Phyllis Davis(1940-2013)

Phyllis Davis was one of the loveliest faces in Hollywood during the late 60s-early 80s. She grew up in Nederland, Texas. The family lived on the second floor of her parents' mortuary business. Phyllis and her two younger brothers learnt how to be quiet during services, as the floors would creak. Phyllis attended Lamar College briefly, then went to Los Angeles in the mid-'60s to pursue a career in film and TV. She attended acting classes at the Pasadena Playhouse. Phyllis' first break began with small parts inElvis Presleymovies.Love, American Style (1969)were holding auditions for the show. 200 actresses had already been tested and rejected. Phyllis put on a bathing suit and was hired on the spot. After a five season run withLove, American Style (1969),Phyllis started to get some small movie roles. Phyllis was hired - and actually signed a contract, for the James Bond film,Diamonds Are Forever (1971),only to be told shortly afterwards the producers had dropped her, and hiredLana Woodto replace her. Still, Phyllis received residual checks for the film, as she had a signed contract. She had a chance encounter withCandy Spelling,wife ofAaron Spelling,who was then casting for a new TV series called,Vega$ (1978).Phyllis got the role of Beatrice, or Bea, for the series' run. After working on a regular series, Phyllis appeared in a fewAaron Spellingmade-for-TV movies. Sadly, Phyllis kept her battle with cancer extremely private,, and after her passing away in 2013, there was some confusion as to which 'Phyllis Davis'had died.