A beloved blonde screen star of the 1960s, whose career brought her alongside Hollywood names including Elvis Presley and Goldie Hawn, made a rare public appearance last week.
The 84-year-old actress was seen picking up household essentials at a Marshall’s store in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 23.
Her once-signature bouncy blonde locks have given way to a chic white bob, giving the former screen favorite an elegant new look.
During her heyday, she became one of the era’s most familiar “girl next door” faces, often mentioned in the same breath as stars such as Doris Day and Dawn Wells.
Before stepping away from acting in 1988, she built a wide-ranging career across movies, television and advertising, including memorable Dodge car commercials in the late 1960s.
Over the course of nearly three decades in entertainment, she also had the distinction of working with the late Elvis Presley not once, but twice.
Can you figure out who she is?
A beloved blonde screen star of the 1960s who worked with Elvis Presley and Goldie Hawn made a rare public appearance last week
The star is one of the most recognizable ‘girl next door’ actresses of her era
The mystery star is Pamela Austin.
Austin is best known for starring alongside Presley in the hit films Blue Hawaii (1961) and Kissin’ Cousins (1964).
The Nebraska-born beauty got her start in Hollywood in the early 1960s.
While she was born in Omaha, she reportedly spent time living abroad in Europe as a child while her father served in the US Air Force.
She studied dance at California State University, Sacramento before making the big move to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.
Her first-ever film role was in the Presley-starring musical rom-com Blue Hawaii, in which she played Selena ‘Sandy’ Emerson, in 1961.
That same year she landed a guest spot on the hit ABC detective series Surfside 6 in an episode titled Prescription for Panic.
Austin’s career in both film and TV only took off from there.
The mystery star is Pamela Austin
Austin is best known for starring alongside Presley in the hit film Blue Hawaii (1961)
She reunited with Presley in 1964 for the movie musical Kissin’ Cousins; seen in Kissin’ Cousins with Presley and co-star Yvonne Craig
The 84-year-old was spotted stocking up on home essentials at a Marshall’s store in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 23
Instead of the bouncy blonde hair she’s famous for, she is now rocking an elegant white bob
She worked with Jane Fonda and Shelley Winters in the 1962 drama film The Chapman Report.
She also boasts an uncredited role in the Lucille Ball film Critic’s Choice, which was released in 1963.
Austin reunited with Presley in 1964 for the movie musical Kissin’ Cousins, in which she competed for the Hollywood icon’s affection as country gal Selena Tatum.
Other notable Hollywood talents she’s co-starred with over the course of her nearly 30-year career include: Dustin Hoffman, Vanessa Redgrave and Mickey Rooney.
She made her final film appearance in 1988’s The Dressmaker in the role of ‘Singer.’
Austin’s time on TV is equally as impressive as her filmography.
She boasts 19 television credits on hit shows like My Three Sons, Love, American Style, The Twilight Zone, It Takes A Thief with Robert Wagner and Evil Roy Slade with John Astin.
She also appeared on six episodes of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In in 1968 with former go-go girl Goldie Hawn.
Austin’s career also expanded into commercials, as she famously appeared as the ‘Dodge Rebellion Girl’ in a series of successful ads that spanned from 1964 to 1967.
She boasts 19 television credits on hit shows like My Three Sons, Love, American Style, The Twilight Zone and It Takes A Thief with Robert Wagner; seen with Wagner in 1968
Austin seen on Love, American Style with Peter Kastner in 1969
Austin seen in a 1972 episode of Evil Roy Slade with John Astin
Austin’s career also expanded into commercials, as she famously appeared as the ‘Dodge Rebellion Girl’ in a series of successful ads that spanned from 1964 to 1967; seen in Blue Hawaii (1961)
However, it was alleged that Dodge executives worried that Austin’s popularity as spokesgirl began to overshadow the actual cars, which led to Austin being replaced by model Joan Anita Parker.
As for her personal life, Austin famously had a short-lived marriage with film industry bigwig Guy McElwaine, who worked for major studios like Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Columbia Pictures.
McElwaine also served as the first-ever agent to Steven Spielberg, who is now considered one of Hollywood’s most legendary filmmakers.
Austin’s marriage to McElwaine, who was married six times before he died in 2008, only lasted two years from 1965 to their 1967 divorce.
Seven years later, Austin wed for a second time to her longtime husband Leopold Wyler, who is an MIT graduate and founder of an LA-based aerospace manufacturing company, in 1974.
After 45 years of marriage and one child together, Wyler passed away in November 2019.
According to his obituary, he ‘died peacefully at home with his loving wife Pamela by his side.’
