Emmaline Henry

Who was Emmaline Henry?

Emmaline Henry was an American actress perhaps best known for playing Amanda Bellows, wife of Dr. Bellows, on the hit 1960s situation comedy I Dream of Jeannie.

Creator Sidney Sheldon mentioned in an interview that she was a good actress who was easy to work with. A casting director brought her in to audition and to meet him. Sheldon tested her and based on the screen test she got the part of Mrs. Bellows. She was first cast on the show January 22, 1966 in season 1 episode 18 in a one episode role playing a different character called "Myrt". Her first appearance as Mrs. Bellows wasn't seen until December 12, 1966 in season 2 episode 14, when she was introduced to Tony and Roger by Dr. Bellows for the first time.

Originally, Henry never intended to become an actress, for she had wanted to become a singer. By her teens she was appearing on local radio. She went to Hollywood in the early 1950s and found her way into the choruses of several musicals. Producers began noticing, however, that her comedy skills were superior to her singing. She toured in shows like Top Banana, and acted in the film of that show. She also succeeded Carol Channing in the play Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.