Jessie Lee Fulton

Jessie Lee Fulton, born smack in the middle of Oklahoma—Muskogee, to be exact—on June 14, 1912. She wasn’t just any small-town gal, though. No, she had that spark, that old-school grit. Hollywood eventually came calling, and she left her mark in some pretty iconic flicks. You might remember her from "The Last Picture Show" in '71—one of those movies that’s all about nostalgia and small-town drama, shot in black and white even though color existed, just to crank up the mood. Jessie played her part with this no-nonsense energy, fitting right in with the dusty Texas vibe. A couple years later, she popped up in "Paper Moon" (yeah, the one with Tatum O’Neal as a child con artist). That film’s a wild ride—con men, Depression-era hijinks, bittersweet comedy. Jessie wasn’t the star, but she had this knack for making her scenes stick with you. Then there’s "The Sugarland Express" in '74—Spielberg’s early work, all about a couple on the run, desperate as hell to get their kid back. Jessie slid right into that chaos, handling intense moments like a pro, giving the whole thing more heart. She wrapped up her story in Dallas, Texas, passing away on June 29, 1983. Not exactly a household name, but she left a little trail of gold dust in American film. That’s Jessie Lee Fulton—a bit overlooked, but absolutely worth remembering.