CASSANDRA PETERSON | BORN 1961

Cassandra Peterson gained fame on the TV station KHJ-TV for her stage persona as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, hosting her own show Elvira’s Movie Macabre. She started her career at age 17 as a showgirl in Las Vegas, working in Frederic Apcar’s Vive Les Girls! In the early 1970s, she became the lead singer of the rock bands The Snails and I Latins 80 and also won small parts in films. When she returned to the US, she performed on the musical tour Mamma’s Boys.

Shortly after portraying her Elvira character, Peterson rapidly gained notice for her appearance, especially her distinct black gown. Elvira soon starred in movies, but she also has non-Elvira credits in many other films, most notably 1985’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and 1987’s Lost City of Gold. Nowadays, the 70-year-old personality remains active in the TV and movie industry.