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A photo of Claire Cox

Claire Cox 1946 - 1973

Claira Ann Paeai (Hisatake) Cox of 13544 Rye St, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States was born on July 2, 1946 in Utulei, Ma'oputasi County, Eastern District American Samoa to Jack Hisatake and Lealofisa Matalena Hisatake. Claira Cox died at age 27 years old on September 28, 1973 at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States, and was buried at Diamond Head Memorial Park in Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI.

Claira Ann Paeai (Hisatake) Cox
Clara Ann Cox, Clara Ann Iwamoto, Clara Ann Hisatake
Name
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13544 Rye St, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California 91423, United States
Last residence
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July 2, 1946
Utulei, Ma'oputasi County, Eastern District, American Samoa
Birth
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September 28, 1973
UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States
Death
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Updated: January 27, 2025
Biography ID: 90256176 What's this
Claire Cox Claira Cox (1946 - 1973)
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Claira Ann Paeai (Hisatake) Cox's History: 1946 - 1973

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  • Introduction

    Claira Ann Paeai Hisatake, later known as Claire Cox, was born to Jack Hisatake (1921 - 1987) and Lealofisa Matalena Hisatake (1922 - 2010). Both parents were born in American Samoa. Claira had three brothers, Gilbert, Jack and Joseph. Claira Hisatake married Jon Claybourne "Big Jon" Cox (1942 - 2007) in June of 1968 in Hawaii. They had one daughter, Leah. A teacher and still married, Claire Cox was the girlfriend of Hollywood actor James Stacy of "Lancer" fame. The couple were taking a motorcycle ride in the Hollywood Hills when they were struck by a drunk driver. Claire died the next day and James lost his left arm and left leg as a result of the accident. However, the accident report does not blame a drunk driver as the cause of the accident. The city of Los Angeles was sued because " As they - Claire and James - entered a sharp curve on the mountain road, their motorcycle was struck by a car coming from the opposite direction" . . . the city attorney advised that "the road at the scene of the accident narrows from 21 ft to less than 11 ft. . . . " and "although there is a traffic sign warning motorists of a curve, there was no indication the pavement narrowed . . . nor any lane dividers" . He thought that because of these factors, the city was liable. In 1976, the Los Angeles City council voted to give a $200,00 settlement to James Stacy, and Claire's heirs received $25,000. When filing the suit against the city, James Stacy asked for $10 million and the heirs of Mrs. Cox asked for $800,000. When she died, Claire was still the wife of Jon C. Cox, who was living in Sherman Oaks California and was the mother of Leah Cox. She was also survived by her father Jack, her mother, Lealofisa and her 3 brothers. Claire lost her life in the accident and the course of James Stacy's life was drastically altered. To see what happened to him next, see James Stacy’s Life Changed Forever in 1973.
  • 07/2
    1946

    Birthday

    July 2, 1946
    Birthdate
    Utulei, Ma'oputasi County, Eastern District American Samoa
    Birthplace
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  • Ethnicity & Family History

    Claire was Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) of Samoan lineage. Her father, Jack Hisatake was born on September 28th 1921 in Eastern American Samoa. Jack's father Charles was born August 19th 1879 in Tokyo Japan. Jack's mother Tovaega Mauga was born in American Samoa on January 30th 1883. Claire's mother Lealofisa Matalena Hisatake was born April 4th 1922 in Pago Pago, Eastern American Samoa. Both of Lealogisa's parents, Savelio Aetonu (1883-1955) and Utuvaipaea'i Uifa'atali Nofoasaefa (1887-1933) were born in American Samoa.

  • Nationality & Locations

    Born in American Samoa, Claire grew up in Hawaii and moved to Los Angeles after she married. She lived in Los Angeles until her untimely death in the Hollywood Hills

  • Early Life & Education

    She attended Waipahu High School which is located on the Farrington Highway in Waipahu on the island of Oʻahu in the state of Hawaiʻi. The school was founded in 1938 under the Session Laws of 1937 and Act 191 of 1938, and the first graduates of were from the class of 1941 - only a few decades earlier than Claire's graduation. After graduation, Claire attended the University of Hawaii.

  • Religious Beliefs

    When Clarie was laid to rest, Catholic services were held at Sacred Hearts Church at 1701 Wilder Avenue in Honolulu, Hawaii. A rosary and a requiem mass was celebrated.

  • Professional Career

    Claire was a teacher.

