Jill St. John Biography: Hollywood Star & First American Bond Girl, Birthdate, Birthplace, Age, Height, Ethnicity, Education, Profession, Spouse, Children, Net Worth

“I was always determined to be more than just a pretty face.” — Jill St. John

Jill St. John (born Jill Arlyn Oppenheim, August 19, 1940) is an American retired actress best known as Tiffany Case, the first American Bond girl in Diamonds Are Forever (1971). She enjoyed a prolific career in film and television from the 1950s through the 1980s, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Come Blow Your Horn (1963). In 2025, she is trending for celebrating her 35th wedding anniversary with actor Robert Wagner, marking one of Hollywood’s longest‑lasting marriages. Her challenges include navigating Hollywood typecasting, maintaining privacy amid public scrutiny, and balancing career longevity with family life.

Timeline Overview

Year	Milestone
1940	Born August 19 in Los Angeles, California
1946	Began acting career as child performer
1957	Married Neil Dubin (divorced 1958)
1960	Married Lance Reventlow (divorced 1963)
1963	Golden Globe nomination for Come Blow Your Horn
1967	Married Jack Jones (divorced 1969)
1971	Starred as Tiffany Case in Diamonds Are Forever
1990	Married Robert Wagner
2014	Retired from acting
2025	Trending for 35th wedding anniversary with Wagner

Quick Facts

Attribute	Detail
Full Name	Jill Arlyn Oppenheim
Birthdate	August 19, 1940
Birthplace	Los Angeles, California, USA
Age	85 (as of 2025)
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.69 m)
Ethnicity	Jewish heritage
Profession	Actress (retired)
Known For	Tiffany Case in Diamonds Are Forever
Spouse	Robert Wagner (m. 1990)
Children	None (stepmother to Wagner’s daughters)
Net Worth	Estimated $10–15 million

Early Life & Education

Jill St. John was born Jill Arlyn Oppenheim in Los Angeles to Edward Oppenheim and Betty Goldberg Oppenheim. Raised in a Jewish household, she grew up speaking English and Yiddish. Her parents encouraged her early interest in performance, enrolling her in acting classes by age six.

She attended Hollywood Professional School, balancing academics with her burgeoning acting career. By her teens, she was already appearing in radio and television productions.

Career Background

Early Roles St. John began acting in the 1940s, appearing in radio dramas and small film roles. By the 1950s, she was signed to Universal Pictures, where she became known for her striking red hair and glamorous presence.

Breakthrough Her breakthrough came with Come Blow Your Horn (1963), opposite Frank Sinatra. The role earned her a Golden Globe nomination, cementing her reputation as a rising star.

James Bond Fame In 1971, St. John starred as Tiffany Case in Diamonds Are Forever, becoming the first American Bond girl. The role brought her international fame and remains her most iconic performance.

Other Films & TV She appeared in films such as Holiday for Lovers (1959), The Lost World (1960), Tender Is the Night (1962), Who’s Minding the Store? (1963), Tony Rome (1967), and The Concrete Jungle (1982). On television, she guest‑starred in Batman, Hart to Hart, and Magnum, P.I..

Later Career & Retirement By the 1980s, St. John transitioned to television movies and occasional guest roles. She retired in 2014, focusing on philanthropy and her marriage to Robert Wagner.

Jill St. John photo - wikiiTrends — **Jill St. John photo – wikiiTrends**

Challenges & Achievements

Challenges

Typecasting: Often cast as glamorous or comedic roles, limiting dramatic opportunities.
Public Scrutiny: Her marriages and relationships were frequently covered by tabloids.
Career Longevity: Sustaining relevance in Hollywood across decades required adaptability.

Achievements

Golden Globe nomination for Come Blow Your Horn.
First American Bond girl in Diamonds Are Forever.
Career spanning nearly 70 years, from child actress to Hollywood icon.
Philanthropic work alongside Robert Wagner in Aspen, Colorado.

Family & Parents

Jill St. John was born to Edward Oppenheim and Betty Goldberg Oppenheim. Her father was of Jewish descent, and her mother nurtured her artistic talents.

She married four times:

Neil Dubin (1957–1958)
Lance Reventlow (1960–1963)
Jack Jones (1967–1969)
Robert Wagner (1990–present)

Though she has no biological children, she is stepmother to Wagner’s daughters: Katie Wagner, Natasha Gregson Wagner, and Courtney Wagner.

Salary & Net Worth

Salary (Peak Years): Estimated $100,000–$200,000 per film in the 1960s–70s.
Net Worth: Approximately $10–15 million, including real estate in Aspen, Colorado.

Legacy

Jill St. John’s legacy lies in her ability to blend glamour with resilience. From child actress to Bond girl, she carved a niche as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars of the 1960s and 70s.

Her marriage to Robert Wagner remains one of Hollywood’s longest‑lasting unions, celebrated in 2025 as a testament to enduring love. As she enjoys retirement, St. John continues to inspire fans with her story of perseverance, elegance, and timeless charm.