Julia Meade, an actress who worked in film and theater and was well-known as a television commercial pitchwoman, died May 16 at her home in New York, New York, according to multiple news sources. She was 90.
Peter Thorpe of the Julia Meade Fan Club announced the death Tuesday. In a post on Facebook, Thorpe shared the news of Meade’s death “with all of the members of the Julia Meade Fan Club. Julia passed away yesterday at her home in New York City, peacefully while asleep. Thanks to all of you for your comments and love. Julia loved her Facebook fan club. We will continue to post photos every week here. Thanks again.”
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Meade, who was born Julia Kunz Dec. 17, 1925, in Boston, Massachusetts, started her career as a Conover model in 1948 while she sought theater roles.
“The latter did not materialize,” according to a biography of the actress at juliameade.com. “Television work did, however, and Julia became one of America’s most recognized TV personalities, prompting a New York Times reviewer to describe her as America’s first household name.”
Meade pitched a variety of products on TV and in newspaper and magazine advertisements, including soap, automobiles, bread, and hairspray.
On Broadway, she had roles in “The Tender Trap,” “Mary, Mary,” “Roman Candles,” and a 1960s revival of “The Front Page.”
She also had roles in movies including “Pillow Talk” and “Tammy Tell Me True.”
Meade married artist O. Worsham Rudd Jr. May 17, 1952. He preceded her in death, in 1999. They had two daughters, Caroline and Alice, who survive the actress.
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