When Circus of the Stars Ruled Primetime
Perhaps it was around the time a leopard named Sheila sank its teeth into her neck that Juliet Prowse began to have second thoughts about Circus of the Stars.
Prowse, an actress and dancer, was rehearsing for an appearance as a leader of uncaged leopards for the 1987 edition of the variety show, an annual extravaganza that recruited familiar faces from the worlds of movies, television, and music and had them perform circus theatrics for the amusement of viewers.
But not, apparently, for the amusement of Sheila, who launched her attack after Prowse told her “good morning.”
The bite, which required five stitches, came dangerously close to Prowse's carotid artery.
“I’m fine but very lucky,” Prowse told The Los Angeles Times. “I don’t think Sheila was playing. She actually bit me. She sank her teeth right into me.”
It was the first feline assault logged in the history of Circus of the Stars, which began in 1977 and continued through 1994.
Pop culture luminaries such as Linda Blair, Emmanuel Lewis, Peter Scolari, Mario Lopez, and dozens of others demonstrated the acrobatic skills they picked up during a grueling few weeks of training.
Alex Trebek escaped a pair of handcuffs; Brooke Shields took to the trapeze; viewers worried that if Lorenzo Lamas were to injure himself, filming of Falcon Crest might be interrupted. It was must-see television.
Joining the Circus
The idea for Circus of the Stars originated in France, where audiences and actors alike took it rather seriously.
For decades, the country had mounted a show called Le Gala de l’union, a circus spectacle that raised money for retired and indigent French actors.
Their biggest stars made appearances, and the specials aired on French television.
American producer Bob Stivers thought the format would work for American audiences, and his plans were ambitious.
Early in production, Stivers imagined a U.S. vs. France circus competition that would pit the biggest stars from each country against one another in a variety of big top performances.
Paul Newman, Robert Redford, John Wayne, and Jack Nicholson were among the actors expected to represent the U.S., while Catherine Deneuve and Jeanne Moreau would stand in leotarded solidarity for France. Famed French actor Alain Delon was to host.
The plan was perhaps an overreach.
By the time the first Circus of the Stars aired on CBS in January 1977, none of those stars were in the show—though Paul Newman was in the audience. 's John Forsythe was hosting, while Lynda Carter, Roots star Gary Collins, and Oscar-winning singer/actor Liza Minnelli made their way through their routines.
An audience of American and French socialites who had showed up in evening wear expecting a production on the level of the French iteration sat for six hours in front of a blinking “applause” sign.
With promising ratings and tempered expectations, Circus of the Stars continued as an annual event.
The 1979 edition featured Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lewis, and Betty White.
In 1980, Angela Lansbury, Rock Hudson, Lloyd Bridges, and Valerie Perrine were the ringmasters.
In 1986, the line-up included Ricky Schroeder, Burt Lancaster, and Lana Turner, who starred in The Postman Always Rings Twice, as well as Willie Aames, who starred in Charles in Charge.
Rather than commit to taping a show over the course of several days, participants were really agreeing to a months-long obligation of training.
“It’s very complicated circus stuff,” Sid Smith, who directed many of the specials, told the Television Academy Foundation in 1997. “Those people that learn to do the trapeze, it takes them 13 weeks to learn.
The high wire takes 11 weeks to learn. Going in the lion’s cage and training lions and tigers takes nine weeks to learn. So the stars worked hard for a long time to get themselves ready.”
Other featured performers, like David Nelson of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet fame, were already up to the task.
Nelson had trained on the trapeze for a 1959 film, The Big Circus. He later performed on several editions of Circus of the Stars.
While the effort led to a payday, it was also a kind of wish fulfillment.
Mary Ann Mobley, who was the wife of actor Gary Collins and had been named Miss America in 1959, made numerous appearances on the show with her husband.
Despite being bit by “the meanest, most uncooperative Shetland ponies you ever saw,” Mobley said the event was a chance to realize a childhood ambition.
“I went to the circus every year when I was a little girl in Mississippi,” Mobley told United Press International in 1979.
“I always wanted to be the girl on the flying trapeze. And now, once a year, I can run away to the circus and become that girl.”
Less capable actors were still given compliments. “Linda Gray of Dallas performs a marvelous act with a dog named Blanca,” read one newspaper report.
Others expressed concern that model Barbi Benton might be devoured by lions.
Paws for Applause
Emboldened by the success of Circus of the Stars, producers launched The Wildest West Show of the Stars in 1986, where performers like Alan Thicke and Paul Reubens (as Pee-wee Herman) engaged in Old West stunts.
The parent show continued through 1994 and has occasionally been resurrected.
A 2008 version featured actors Stacey Dash and Antonio Sabato Jr. flying through the air. Former boy bander Joey Fatone hosted.
Despite the seeming gravity of certain situations involving high-wire acts or animals, no actor was harmed during the 17 years Circus of the Stars was on the air—save for Prowse.
After Sheila the leopard went for her neck during that September 1987 training session, Prowse was bit a second time in December during a rehearsal.
This time, she suffered minor injuries to her ear. Stars can be temperamental.
The ’60s Icon Who Lost Love And Endured Tragedy: Her Photos At 86
Connie Francis stands as one of the most influential and successful female vocalists in American music history—a performer whose unmistakable voice helped define the sound of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
With timeless classics such as “Who’s Sorry Now?”, “Stupid Cupid,” “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own,” and “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” she became an international sensation, captivating audiences around the world with her emotional delivery and remarkable vocal versatility.
