Brenda Starr was a well-known journalist and adventurer. She was an attractive woman with distinctive red hair. For most of her career, she worked for the Daily Flash newspaper in Chicago.
Interviewing Tracy[]
In 1994, during the brief period in which Tess Tracy had filed for divorce from Dick, Brenda arrived at Tracy's office to interview him about modern romance.
Starr found herself attracted to the detective, and was embarrassed when she learned that the divorce had not been finalized. Tracy thanked her for the perspective she had provided about what modern women want.
Later Adventures[]
At some point, Brenda Starr stopped working for the Daily Flash. She later began teaching a journalism class. Her students included Honeymoon Tracy and Annie Warbucks. Brenda became involved in Dick Tracy's investigation of the so-called "vampire murders" committed by Professor Stokes, and she eventually provided Tracy with information that ultimately led Tracy to Stokes.
During Tracy's investigation of the disappearance of Nero Wolfe, he mentioned that Brenda was married to Basil St. John (a longtime love interest of Brenda's). There was no indication that Brenda had taken her husband's last name.
Appearances in Other Media[]
Joan Woodbury as Brenda Starr
1945 Serial[]
In the 13-part serial Brenda Starr, Reporter released in 1945, Brenda was played by Joan Woodbury.
1976 TV Movie[]
In the 1976 Brenda Starr TV movie, Brenda was played by Jill St. John.
1979 Live-Action TV Pilot[]
In the pilot for the unproduced 1979 Brenda Starr, Reporter live-action TV series, Brenda was played by Sherry Jackson.
1989 Feature Film[]
Brooke Shields as Brenda Starr
In the 1989 Brenda Starr feature film, Brenda was played by Brooke Shields. The film was produced in 1986, but due to several complications it was not released to theaters until 1989. It was initially released in Europe and did not premiere in the United States until 1992.
Notes[]
Brenda Starr, as drawn by Joe Staton
- Brenda Starr was the main character in the long-running serialized newspaper comic strip Brenda Starr, Reporter. It debuted in June 1940, and was distributed by Tribune Media Services, the same distributor of Dick Tracy. The strip ceased publication on January 2nd, 2011.
- The 1994 Brenda Starr interview was a series of 7 specially-produced strips. The artwork seems to have been split between the strips' creative teams.