She was born Jennifer Helene Maxwell on September 3, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York. Her father, John Maxwell, was a construction worker from Norway. During her childhood she began modeling and took acting classes. While attending Brooklyn high school the sixteen year old was discovered by director Vincente Minnelli. He brought her to Hollywood to make screen test for the film Some Came Running. Although she didn’t get the role she decided stay in Hollywood. In 1958 she made her acting debut in an episode of Bachelor Father. Jenny appeared on numerous television shows including The Twilight Zone, Dr. Kildaire, and Father Knows Best. She claimed to be a distant cousin of Marilyn Monroe but this might not be true, At the age of seventeen she married Paul Rapp, an assistant film director. Their son Brian was born in 1960. The pretty blonde landed a featured role in Elvis Presley’s 1961 musical Blue Hawaii. Jenny also had smalls roles in the films Take Her She’s Mine and Shotgun Wedding. Unfortunately she started partying and using drugs. Her marriage to Paul ended in 1963 and she lost custody of their son.