Behind the glamour, however, was a life marked by extraordinary triumphs, heartbreaking loss, and an unwavering determination to survive challenges that would have broken many others.
Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, Connie showed musical talent from an early age. Recognizing her potential, her father became the driving force behind her career.
Fiercely ambitious and deeply determined to see his daughter succeed, he encouraged—and often pressured—her to perform from childhood.
Under his strict guidance, Connie appeared in talent competitions, television programs, and live performances while still very young.
Although his relentless efforts ultimately helped launch one of the most successful careers in popular music, they also created enormous emotional pressure.
Connie would later acknowledge that the discipline and expectations placed upon her during her formative years shaped both her incredible work ethic and many of the personal struggles she experienced later in life.
Her breakthrough arrived in 1958 with “Who’s Sorry Now?” At first, the song attracted little attention, but after legendary television host Dick Clark played it on American Bandstand, everything changed.
Almost overnight, Connie Francis became a household name.
The record climbed the charts not only in the United States but across Europe and beyond, transforming her into one of the world's first truly international female pop stars.
Over the following years, she dominated radio with a remarkable string of hit records, sold millions of albums, and performed in multiple languages, building an enormous global fan base that stretched far beyond English-speaking audiences.
While her professional life appeared glamorous, her personal life was often filled with heartbreak. One of the deepest emotional wounds came from her romance with fellow singer Bobby Darin.
Their relationship blossomed during the early years of their careers, and the pair reportedly envisioned a future together.
However, Connie's father strongly disapproved of the relationship and ultimately intervened, preventing the romance from continuing.
The separation devastated both young performers. Bobby Darin eventually moved on and married actress Sandra Dee, while Connie would later describe losing him as one of the greatest heartbreaks of her life.
Years afterward, she admitted that she often wondered how different her life might have been had they been allowed to remain together.
As the years passed, the tragedies continued to mount. In 1974, Connie became the victim of a horrific assault following a performance, an event that profoundly affected her emotionally and psychologically.
The traumatic experience left lasting scars and dramatically altered her confidence and sense of security.
Determined that others should not endure similar suffering without support, she later became an outspoken advocate for victims' rights, helping raise awareness about crime victims and encouraging improvements in victim assistance programs throughout the United States.
Not long afterward, another devastating blow struck when her beloved younger brother, George Franconero Jr., was murdered.
His death shattered the family and plunged Connie into overwhelming grief. Losing someone so close while still coping with previous trauma compounded her emotional struggles and made everyday life increasingly difficult.
The combination of public pressure, personal loss, and unresolved trauma gradually took a severe toll on her mental health.
During these painful years, Connie faced profound depression and experienced periods of emotional crisis.
She openly discussed her struggles with mental illness, including a suicide attempt, choosing to speak honestly about experiences that were rarely discussed publicly at the time.
Her willingness to share her story helped reduce stigma surrounding mental health and encouraged countless others to seek treatment and support. Rather than hiding her pain, Connie transformed it into a source of compassion for people facing similar battles.
As if those challenges were not enough, Connie also endured a devastating setback to the very gift that had made her famous—her voice.
Following nasal surgery intended to improve her breathing, complications temporarily robbed her of her ability to sing.
For an artist whose identity and livelihood depended upon her voice, the experience was emotionally crushing.
The fear that she might never perform again left her questioning whether her extraordinary career had reached its end.
Through months of rehabilitation, patience, and determination, she gradually regained her vocal abilities, demonstrating once again the remarkable resilience that had become a defining characteristic of her life.
Despite enduring repeated personal tragedies, Connie refused to let hardship define her legacy.
Throughout the years, she found strength in several enduring sources: her deep religious faith, the love she shared with her adopted son Joey, and the unwavering support of generations of devoted fans who continued to celebrate her music long after her chart-topping years had passed.
Their encouragement reminded her that her voice—and her story—continued to matter.
Professionally, Connie Francis achieved accomplishments that remain extraordinary by any standard.
She sold more than 80 million records worldwide, recorded songs in numerous languages, and became one of the first female solo artists to enjoy sustained international superstardom.
Her influence reached far beyond America, making her one of the most recognizable voices of her era.
Even decades after her biggest hits, her recordings continue to be rediscovered by new generations of listeners who appreciate the sincerity, warmth, and emotional depth she brought to every performance.
Today, at 87 years old, Connie Francis is remembered not only as a legendary singer but also as a symbol of perseverance.
Living a quiet life in Florida after retiring from the spotlight, she remains an enduring inspiration to fans around the world.
Her extraordinary journey serves as a reminder that fame does not shield anyone from heartbreak, loss, or personal struggle, but it also demonstrates the remarkable resilience of the human spirit.
Through unimaginable challenges, Connie continued to move forward with courage, dignity, and hope.
Her legacy extends far beyond the millions of records she sold or the timeless songs she recorded.
It lives on in her advocacy for victims' rights, her openness about mental health, and her willingness to transform personal pain into compassion for others.
Connie Francis is remembered not simply because she possessed one of the most recognizable voices of the twentieth century, but because she showed the world that true strength is measured not by the absence of suffering, but by the courage to keep singing after life has tested you again and again.
