Actor (in Bye Bye Birdie) Jesse Pearson was born on August 18, 1930 in Oklahoma. Mr. Pearson died on December 5, 1979 in Monroe, Louisiana.
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These are the remembrances and thoughts of Roger. I hope that you'll enjoy them. Cheers!
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89 comments:
Why is there no information on any of the internet sites about this actor? Bye Bye Birdie is a classic movie. He also appeared on episodes of Andy Griffith and The Beverly Hillbillies. It is interesting there are no photos available of him and no information readily available, not even on Wikipedia!
Pearson was friends with Rod McKuen...
Some personal memories of him by McKuen here: Click
Interesting.
Here is a photo.
Jesse Pearson was my mother's cousin. His real name was Bobby Wayne Pearson. My mother loved him and has fond memories of their childhood friendship. Later he came to Monroe, LA to spend the last months of his life with his mother, who was my great aunt. They were a loving family. I have quite a few of his photos, possibly part of a portfolio. He was a very handsome man and very photogenic.
Heather
7/30/10 - Having just watched the Andy Griffith show with guest star Jesse Pearson, I wondered what else this fine actor/singer may have done. I already knew he was the one who played the lead in Bye Bye Birdie. I was sad to see he had died at the age of only 49. However, at least while he was here, he made unforgettable contributions to the world of entertainment. You'll live forever in film, Mr. Pearson. Thank you for sharing your talents and REST IN PEACE.
Jesse Pearson was most unlike the boorish bully Conrad Birdie that he played in 1963's "Bye Bye Birdie."
Birdie was supposed to be an Elvis Presley counterpart, and like Elvis, Pearson was an amazingly charismatic individual. Ironically, Pearson also died an early and untimely death.
I once worked as a messenger at General Service Studios in Hollywood, where "The Beverly Hillbillies" was filmed. Pearson was cast to play a rock 'n' roller (what else) in one of the episodes. I was busy sorting the mail in the mail room, when I felt a presence behind me. I turned, and there at the door stood Jesse Pearson. He asked me where the office of "The Beverly Hillbillies" was. I told him, and he gave a most polite and beaming "thank you."
Seeing Pearson was one of those fast flashes of life that have happened to all of us. Now, over fifty years later, I can still feel his charisma.
Jesse Pearson was most unlike the boorish bully Conrad Birdie that he played in 1963's "Bye Bye Birdie."
Birdie was supposed to be an Elvis Presley counterpart, and like Elvis, Pearson was an amazingly charismatic individual. Ironically, Pearson also died an early and untimely death.
I once worked as a messenger at General Service Studios in Hollywood, where "The Beverly Hillbillies" was filmed. Pearson was cast to play a rock 'n' roller (what else) in one of the episodes. I was busy sorting the mail in the mail room, when I felt a presence behind me. I turned, and there at the door stood Jesse Pearson. He asked me where the office of "The Beverly Hillbillies" was. I told him, and he gave a most polite and beaming "thank you."
Seeing Pearson was one of those fast flashes of life that have happened to all of us. Now, over fifty years later, I can still feel his charisma.
One of those actors who was a good man, family loving midwestern raised, who was humble about his fame. Died young and many actors and actresses today should take a lesson from this man and others like him during this great period in America. Bye Bye Birdie will always be a classic and the most remade play and musical in all High Schools and local stages in the world due to Ann Margaret, Bobby Rydell and this nice man Jesse Pearson.
As a big fan of Jesse Pearson, I am glad for the little information on this site. I looked him up hoping/expecting to find out a lot, like has happened to people that have done much less. At least this was here. Thank you to the cousin who contributed.
But what did Jesse Pearson die of/from?
On another site it stated that Jesse Pearson died of cancer. Just have to keep looking for info on this actor. I just love the movie:"Bye Bye Birdie". Watching it as I am writing this.
Thanks for posting this which also made way for the comments.
Info I did not know. Bye Bye Birdie is one of my fave movies of all time (I was born in 1968) and have seen it so many times on tv in the 1970s and 80s, I wonder if it still gets played anywhere?
