1. She was billed under three different names.

 

Born Betty May Adams, she started her career under her real name, as you see with her "Betty Adams" billing on the poster for 1950's Crooked River. The movie studio then forced a new stage name upon her — Julia Adams. Indeed, this is how she was billed in Creature from the Black Lagoon. However, Adams was not a fan of the name "Julia." She asked for it to be changed to "Julie." The studio obliged.

Image: The Everett Collection

2. She was on TV for 60 years.

 

Betty Adams made her debut in 1949 in the early television program Your Show Time, an anthology series that adapted works of literature. Six decades later, in 2007, you could spot her in an episode of CSI: NY, "Boo." It's a nifty role for the end of her career, as the mystery utilizes photos of her from decades earlier.

Image: CBS Television

3. She played Perry Mason's only convicted client.

 

Yes, Perry sometimes lost. Very rarely. Just a few times. In fact, in "The Case of the Deadly Verdict," Adams played Janice Barton, Mason's only convicted client during the show's nine seasons. Hey, nobody's perfect.

Image: The Everett Collection

4. She played opposite Jimmy Steward — decades apart — in the only true "Jimmy" Stewart production.

 

In 1952, Adams (as "Julia") landed a big, breakout role in Bend of the River, a now-heralded Western (the classic was underrated at the time) starred Hollywood legend Jimmy Stewart. Well, he was billed, as per usual, as "James." Two decades later, the pair reunited for The Jimmy Stewart Show, a sitcom about an anthropology professor. Yep, Jimmy Stewart had his own sitcom — briefly. It was the only film or television role in which Stewart allowed himself to be billed as "Jimmy." Really! Adams played his wife.

Image: The Everett Collection

5. She secretly appeared in another 3-D movie with her 'Creature' costar.

 

Creature of the Black Lagoon turned Adams into a true scream queen and horror icon in 1954. The film, famously, was released in 3-D. It also co-starred Richard Denning. Here's a kooky fact. Go back a year prior. Denning appeared in a 3-D film noir called The Glass Web. Adams was technically not in that 1953 movie. Only, she was! A framed photograph of Adams hangs on the wall in Denning's office, seen here. Neat, huh?

Image: Universal Pictures

6. She was the only actress to date Sheriff Andy, Hoss, The Rifleman and Maverick.

 

No other actress can claim to have romanced all those characters onscreen! Read more about it here.

7. Her swimming double was a mermaid.

 

Not a real mermaid, of course. But Ginger Stanley, the stunt double who performed the underwater bits in Creature from the Black Lagoon, worked as a mermaid at the famed Weeki Wachee Springs amusement attraction in Florida. Unlike Adams, Stanley also worked on Revenge of the Creature (1955), although she went uncredited. Again.

Image: Florida Memory