| Lee
Benton
Lee began working in the Public Affairs Department
of General Telephone Company right out of high school. About the
same time, she began a very successful modeling career in Tampa
that spanned nearly a decade. Always a head-turner, Lee (known
back then as Rosa Lee) was a top job getter with her Tampa agent,
Models International.
With the 80's came the itch to make it in Hollywood
so she moved to LA and became a smash almost overnight, scoring
guest appearances in skits on "The Tonight Show with Johnny
Carson" and on television shows like "Hotel" and
"Silk Stalkings." Lee worked hard to get noticed and
wouldn't think twice about getting in the face of a producer with
a big project.
One of the producers she encountered was Jay
Bernstein, who immediately recognized her talent and cast her
as Jenny, the bartender, in "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer"
on CBS. Jenny always gave an ear to Detective Hammer and the problems
he needed to vent.
The show went into hiatus when its star, Stacey
Keach, got arrested in London on drug charges but went back into
production after his release...and Lee was back to work. Reruns
still air on cable networks.
She has worked in a number of films for the
big screen as well but these days prefers to produce her own projects,
particularly those which advance Christian ideals. She returns
to Tampa often to visit her parents, who still live in the same
house where Lee grew up. |