He became a hardcore porn director in the last couple of years of his life, after failing to capitalize on his most famous role, his debut as Birdie. A sad, wasted life.
He became a hardcore porn director in the last couple of years of his life, after failing to capitalize on his most famous role, his debut as Birdie. A sad, wasted life.
To the last Anonymous:
In a free society, exactly what parts of Jesse Pearson's life are "sad" and "wasted"?
Bye Bye Birdie is constantly being shown on TCM as it is 2nite
One of my favorite movies continues to be Bye Bye Birdie. Jesse Pearson played the part beautifully. I was 11 years old when that movie premiered and was star-struck by him then and all these years later, I still am.
How would one even find out about the porn stuff with no info on the net? That's disturbing lol geez. I can't believe the lack of info and pictures on this man. Underrated.
:(
Does it matter?
It sure doesn't matter. He was talented, I'm watching Bye Bye Birdie now.
Me too.
I love Bye Bye Birdie,!!!!!! Jesse was awesome. I was shocked to,learn he died so young. He had such great potential. R.I.P. you are not forgotten.
Jessie's role as Conrad Birdie was flawless, he exuded total confidence in his performance. I had never seen him in any other production. It is a shame he was not recognized for his talent. We may have had a chance to enjoy him a few more years before his death...
Thank you to the relative who was kind enough to share her memories of her cousin. It's a shame that some people are still so ignorant to ask if he was "queer" and suggest that he wasted his life.
Jesse Pearson was most entertaining in one of the best Musical scene in history " A Lotta Livin To Do" with Ann Margret and Bobby Rydell in Bye Bye Birdie .. Very sad to hear of his early death ...
Watch the Beverly Hillbillies...episode called ....Teen Idol.... One of the early episodes. He was great on that show...His character was named Johnny Polk. .
Thanks for posting this comment- says it all perfectly
http://musicweird.blogspot.com/2014/02/jesse-pearson-aka-conrad-birdie.html?m=1
Here's a link to a great article about Jesse Peaeson!
http://musicweird.blogspot.com/2014/02/jesse-pearson-aka-conrad-birdie.html?m=1
Here's a link to a great article about Jesse Peaeson!
http://musicweird.blogspot.com/2014/02/jesse-pearson-aka-conrad-birdie.html?m=1
Enjoy this article about Jesse Pearson!
(sorry about duplicate posts- don't know what's up here)
(sorry about duplicate posts- don't know what's up here)
During my military tour of duty in Germany in 1967, I happened to turn my radio to AFN (Armed Forces Network). The station was featuring a review of a new album by Anita Kerr and The San Sebastian Strings with words of poetry written by Rod McKuen. The Narrator of the Album - "The Sea" - was JESSE PEARSON. ('Do you know my friend, the sea?...He watches everything we do....'). That time in my life...hearing his voice speaking the words to the songs are just as vivid to me now as they were almost 49 years ago. I will never forget !! (Ironically - I grew up and continue to live less than 40 miles from Monroe, Louisiana. Wish I had gotten to meet him before he left us.
Watching bye bye birdie and thinking what happened to the actor who played Conrad birdie? Sad to hear he passed. So much talent there and no one even talks about him or remembers him. I thought he was Native American with those rugged good looks. He could dance and sing and act so why didn't Hollywood help him do more with what he had? R I P Jesse Pearson.
I was actually thinking the same as "anonymous". A) He more than likely was gay, and didn't likely die of cancer but AIDS. B) If he did indeed end up directing porn, I'm sure that too might've had a hand in why there's so little info about him to be found as well. Both of which this native new yorker could care less about UNLESS it was the reason why. If so, I feel THAT to be the biggest wrong. I love, love, LOVED him in bye bye birdie!! And, had a mad crush on him. I'm baffled why in the 21st century with the stuff they're showing on regular television is this actor's bio shrouded as it were in secrecy. He was a damned fine actor, funny and handsome. May he rest in peace.
I totally agree with you! I had such a crush on him ! I love ..love..his voice and I'm so disappointed there's no album from him !
