about Allan Freeman. Gunilla has a daughter called Amber Vanderbilt and it has commonly been assumed that she and her brothers – Amber Erik and Christian Freeman – came from the union between Hutton and Allan.
6. She’s 7 in Taller Than 5 ft (1.7 m)
The Swedish-born American singer and actress were very attractive when she was much younger. The details of her body measurements in her prime are unknown but it is known that she is about 5ft 7in tall.
