Elvira: Mistress of the Dark 1988 premiere

Cassandra Peterson was born in Manhattan, Kansas, and grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She began her career at age 17 as the youngest showgirl in Las Vegas history in the show "Vive Les Girls" at the Dunes Hotel. After receiving advice from "The King" himself, Elvis Presley, she traveled to Europe where she pursued a career as a singer and actor. She worked in several Italian films, including Federico Fellini's Fellini's Roma (1972) and performed throughout Europe as lead singer of an Italian rock band.

Upon returning to the United States, she toured the country as star of her own musical-comedy show, "Mama's Boys." She eventually settled in Hollywood, where she spent four and a half years with L.A.'s foremost improvisational comedy group, The Groundlings. In 1981, she auditioned for the role of horror hostess on a local Los Angeles television station. Her show, Elvira's Movie Macabre (1981), and her newly created character, Elvira, became an overnight sensation.

Cassandra has used Elvira's celebrity status to bring attention to many worthy causes and organizations over the years, including her well-known work for animal welfare and raising money and awareness for the prevention of HIV/AIDS. In addition to co-writing and performing in both the local L.A. and nationally syndicated television versions of "Movie Macabre," she co-wrote, produced and starred in two feature films, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) and Elvira's Haunted Hills (2001). In 2010, she returned to syndicated television in a reboot of her original series, Elvira's Movie Macabre (2010). She returned in 2014 in a similar show format for Hulu's 13 Nights of Elvira. Her latest endeavors include producing, writing and starring in Elvira's 40th Anniversary, Very Scary, Very Special, Special - a 2021 four-hour special streaming on Shudder, and Dr. Elvira, a Halloween promotional mini-series for Netflix.

Cassandra Peterson has spent over four decades solidifying the Elvira brand that has become synonymous with Halloween and the horror genre.

Laraine Newman is a founding member of The Groundlings. After seeing her in The Groundlings, Lorne Michaels cast her in a Lily Tomlin Special and later as an original cast member of Saturday Night Live (1975). She has worked from directors ranging from Woody Allen to Guillermo del Toro. She has a thriving animation career and has written for the food magazine One For The Table, McSweeney's, The Believer, The Jewish Journal, Huffington Post and Esquire. She in on the board of San Francisco's long running alternative comedy festival Sketchiest and has appeared there since 2012. She appears regularly in the Drama Desk Award winning show Celebrity Autobiography. She has two children and lives in her home town of Los Angeles.

Jeff Conaway was born on 5 October 1950 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Grease (1978), Taxi (1978) and Jawbreaker (1999). He was married to Kerri Young and Rona Newton-John. He died on 27 May 2011 in Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Michael Gross was born in 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, to Virginia Ruth (Cahill), a telephone operator, and William Oscar Gross, a tool designer. He was involved with a gang for a couple of years during high school before becoming a better student. He went on to be senior class president. Received an M.F.A. from the Yale University School of Drama. Worked in theater before moving to New York to begin an acting career. This eventually led to his breakthrough role on the show Family Ties (1982).

He has moved on to several other projects since the show's end, including three of the In the Line of Duty movies, narrating audio books, and, probably most notably, playing the character Burt in the Tremors (1990) films.

William Sheppard was born and raised in London, England to an Anglo-Irish family. He is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He was an Associate Artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company for 12 years. He appeared on Broadway in 1966 with "Marat-Sade" and later in 1975 with "Sherlock Holmes". He won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award for "The Homecoming" in 1995, at the Matrix Theatre. He voiced the narrator in the popular computer game Civilization 5.

Daniel "Danny" Greene grew up in Miami, Florida with a loving and supportive mom, dad and sis. He played sports year round, attended Florida State University on a football scholarship and is a die hard Seminole for life. For part of his Jr year, he lived in Florence, Italy on the FSU Foreign Study Program, ultimately graduating with a B.A. degree in International Affairs. Traveling throughout Western Europe on a Eurail pass was amazing! Hollywood beckoned and Danny's rugged good looks launched his success in television and film. Numerous guest starring roles on TV shows led to a big break on Falcon Crest and then starring roles in action-adventure films shot on location in Yugoslavia, Argentina, Italy, Zimbabwe, Russia, South Africa, Jamaica and China. Seeing the world and enjoying the different cultures was the experience of a lifetime. Some of his most memorable times as an actor have been working with the very creative Farrelly Brothers.

Danny took on his best role ever when he married the love of his life, former actress LaGena Lookabill in 1990. Home now is in beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina.

Ms. Kellermann is an alumna of Randolph-Macon Woman's College, from which she received a bachelor's degree in English literature. She also studied acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse.

In 1979, she made her Broadway debut in the play 'Last Licks', for which she received a Theatre World Award.

She played Greta Gravis, mother of the character Latka, played by Andy Kaufman in the comedy series, Taxi (1978).

Aside from theater and television, she provided her talents to many supporting roles in the films Beetlejuice (1988), Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), Death Becomes Her (1992), Last Holiday (2006) and Sweet, Sweet Lonely Girl (2016).

