Biography
Who is Ronee Blakley?
Early life and family
Ronee Sue Blakley was born on August 24, 1945, in Nampa, Idaho. She grew up as one of four children born to Ronald Blakley, who worked as a civil engineer, and Carol Blakley. Her mother later became a dedicated activist for gay rights, particularly supporting Ronee's brother, Stephen. In addition to Stephen, Ronee grew up with another brother named John and a sister named Marthetta.
Music career beginnings
Ronee Blakley launched her professional music career in the early 1970s. She released a self-titled debut album on Elektra Records in 1972, which featured original songs she wrote and performed on the piano. This album included the track Bluebird, which featured a duet with Linda Ronstadt. During this period, she established her own publishing company, Sawtooth Music, to manage her creative output.
Her second studio album, titled Welcome, was released on the Warner Bros. Label in 1975. The record was produced by Jerry Wexler and tracked at the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studio located in Alabama. Throughout her musical path, she has also collaborated with well-known artists like Leonard Cohen, Hoyt Axton, and Bob Dylan. She especially toured with Dylan as part of his Rolling Thunder Revue, contributing vocals to his album Desire.
Rise to fame in film
The artist achieved significant acclaim for her role as Barbara Jean in the 1975 musical drama Nashville, directed by Robert Altman. Although she performed her own original music in character, she drew inspiration from singer Lynn Anderson for the role. Her performance received critical praise and led to nominations for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations. She ultimately won the National Board of Review award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal.
Following this success, she appeared in various well-known films throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. These credits include The Driver in 1978 and the 1984 horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street, where she played the character Marge Thompson. She also starred in the 1980 film The Baltimore Bullet. Her work behind the camera expanded in 1985 when she wrote, directed, and produced her own feature music docudrama titled I Played It for You, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
Television and later projects
Ronee Blakley has an extensive history in television, appearing in numerous movies and guest-starring roles. Her television film credits include Desperate Women, Ladies in Waiting, and The Oklahoma City Dolls. She also appeared in the Ford 75th Anniversary Special presentation of The Glass Menagerie. Her list of guest appearances on series is long, covering shows such as The Love Boat, Vega$, Highway to Heaven, Trapper John, M.D., Hotel, and Tales from the Darkside.
In more recent years, she has continued to pursue creative projects. She released the album River Nile in 2009, which drew inspiration from her travels in Egypt. In 2012, she wrote, produced, and directed the film Of One Blood, which featured an appearance by her daughter, Sarah Blakley-Cartwright. She was also featured in the 2019 project Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story directed by Martin Scorsese.
Birthday and age
Ronee Blakley was born on August 24, 1945, which makes Ronee 81 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Ronee shares the date with 36 other famous people.
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