I totally agree with you! I had such a crush on him ! I love ..love..his voice and I'm so disappointed there's no album from him !
If it's not fact, it's opinion.
You need to keep those to yourself.
I just wanted to say - so what? - people die, get over it,
Like everyone here I was, & still am, mad about the man. My VERY FAVORITE is the scene where he's receiving the Key to the City & sings Sincere, (short title) - OMG, he's so electrifying that to this day I still feel my heart racing. Frankly, I feel aweful & unfair saying this, but I can't watch anyone else ever trying to be Conrad Birdie. With that said, I must comment on the 'gay' thing, something I became curious about because of a few suggested comments I read. First, it doesn't matter at all & I personally feel it's no ones business. However, & this is going to sound a bit silly, but there are those of us who like to close their eyes & fantasize & lets be frank here for a minute, when a female has a mad crush on a male star, we dream he's straight. I'm guessing it's the same ( or visa versa) if you're gay. I really hope I'm phrasing this correctly as its not my intention to offend anyone. (I'm guessing that nearly 95% of my friends growing up were gay & for some reason many chose me to 'come out' to!). I never thought of that gorgeous man as anything more or less than a gorgeous, exciting, talented man that the worlds been cheated out of by his early death. R.I.P. Conrad Birdie, I'm sure your singing & dancing away on a cloud, the same place you left all of us when you were here!
Unbelievable: a famous person dies at the early age of 49 and narrow-minded, homophobic people just assume he was gay & died of Aids! Who cares? Would you make the same assumptions about a local friend or neighbor?
Be Humble and Kind. You will feel better! :)
I guess he was visiting family in Eunce NM because he viewed a silly little talent show and was very sweet to me after I played bongos to buttons and bows. Guess he was born too late or he would have been a big hit on Broadway
Feb 24th and bye bye birdie is on. Pearson was dripping with charisma and I would have loved to see him in other productions. Maybe the suits in H-wood just didn't know what to do with him.
He died in 1979. The first deaths of AIDS in the US didn't really happen until the 1980s. Very doubtful that he died of AIDS.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_HIV/AIDS
According to a relative, Jesse became very ill. He arrived in Louisiana with his male partner. I'm glad he had loved ones with him at the end and didn't pass away all alone. Definitely a handsome, talented man.
I was the producer of "MEDITATIONS IN PSALMS, and AND JESUS SAID". In discussions about quality of music in various categories,and the lack of it, I talked to friends and came to the conclusion that we could do quality work. My friend Jaime Mendoza-Nava and i had worked together previously, I knew Jess well, and we just put their talents together for the recordings. Our sound engineer was George Porter, winner of fourteen "Emmys" for his work. The result: these two albums. Now they are availableon Amazon and many other platforms, including YOUTUBE. If you are interested in in more information or backstory please let me know.
mark1@jackrobinette.com
It was just on the Decades cable channel on 1/8/2018. I think there is one more airing this week.
I was also just 11 when the movie premiered. Great musical movie. I just saw it today on the Decades cable channel.
I had always wondered why we never saw much of Jesse Pearson when Bye Bye Birdie had launched so many careers of his many co-stars. I always felt he was just as talented as any of them and figured that he had been blacklisted from Hollywood. After reading the article I now believe I had been right. The world was a much different place in those days. It is a shame that someone as good looking and talented as Jesse was perhaps held back from reaching his true destiny solely due to his sexual preference. One can only imagine the struggles he must have endured. R.I.P. Jesse. Your star still shines brightly in this fans eyes.
Sexual preference? It's 2018. Being gay is NOT "preferred". I prefer to think your comment is perhaps lacking basic semamtics.
Excuse me for not being "politically correct" by your standards Anonymous. I felt it was a respectful and heartfelt remark as I have always been a fan of Jesse Pearson's. Relax Moron. I never said being gay WAS "preferred". If my remark somehow offends you then be offended. Seems the new norm. Hide behind your computer. At least I have the balls to use my name.
Just for the record, my statement was not about who Jesse "preferred to be," rather who Jesse preferred to be with. If that makes any difference.
