Louise Arters(1945-2012)
- Actress
Started ballet and tap instruction at age eight under Elsie McDonald
(sister of actress Jeanette McDonald's). By age twelve, the Arters
twins were doing a stage presentation based upon the famous
Scope-A-Tune routine of the European Kessler Sisters. Began print and
store modeling in Philadelphia at age fifteen. An in-demand model by
age sixteen, she appeared with Eagles' football sensation Tommy
McDonald for a Penn Fruit campaign. Her mother lied about her age,
which enabled her to go to New York to model in the garment district
while still in high school. After making the rounds of the New York
modeling circuit, she was signed by the prestigious Wilhemina Agency.
She was sent to Paris to meet with Dorian Lee (Suzy Parker's agent
sister), where she immediately landed the cover of "L'Official," a
major coup. After doing pret-a-porter and print work in Paris for one
year, she returned to New York City where she made a successful living
as a model. Between international assignments she continued to hone her
dance skills; singing lessons soon followed with David Collier. She
added drama instruction with Robert Modica, coach of Ali MacGraw . Her
agency sent the sisters to read for a scene requiring twins in _Great Gatsby, The (1972)_,
which they got. Modeling continued non-stop until they received the
audition call from George Roy Hill for the infamous Slap Shot (1977). The role of a
hockey booster club Sparkle Twin is the one with which Louise is still
closely associated. The girls were then featured with Jack Weston in O'Kay,
a New York stage production that brought the girls to Toronto's Old
Vic, followed by a six week run at prestigious Lincon Center. The show
was originally scheduled to open on Broadway, but plans were scuttled
due to the city's lengthy newspaper strike. It was shortly after this
time that Louise's increasing health problems were finally diagnosed as
Multiple Sclerosis.