Edwina Beth Williams (born July 9, 1942)[1] is an American television and film actress who is best known for her acting work in the films of Russ Meyer, to whom she was married from 1970 to 1975.

Edy Williams
Williams at the 62nd Academy Awards, 1990
Born
Edwina Beth Williams

(1942-07-09) July 9, 1942 (age 82)
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress and model
Years active1962–1995
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Spouse
(m. 1970⁠–⁠1975)

Early years

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Williams was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and raised in Southern California. She began her career as a model and beauty pageant contestant. After winning several local pageants, she was signed as a contract player by 20th Century Fox.[2]

Career

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Throughout the 1960s, Williams appeared in several television series and films including roles in The Beverly Hillbillies, The Twilight Zone, Batman, Adam-12, Lost in Space, The Naked Kiss, and the Sonny & Cher film, Good Times (1967). In 1970, she appeared as Ashley St. Ives in Russ Meyer's first mainstream film, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, followed by his second mainstream film, The Seven Minutes (1971). Meyer and Williams married in 1970, shortly after the release of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.

In March 1973, she was photographed for Playboy in a full color photo spread by then-husband Russ Meyer.[3] After her divorce from Meyer in 1977, Williams continued acting, mainly appearing in films, many of which involved nudity.

In 1982, she appeared on an episode of The People's Court as a defendant in a case titled "The Star Who Wouldn't Pay". She was sued for payment for publicity work the plaintiff had done for her. She counter-sued for half of the retainer she'd paid him.[4] After this, she was sporadically active in films during the 1980s and early 1990s.

Since the 1970s, she has traditionally appeared at both the Academy Awards and the Cannes Film Festival in revealing and flamboyant outfits.[5]

TV and filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1962 The Twilight Zone Chorus Girl Episode: "The Dummy"
1963 For Love or Money Edy
1964 Man's Favorite Sport? Second Girl
1964 The Brass Bottle Slave Girl
1964 A House Is Not a Home Call Girl
1964 The Naked Kiss Hatrack Alternative title: The Iron Kiss
1965 Harlow Mail Room Girl
1966 Run for Your Life Watusi Dancer Episode: "Carnival Ends at Midnight"
1966 Nevada Smith Saloon Girl
1966 Paradise, Hawaiian Style Brunette girl
1966 Batman Hostess/Rae 3 episodes (37, 49 and 50)
1966 Beverly Hillbillies Bank Employee Season 4, Episode 28 "Jethro's Pad"
1967 Good Times Mordicus' Girl Alternative title: Sonny & Chér in Good Times
1967 Lost in Space Non Episode: "Two Weeks in Space"
1968 I Sailed to Tahiti with an All Girl Crew Marilyn
1968 The Secret Life of an American Wife Susie Steinberg
1969 Where It's At Phyllis Horrigan
1970 Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Ashley St. Ives
1971 The Seven Minutes Faye Osborn
1973 Adam-12 Tammy Warren Episode: "Venice Division"
1975 Dr. Minx Dr. Carol Evans
1977 The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington Professor Simmons
1979 An Almost Perfect Affair Herself Uncredited
1980 Willie & Phil Ashley Alternative title: Paul Mazurksy's Willie & Phil
1983 Chained Heat Paula
1984 Hollywood Hot Tubs Desiree
1984 Bad Manners Mrs. Slatt Alternative title: Growing Pains
1985 Hellhole Vera
1987 Mankillers Sgt. Roberts Alternative title: 12 Wild Women
1987 Sledge Hammer! Dream Girl Episode: "They Call Me Mr. Trunk"
1988 Rented Lips Heather Darling

1988 "Nudity Required"

1989 Dr. Alien Buckmeister Alternative titles: I Was a Teenage Sex Maniac
I Was a Teenage Sex Mutant
1991 Bad Girls from Mars Emanuelle

References

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  1. ^ Lisanti, Tom (2015). Glamour Girls of Sixties Hollywood: Seventy-Five Profiles. McFarland. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-4766-1241-6.
  2. ^ "Edy Williams Official Website Biography". Archived from the original on November 25, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
  3. ^ Meyer, Russ (March 1973). Playboy. Vol. 20, no. 3. U.S.: Playboy Enterprises, Inc. pp. 135–41. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ Edy Williams. The People's Court, "The Star Who Wouldn't Pay" (Internet). U.S.: In2TV. Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
  5. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Edy Williams Biography". AllMovie. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
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