A former model and spokesperson for Cover Girl cosmetics, Jennifer O'Neill came to prominence as the beautiful young widow on whom Gary Grimes has a overwhelming crush in "The Summer of '42" (1971). Although she continued acting for the next two decades, the actress rarely found roles that tapped her abilities.Born in Brazil to a British mother and businessman father, O'Neill was raised as a privileged child in such tony environments as New Rochelle, New York and Wilton, Connecticut. As a teenager, the leggy brunette won several awards for her horsemanship. By age 15, the beauty had been put