VIEWS
89
LAST UPDATE
2024-09-19 11:10:47
PAGE VERSION
Version 3
LIKES
1
STARRED IN
2x16 The Gamesters of Triskelion
BIOGRAPHY
Angélique Pettyjohn (born Dorothy Lee Perrins on March 11, 1943 – February 14, 1992) was an American actress, model, and entertainer. Though her career spanned various genres of film and television, Pettyjohn is best known for her roles in science fiction, particularly her memorable appearance in the Star Trek episode "The Gamesters of Triskelion," and her later work in exploitation films and adult entertainment.
Early Life
Pettyjohn was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in a modest family. Details about her early life remain relatively scarce, but it's known that she had aspirations for a career in show business from an early age. She started out as a model, posing for glamour shots and pin-up photography before transitioning into acting.
Career in Television and Film
Early Appearances
Pettyjohn’s acting career began in the early 1960s with minor roles in television series and B-movies. She appeared in various small parts in TV shows such as The Green Hornet, The Monkees, and Batman. Her looks and physical presence made her a frequent choice for roles requiring glamorous or seductive women.
Star Trek: The Gamesters of Triskelion
Pettyjohn’s most iconic role came in 1968 when she was cast as Shahna, the drill thrall, in the second-season Star Trek episode "The Gamesters of Triskelion." In the episode, Shahna was a slave forced to fight gladiator-style battles on a distant planet, clad in a now-iconic silver bikini. Her performance, combined with the provocative costume, made her a fan favorite, and she became an enduring figure in the Star Trek community, frequently attending conventions and engaging with fans long after her appearance.
Science Fiction and Exploitation Films
After Star Trek, Pettyjohn’s career veered into lower-budget films, particularly within the exploitation and sci-fi genres. Notable titles include The Curious Female (1970), The Love Rebellion (1969), and The Acid Eaters (1968), all of which exploited her physical allure and cemented her as a cult figure in the world of B-movies.
In 1973, she appeared in The Odd Couple TV series as a guest star, continuing her presence on mainstream television. However, her primary film work during the 1970s was increasingly centered on the exploitation genre. She also appeared in a number of softcore films, blending sci-fi and adult themes, and her visibility in these roles increased her cult status.
Get Smart and Comedy
In contrast to her more risqué roles, Pettyjohn also had a notable appearance in the popular spy-comedy show Get Smart, where she played a seductive but dangerous femme fatale. Her ability to deliver comedic performances alongside her more serious or sexualized roles demonstrated her range as an actress.
Career in Adult Entertainment
During the late 1970s and into the 1980s, Pettyjohn transitioned into the adult entertainment industry. She began performing in hardcore pornographic films under her real name, Dorothy Lee Perrins, as well as under pseudonyms. Though this phase of her career has been controversial and often minimized in discussions of her legacy, it nonetheless contributed to her unique place in pop culture history.
Life Beyond Acting: Conventions and Pin-Up Work
Despite her foray into adult entertainment, Pettyjohn remained active in the science fiction community. She became a regular figure at science fiction conventions, particularly those centered around Star Trek. Fans of the franchise celebrated her work on The Gamesters of Triskelion, and she maintained a positive relationship with her fans, often recalling her time on the show with fondness.
In addition to her appearances at conventions, Pettyjohn also returned to pin-up modeling during the 1980s. She appeared in a variety of men's magazines, including Playboy, and her work was popular with collectors of vintage and cult Hollywood memorabilia.
Later Years and Death
Pettyjohn’s later years were marked by declining health. She struggled with cancer in the 1980s, and her health continued to worsen into the early 1990s. Despite these challenges, she remained active in the fan community and continued to make convention appearances up until the final years of her life.
Angélique Pettyjohn died on February 14, 1992, at the age of 48 from cervical cancer. Her death was a significant loss for her dedicated fanbase, many of whom remembered her not only for her work on Star Trek, but also for her wide-ranging career in Hollywood's more obscure corners.
Legacy
Though her mainstream film and television career was relatively brief, Angélique Pettyjohn’s status as a cult icon has endured for decades. She holds a special place in science fiction history thanks to her unforgettable role in Star Trek, but her work in exploitation cinema, adult films, and pin-up modeling also makes her a unique figure in the history of American pop culture.
Pettyjohn's image, particularly in her silver bikini from The Gamesters of Triskelion, has been immortalized in fan art, comic books, and memorabilia. Her openness about her career, her willingness to engage with fans, and her dedication to attending conventions long after her Hollywood career had waned contributed to her enduring popularity. Fans still remember her as a trailblazer who, despite challenges, managed to carve out a distinctive and multi-faceted career that spanned both mainstream and underground media.
Pettyjohn's legacy is also part of a larger cultural moment of the late 1960s and 1970s, where sex symbols in science fiction and exploitation films were prominent figures. In this context, Pettyjohn, with her unapologetic embrace of her roles, embodies a period of American cinema that pushed boundaries, whether in terms of content, style, or sexual expression.
HISTORY
2024-09-19 11:10:47 -
Pike:
Updated the portrait.
2024-09-18 06:46:58 -
Pike:
Added a bio.
2024-09-18 06:27:07 -
Pike:
Added a portrait.
2024-09-18 06:26:15 -
Pike:
New star added.