I'm watching Bye Bye Birdie right now on TCM. I always loved the movie and Jesse Pearson was awesome. When he sings One Last Kiss I could swoon. It's sad as I didn't know he passed away so long ago. I checked IMDB to see what else he performed in and sad to read he had passed. I actually am a huge Elvis fan and saw him in concert twice when I was 13 and 16. Viva Las Vegas was on last night with Elvis and Ann Margaret. So Jesse died a few years after Elvis. Whether he died from aids or cancer it is a sad loss.
Good question. Watching Bue Bye Birdie, the Ballet scene now. This whole
Movie makes me smile. It is amongst my favorites. I had the same
Curiosity and so began looking for him on the internet. Sad to
Realize he passed at 49 years of age.
https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0669293/bio
Why are you guys so critical, going back and forth and becoming so angry?? This site is for us to express our feelings on Jesse Pearson. We have a right to express our personal opinions. So any way, I love Jesse Pearson. Yesterday TCM showed Bye Bye Birdie.I saw it years ago. One scene was sooo, sexy when singing One Last Kiss, the way Jesse looked Ann Margaret. WOW
Carol- 100% agree!
Decades ago, when I was 19, I worked at St. Francis Hospital in Monroe, La.. I, along with others, had to attend to Mr. Pearson, who was definitely dying of cancer. Having had relatives pass from cancer, the process was too familiar. Though almost 40 years ago, my memory remains fresh as though the events occurred only yesterday. It is important to remember that this era preceded the benefits of Hospice and the benefits of passing quietly with great narcotics. Hospice was just then coming into its infancy with demonstration programs at 26 hospices across the country to assess the cost effectiveness of hospice care and to help determine what a hospice is and what it should provide. As to the conjecture from some, who cares about his sexuality? Having had direct contact with him, I can only say that he was one of the most gracious and kind patients that I ever met. Despite his success, he was humble and gracious. He was in tremendous pain and suffered multiple fractures in the hospital. Any body movement ran the risk of a fracture and he was in constant pain. It is VERY likely that he was suffering from Multiple Myeloma, Great care was given to him by all of the St. Francis staff. Frankly, when the hospital was run by the nuns, the care given to all, regardless of socioeconomic level, race or sexuality, was exceptional. Unfortunately, within the two weeks that we knew him, Mr. Pearson passed away. It was in my youth that Mr. Pearson taught me to be brave as, inevitably, we all must face death on its own terms. If I could wish one thing for all of humanity, it would be that all of us be so lucky as to have a Jesse Pearson cross our paths and exemplify the great dignity that he had while recognizing his own future demise.
Thank you for posting your personal experience with Mr. Pearson. Not much is known about his life, and for those of us who saw something very special in him, this rare and poignant story affirms our view.
There were many aids deaths before the 1980's, we just didn't have a name for it. It was labelled aids officially in 1981. The public didn'tknow much about it until 1981 either. Doctors had been researching the illness as a 'gay' disease for many years - until it wasn't anymore. Even after discovery, it was kept under wraps so as not to inflame society. It was a very scary time and aids victims often went into hiding or back home to mom.
This year will mark the fortieth anniversary of Jesse's passing. Let us suggest to Sony / RCA to launch in honor of Jesse the never-published album The glory of love? https://www.sonymusic.com/feedback/
The Jesse Pearson Memorial Film Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 1995 through the estate of Edna N. Pearson in memory of Jesse Pearson, son of Edna and Jesse Pearson. This fund benefits students from Texas or Louisiana who are majoring in speech communication and show potential for success in film studies.
https://www.baylor.edu/sfs/index.php?id=937108&s=6121
Happy birthday, Bobby Wayne, thanks for your work being Jessie.
with the obvious truth and love to which you share your memory I say our beloved Jesse lives on in people like you. Thank you!
Thanks, Mr. or Mrs Unkown
On the cd of the movie Bye, bye Birdie, the song one last kiss performed on the gym appears complete. It is a pity they didn't leave that way on the scene at the gym. only two minutes more. And hearing it, with the almost erotic interpretation made by Jesse Pearson, I bet they didn't included this version on the original album in 1963 fearing strong conservatives reactions. At the end of the song Jesse made sound of a male orgasm.