  • Personal Life & Family

    Claira Ann Paeai Hisatake was born to Jack Joseph Hisatake (1921 - 1987) and Lealofisa Matalena Hisatake (1922 - 2010), and had three brothers Gilbert, Jack and Joseph. She married Jon Claybourne "Big Jon" Cox (1942 - 2007) in June of 1968 in Hawaii, and they had a daughter named Leah.
  • 09/28
    1973

    Death

    September 28, 1973
    Death date
    Motorcycle accident
    Cause of death
    UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States
    Death location
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  • Gravesite & Burial

    mm/dd/yyyy
    Funeral date
    Diamond Head Memorial Park in Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI
    Burial location

  • Obituary

    Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary - COX, MRS CLARA ANN (Pai Hisatake) Age 27, of 13544 Rye Street, Sherman Oaks, Calif, passed away September 28, 1973 at UCLA Medical Center. Born July 2, 1946, in Pago Pago, American Samoa. She was a graduate of Waipahu High School. She is survived by her beloved husband, Jon Claybourne Cox, daughter Miss Leah Christena Cox; father Jack J. Hisatake; mother, Mrs Lealofisa Hisatake; 3 brothers, Gilbert I (Charlotte Louise), Jack P (Lydia) and Joseph L (Patti) Hisatake; mother-in-law, Mrs. Christena Cox; also uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews. Friends may call from 6 to 9 PM Friday, October 5, 1973 at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary's East Chape. Rosary will be recited at 7 PM Friends may call again from 8 to 9 am Saturday October 7, 1973, at Sacred Hearts Church (Wilder Avenue). A requiem mass will be celebrated at 9 am. Internment to follow at Diamond Head Memorial Park. - The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Thursday, October 4th 1973 page 48.
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5 Memories, Stories & Photos about Claira

Clara Ann “Paeai-Pai” Hisatake Cox Gravesite
Photo of Kathy Pinna Kathy Pinna
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03/09/2022
Clara Ann “Paeai-Pai” Hisatake Cox Gravesite
The grave of Clara Ann “Paeai-Pai” Hisatake Cox in Diamond Head Memorial Park, Honolulu Hawaii
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Clara Ann “Paeai-Pai” Hisatake Cox
Photo of Kathy Pinna Kathy Pinna
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03/09/2022
Clara Ann “Paeai-Pai” Hisatake Cox
A photo of Clara Ann “Paeai-Pai” Hisatake Cox added to Find A Grave by PIN on Nov 7 2018
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Photo of AncientFaces AncientFaces
411 favorites
05/10/2022
Claire Cox (1946-1973) was 27 and dating actor James Stacy of tv western "Lancer" fame. One day, she was riding on the back of his motorcycle enjoying the Hollywood hills and a drunk driver hit them head on. He lost his left leg and arm and she lost her life.

The families sued the city of LA, and not the driver, citing the road conditions and lack of appropriate signage.

Claire, born in Pago Pago American Samoa, moved almost halfway around the world to end her life in tragedy. Learn more about her and the accident
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05/10/2022
Have had a number of friends over the decades who loved the 2-wheelers and paid for it with serious injuries. As the old saying goes, there are no "fender benders" on motor cycles, and it doesn't matter how safe you are. It's all those inattentive fools who will kill you!
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Claire A Cox
Photo of Kathy Pinna Kathy Pinna
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05/10/2022
Claire A Cox
High school photo of Claire A Cox
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Photo of Kathy Pinna Kathy Pinna
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12/01/2022
James Stacy’s Life Changed Forever in 1973
After an Accident Left Him with Irreparable Damage Written by Laura Beatham on November 17, 2021:

James Stacy was a TV actor in the 50s to 70s, but a tragic accident saw him be typecast as an amputee and shortened his once very promising career. 70s TV actor James Stacy was involved in a tragic motorcycle accident that caused him to lose his arm and his then-girlfriend, Claire Cox. Before the accident, Stacy was most known for his role in "Lancer." He played Johnny Madrid Lancer, one of two brothers who returned to their father's ranch to defend it from a gang of marauders.

Stacy had a few roles before he landed his role in "Lancer," which included a few TV appearances in shows such as "The Donna Reed Show," "Gunsmoke," "Cheyenne," "Have Gun — Will Travel," and "Perry Mason." Two years after "Lancer" wrapped, in 1973, Stacy was involved in a motorcycle accident while driving up Benedict Canyon Road in Hollywood with a car that was driving down.

Claire Cox was on the motorcycle too and lost her life. In comparison, Stacy lost his left arm and most of his left leg from collusion. He once recalled the moment and said: "I was awake, I remember that. There was nobody around and a dog barking. I was lying there saying to myself, ‘Oh (expletive), did I get out of that one?’ " The accident also led to a landmark California legal case as Stacy won a lawsuit against the Beverly Hills bar that served alcohol to the car driver that collided with his motorcycle. His was the first case to receive a verdict under the 1971 state Supreme Court ruling that any establishment could be sued for damages if an accident was caused by a patron they served.

Stacy received a $1.9 million settlement, while Cox's estate was awarded $400,000. A few months later, the driver, 35-year-old Carter B. Gordon of Woodland Hills, was sentenced to one to five years in prison for manslaughter and drunk driving charges. Although Stacy got justice for the accident, his career seemed to worsen as many production companies could not cast him in film and TV because of his missing limbs.

