Cassandra Peterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cassandra Peterson
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Peterson in 2011
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Cassandra Gay Peterson
September 17, 1951 Manhattan, Kansas, U.S.
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| Years active | 1970–present |
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Full list |
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Mark Pierson
(m. 1981; div. 2003) |
| Partner(s) | Teresa Wierson (2002–present) |
| Children | 1 |
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Cassandra Gay Peterson (born September 17, 1951) is an American actress. She is famous for playing the character Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. As Elvira, Peterson became a well-known horror host, a person who introduces scary movies on TV.
Peterson first became famous in Los Angeles on the TV show Elvira's Movie Macabre. On the show, she would host and make funny comments about B-movies, which are films made with a low budget. She was a member of The Groundlings, a comedy group where actors create characters and scenes on the spot. Her Elvira character was partly based on a "Valley girl" character she invented there.
The show was so popular that it led to two movies starring Elvira: Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) and Elvira's Haunted Hills (2001). The TV show returned in 2010. In 2014, she hosted 13 Nights of Elvira on Hulu, and in 2021, she had a 40th Anniversary Special on the streaming service Shudder.
Peterson has also appeared as Elvira in other shows and movies. She was a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race and Halloween Wars. She also had a small part in the movie Pee-wee's Big Adventure.
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Early Life
Cassandra Peterson was born in Manhattan, Kansas, on September 17, 1951. When she was a toddler, she was badly burned by hot water and needed skin grafts on over 35% of her body. She had to stay in the hospital for three months.
In an interview, Peterson said that as a child, she liked horror-themed toys more than dolls. The first horror movie she ever saw was House on Haunted Hill. As a teenager, she worked as a dancer in nightclubs in Colorado Springs. She graduated from Palmer High School in Colorado Springs.
Career
Beginning Her Career
Inspired by the movie Viva Las Vegas, Peterson decided to become a performer. When she was 17, she got a job as a showgirl in a Las Vegas show. There, she met the famous singer Elvis Presley. She had a small role as a showgirl in the James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
In the early 1970s, Peterson moved to Italy. She was the lead singer for two Italian rock bands. She also had a small part in the Italian film Roma (1972). After returning to the U.S., she toured the country with a music and comedy group.
In 1979, she joined The Groundlings, a comedy group in Los Angeles. There, she created a funny character that would later become the foundation for Elvira.
Becoming Elvira
How Elvira Started on Movie Macabre
In 1981, a Los Angeles TV station wanted to bring back a horror movie show. The producers decided they wanted a female host. Peterson auditioned for the part and got it.
She had to create the character's image herself. She and her best friend, Robert Redding, came up with Elvira's unique look. They were inspired by Japanese Kabuki makeup and the hairstyles of the music group The Ronettes. The result was a spooky but glamorous vampire-like character.
Peterson's Elvira character quickly became popular. She was known for her tight-fitting black dress and her funny, sarcastic personality. She acted like a "Valley girl" from California and made jokes while hosting the movies. People loved her humor and unique style.
Elvira's Rise to Fame
The Elvira character became a huge success. In the 1980s and 1990s, her image was on many products, like Halloween costumes, comic books, and pinball machines.
Her popularity led to the 1988 movie Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. Peterson helped write the movie's script. In 2001, she co-produced and starred in a second movie, Elvira's Haunted Hills.
In September 2010, Elvira's Movie Macabre returned to TV. In 2014, a new 13-episode series called 13 Nights of Elvira was made for Hulu. As of 2018, Peterson was working on a sequel to the first Elvira movie and an animated project.
Other Roles and Projects
Peterson has also acted in roles where she did not play Elvira. She appeared in the 1985 movie Pee-wee's Big Adventure with her friend Paul Reubens. She was also in Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1987) and All About Evil (2010). In 2022, she appeared in Rob Zombie's movie The Munsters.
In 1993, she filmed a pilot for a TV sitcom called The Elvira Show for CBS. The show was about Elvira and her family moving to a new neighborhood. However, the network decided not to make it into a full series.
Personal Life
Peterson married musician Mark Pierson in 1981. He also became her manager. They have one daughter. The couple divorced in 2003.
In her 2021 book, Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark, Peterson shared that she has been in a relationship with a woman, Teresa "T" Wierson, since 2002.
Peterson was a vegetarian for many years and still eats a mostly vegetarian diet.
Discography
Peterson recorded several songs and comedy skits for her Elvira Halloween albums.
- Elvira and the Vi-Tones: 3-D TV (1982)
- Elvira Presents Vinyl Macabre: Oldies but Ghoulies (Volume 1) (1983)
- Elvira Presents Haunted Hits (1987)
- Elvira Presents Monster Hits (1994)
- Elvira Presents Revenge of the Monster Hits (1995)
- Elvira's Gravest Hits (2010)
She also worked with the band Leslie and the LY's on a song called "Zombie Killer" in 2008. In 2018, she was featured on a song with singer Kim Petras.
Awards and Nominations
Peterson has won several awards for her work.
Awards Won
- Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
- 2011: Favorite Horror Host
- 2017: Monster Kid Hall of Fame
- Silver Lake Film Festival
- 2001: Spirit of Silver Lake Award
- Hollywood Horror Festival
- 2018: Vincent Price Award
- RuPaul's Drag Race
- 2024: Giving Us Lifetime Achievement Award
Nominations
- Saturn Awards
- 1988: Best Actress for Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
- Golden Raspberry Awards
- 1988: Worst Actress for Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
See also
In Spanish: Cassandra Peterson para niños
- Midnight movie