Dude was smooth.
Indeed he was
Jesse Pearson on Broadway, 1977
Between 1968, when it had its premiere at Colet Court School, through 1973, when a production at the off-West End Roundhouse transferred to the West End's Albery Theatre, the Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was seen in London in ever-expanding versions.
The first U.S. performance of Joseph is believed to be in 1970, at Long Island's College of the Immaculate Conception. But its official New York stage premiere was at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where it played a limited engagement of twenty-two performances beginning December 30, 1976. The Brooklyn premiere was a reproduction of the 1973 London staging at the Albery, directed by Frank Dunlop. David-James Carroll later David Carroll was Joseph; Cleavon Little was the Narrator; Jess Pearson Bye Bye Birdie film was Pharoah; and Virginia Martin was Potiphar's wife.
Thanks for posting!
picture of Jesse Pearson perfoming the Pharaoh/Elvis on the Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat. At 46, his perfomance probably was very good.
http://levyarchive.bam.org/Detail/objects/51130/overlay/1
WOW! Thanks for this.
It's just so difficult to find anything about him at all!
This is like the jackpot!
Good to find he has so many fans.
And is good to see him so well before the disease.
Yes he was a very handsome man.
he was 49 and had cancer, As a kid my uncle died of cancer also at 49, he was a smoker
Really loved the movie i thought jesse and ann magaret gave amazing performances
Actors were often typecast back then, see Max Baer as Jethro or Bob Denver as Gilligan for a comparison. Dick Gautier, the original Broadway Conrad Birdie wouldn't even consider the part in the movie version as he thought he would be typecast as Conrad Birdie. A little known fact is that both Elvis and Conway Twitty both turned down the role. Jesse knocking it out of the park as Conrad Birdie probably killed his career. He was a singer, actor, narrator and Director....he did write and direct a couple of porn movies, which won him awards, at the end of his life.
Jesse Pearson were nominated twice for the Grammy Awards, in 1969 and 1970, for spoken Songs álbuns
https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/jesse-pearson/13610
Jesse Pearson were nominated twice for the Grammy Awards, in 1969 and 1970, for spoken Songs álbuns
https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/jesse-pearson/13610
This page really has all the information I wanted concerning this subject and didn't know who to ask.
In a society of standards and expectations of values, what part of "hard-core porn director" are to be admired?
Thank you to EVERYONE who has contributed to this blog over the years. I was watching an episode of Andy Griffith earlier when I thought I'd look up the character Keevy Hazelton. What's ironic about this posting of Jesse is that everyone who had an encounter with him describe a person just like the character Keevy. Keevy is a 1950s-60s rock-n-roller who has his own TV Show. While passing through Mayberry, Keevy decides to stay a couple days and take in some fishing. Aunt Bee and friend Clara hear of his presence and decide to get him to play a song My Home Town) they've written, on his show. During rehearsal Keevy and the band play the song to a Rock-n-Roll beat with go-go dancers an all. Aunt Bee and Clara are totally aghast. With no time to clear another song for use Keevy rewrites the music. The song is performed live on air as an beautiful ballad, to everyone's surprise and delight. True to form as described by everyone here who actually knew Jesse. As to whether he was gay or not as relevant to whether he did or didn't have AIDS are fine examples of how stereotypes and knowledge of the 2 subjects have and have not changed over the years. Is it possible that Jesse died from AIDS? Absolutely! Is it relevant if he did? Absolutely NOT! If Jesse had AIDS does it mean he was gay? Absolutely Not! Could he have had AIDS when he died in 1979. That is best answered with another question: Did anyone have Cancer before Hippocrates coined the term? If you answer no, it means nobody had cancer before 370 BC Jesse couldn't have AIDS because the CDC first used the term in Sept 1982.While working in Blood banking at the Bethesda Naval hospital in 1981 we were informed that a new illness they believed could be transmitted sexually and through blood had just been observed. Since that time preserved tissue and blood samples of individuals who died many years earlier due to opportunistic diseases are positive for HIV. Diseases like PCP pneumonia and Kaposi's Sarcoma have been considered cancer related. Since the beginning of the epidemic 32.7 million people have died due to AIDS related illnesses as of Dec 2019. As of time I am writing this May 4, 2021 we as a world are hopefully emerging from the worst pandemic (aside from AIDS) in the last 100yrs.The Covid-19 pandemic has brought us to date 3,241,024 deaths. Many of them unnecessary like AIDS due to Ignorance, prejudices and denial.