He did receive a few roles after the accident. His return to acting was marked by his role in "Posse," a part that the film's star, Kirk Douglas, had ordered for him. Stacy's next role would earn him an Emmy nomination, an NBC TV movie called "Just a Little inconvenience," in which Stacy played a wounded Vietnam War Veteran. The movie came four years after his life-altering accident and saw him star alongside actress Barbara Hershey, whose character falls in love with Stacy.

However, the Emmy nominated performance would not be without its hitches. Shortly after the movie was released, Stacy told the Washington Post that he was almost fired from the set. He got into a fight with his co-star, and he also wanted to add a few changes to the director's script, but the director, Theodore J. Flicker, was unwilling to make changes. Stacy was sure he would be fired from the production, as filming had stopped, and he was ready to pack his things and leave the set. Fortunately, his co-star, Lee Majors, stepped in and saved the day. Stacy shared with the outlet: "He [Majors] left and one hour later he called and said, "All right, you're doing the picture, we start shooting again Monday, be a good boy." "

The film led Stacy into several other roles, including a segment in "Cagney & Lacey," where he also played a Vietnam War veteran. Later in 1980, he produced and acted in "My Kidnapper, My Love." Sam Wanamaker directed the film. Stacy played a disabled newsstand operator whose small-time criminal brother persuaded him to kidnap a girl for ransom. One of Stacy's last performances was in a five-part series called "Wiseguy" in the 90s. The show featured Stacy playing a man who lost his leg and arm during a mine accident. The mine owner also owns the town, so Stacy's character is awarded the town's newspaper through a settlement, and he becomes an editor. The role was different from Stacy's other roles, as he once said:

"I get offered more Vietnam veterans than any other roles. But I’ve done that. So I was really pleased to get this part." After his performance in the TV show, Stacy's acting career ended after being accused and convicted of molesting an 11-year-old girl from his neighborhood after inviting her to his home to swim. The day before his sentencing, Stacy fled to Hawaii. A month later, authorities found him after he tried to commit suicide. He was later sentenced to six years in the Ventura County Jail. During Stacy's sentencing, the actor shared an apology in the courtroom and said, "I do want to make a formal apology for what happened that horrible day at my house." After his time in jail, Stacy lived a quiet life with his fiancée, Antigoni Tsamparlis. In 2016, on September 6, he passed away at 79 from an anaphylactic shock after receiving antibiotics.

He was survived by his daughter, Heather, whom he shared with his ex-wife, Kim Darby. The two married in 1968 when she was only 20 years old. However, they divorced a year later, in 1969. The former couple met on the set of "Gunsmoke" and later welcomed their daughter. In an interview with The Pittsburgh Press in 1969, Darby shared that Stacy was a good father to Heather. Before Darby, he was married to actress Connie Stevens from 1963 to 1966. He did not get a chance to marry Tsamparlis, who would have been his third wife. Besides his daughter, he left behind his sister, Carolyn Elias, and his brother, Louie. Although he is gone, he lives on through his TV and movie roles.

Stacy's life was filled with tragedy and controversy. However, his determination to stay in Hollywood despite his accident showcases his motivation and passion for the industry.
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Joey Cox
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04/10/2021
Is this Claire who passed away in the motorcycle accident with James Stacy.....Joey Cox
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Claira Hisatake's Family Tree & Friends

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Other Biographies

Other Hisatake Family Biographies

Hisatake, Freddie (Sep 19, 1936 - May 19, 1990) Hisatake, Sale (Jun 23, 1941 - Sep 12, 2000) Hisatake, Charles (Sep 17, 1911 - Oct 1980) Hisatake, Gladys (Nov 17, 1922 - May 21, 1993) Hisatake, Jack (Oct 24, 1921 - May 1987) Hisatake, Kenneth (Mar 28, 1933 - Mar 15, 2000) Hisatake, Lealofisa (Apr 4, 1922 - Feb 28, 2011) Hisatake, Kimiyo (Jan 5, 1902 - Dec 8, 2003) Hisatake, John (Dec 31, 1933 - May 31, 2006) Hisatake, Calvin (Feb 28, 1945 - Feb 18, 2001)
Hisatake, Chizuo (Nov 18, 1918 - Oct 1974) Hisatake, Tima (Dec 5, 1947 - Oct 2, 2009) Hisatake, Lurline (May 27, 1925 - Jul 29, 2008) Hisatake, Arthur (Feb 4, 1926 - May 1972) Hisatake, Chidori (Dec 1, 1927 - Aug 4, 2005) Hisatake, Thelma (Apr 24, 1927 - Mar 5, 2011) Hisatake, Loia (Sep 26, 1931 - Jul 21, 2002) Hisatake, Itsuo (Aug 31, 1888 - Jul 1977) Hisatake, Maleta (Jul 28, 1923 - Aug 1975) Hisatake, Charles (Jun 23, 1942 - Sep 12, 2000)
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