It has been been almost 42yrs since Jesse passed. A very talented and wonderful person who was taken way too soon. Jesse work in Hollywood right up until a short time before hid death As for his working in porn. Jesse directed in 1978 a film that today would get an X rating. He also wrote a screenplay that was released as an Adult, Comedy film in 1979.
Jesse Pearson aka Bobby Wayne Pearson RIP and Thank You for the Memories
Thank you to EVERYONE who has contributed to this blog over the years. I was watching an episode of Andy Griffith earlier when I thought I'd look up the character Keevy Hazelton. What's ironic about this posting of Jesse is that everyone who had an encounter with him describe a person just like the character Keevy. Keevy is a 1950s-60s rock-n-roller who has his own TV Show. While passing through Mayberry, Keevy decides to stay a couple days and take in some fishing. Aunt Bee and friend Clara hear of his presence and decide to get him to play a song My Home Town) they've written, on his show. During rehearsal Keevy and the band play the song to a Rock-n-Roll beat with go-go dancers an all. Aunt Bee and Clara are totally aghast. With no time to clear another song for use Keevy rewrites the music. The song is performed live on air as an beautiful ballad, to everyone's surprise and delight. True to form as described by everyone here who actually knew Jesse. As to whether he was gay or not is relevant to whether he did or didn't have AIDS are examples of how stereotypes and perceptions of the subjects, have and have not changed over the years. Is it possible that Jesse died from AIDS? Absolutely! Is it relevant if he did? Absolutely NOT! If Jesse had AIDS does it mean he was gay? Absolutely Not! Could he have had AIDS when he died in 1979. Did anyone have Cancer before Hippocrates coined the term? If No, then Jesse couldn't have AIDS because the CDC first used the term in Sept 1982. While working in Blood banking in 1981 we were informed that a new illness they believed could be transmitted sexually and through blood had been observed in gay men. Since that time preserved tissue and blood samples of individuals who died many years earlier due to opportunistic diseases are positive for HIV. Diseases like PCP pneumonia and Kaposi's Sarcoma have been considered cancer related. Since the beginning of the epidemic 32.7 million people have died due to AIDS related illnesses as of Dec 2019. As of time I am writing this May 4, 2021 we as a world are hopefully emerging from the worst pandemic (aside from AIDS) in the last 100yrs.The Covid-19 pandemic has brought us to date 3,241,024 deaths. Many of them unnecessary, like AIDS, due to Ignorance, prejudices and denial.
It has been been almost 42yrs since Jesse passed. A very talented and wonderful person who was taken way too soon. Jesse work in Hollywood right up until a short time before his death. Je worked in film, television and music. In the last year before his death Jesse directed in 1978 a film that today would get an X rating. He also wrote a screenplay that was released as an Adult, Comedy film in 1979.
Jesse Pearson aka Bobby Wayne Pearson RIP and Thank You for the Memories
When this fantastic talented Man died Aids wasn't around for another decade..Get your Facts right.before you say something stupid like that..RIP C. Birdie
What kind of cancer did Jesse have
As a retired nurse, I agree with you. All care should be done as it was for Jesse, with care, dignity and respect. It does not matter who they loved, just that they did, and that the love was returned. He sounded like a sweet man. He was a great actor. Thank you for caring for him and for sharing your memories with us. RIP Jesse.
It's August 7th, 2023 and Bye Bye Birdie is on right now on TCM
Sorry it's FMC
family movie classic
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