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, McClurg began her performing career at age five with the Kansas City Rhythm Kids. She retired when the dance teacher was arrested on a morals charge for "dating" the tall and lissome, yet underage, star dancer in the troupe. That girl's big number culminated with a back-bend where Edie drank a soda upside down (of course).

She earned a Bachelor's degree in Speech Education and a Master of Science degree from Syracuse University and taught radio at the University of Missouri-Kansas City for eight years. There she re-entered the entertainment field as a DJ, newswoman and producer for the NPR affiliate KCUR-FM. Her proudest moment was portraying John Ehrlichman in Conversation 26 of the NPR national broadcast of the Nixon Tape Transcripts. Her career-long devotion to satirical improvisation included an impressive tenure with The Groundlings.

She went on to create original characters, performed on the short-lived talk show The David Letterman Show (1980): Mrs. Marv Mendenhall, Dot Duncan, Whirly June Pickens, Officer Jeanelle Archer, 105-year-old Edie, etc. Television has been a home to many of McClurg's characters -- on The Richard Pryor Show (1977); as Lucille Tarlek, wife of brash advertising salesman Herb Tarlek on WKRP in Cincinnati (1978); and Mrs. Poole, the ever-cheery and almost omnipresent next-door neighbor on Valerie (1986). Her movie career growth paralleled her ten years with The Groundlings. Her first film was Brian De Palma's teen horror classic Carrie (1976). She did several John Hughes films, including Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987), She's Having a Baby (1988) and Curly Sue (1991). Offbeat cult favorites are Eating Raoul (1982), Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), HBO's The Pee-Wee Herman Show (1981), and Martin Mull's The History of White People in America (1985).

In more mainstream films, she received a National Media Award for her portrayal of a mentally disabled woman in Bill: On His Own (1983) (which starred Mickey Rooney). She worked with Robert Redford (in A River Runs Through It (1992)), for Oliver Stone (in Natural Born Killers (1994)), for Diane Keaton (in Hanging Up (2000)), and was named Best Actress of the Chicago Alternative Film Festival for her portrayal of the mother of Ted Kaczynski ("The Unabomber").

More recent roles include the nosy lady on Fat Actress (2005), David Spade's nasty neighbor in Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003), Dana Carvey's mother in Sony Pictures' The Master of Disguise (2002), Jane Kaczmarek's friend on Malcolm in the Middle (2000), and guest-starring on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000), Providence (1999), 7th Heaven (1996), and Caroline in the City (1995). She had voice roles in such television series and feature films as The Little Mermaid (1989), The Rugrats Movie (1998), A Bug's Life (1998), and Cars (2006).

Robert Benedetti was born on 27 February 1939 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), Miss Evers' Boys (1997) and A Lesson Before Dying (1999). He has been married to Joan M. Howe since 1966. They have two children.

Born in San Francisco and raised in the agricultural heartland of California's San Joaquin Valley, Fuller became passionate about acting while attending UC Berkley, where he received a degree in English literature. After graduating, he made the move to Los Angeles with everything he owned stuffed into the back seat of a Dodge Dart (including a king size foam rubber mattress). For the next ten years he was a Realtor by day and a stage actor by night. Then, in 1986, he created the leading role in Steven Berkhoff's explosively successful "Kvetch", earning rave reviews on both coasts.

Fuller has gone on to have a very successful career, working with some of Hollywood's best directors, including David O. Russell, Tony Scott, Harold Ramis, and Ivan Reitman, among others. His numerous film credits include "Auto Focus," "Ray," "Pushing Tin," "The Jack Bull," "Ghostbusters II," "Mr. Woodcock," "Nailed" and "The Pursuit of Happyness."

Kurt still returns to the stage occasionally, most recently in the acclaimed "Greedy" for Red Dog squadron. He's also worked at the La Jolla Playhouse and the Mark Taper Forum.

He is married to Jessica Hendra, a published author. They have two daughters, Julia and Charlotte. His birthday is September 16.

Frank's first "role" was a six month old "theatre mascot" at a tent theatre in Granville, Ohio. His father, John, was an actor and playwright and his mother, Peg, directed him in a number of plays while he was growing up in Virginia and Ohio. As a young boy, Frank assisted his father when he toured with his one man Abraham Lincoln show. His father was selected to play Lincoln for the centennial celebration of Lincoln's first inauguration in Washington, DC ; Frank played young Tad Lincoln.

Frank trained at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, earned his BA in theatre at San Francisco State University, helped establish a summer theatre company in the Sierra Nevadas then went on to earn an MFA in acting at UC San Diego. Before Frank began his professional career in acting, he worked as a forest fire fighter, diaper service dispatcher and substitute teacher. Appearing in over 150 productions, Frank has worked off Broadway and in regional theaters in Boston, Denver and California. His theatrical roles have ranged from "Puck" in Midsummer's Nights Dream to "Miss Havisham" in Great Expectations to "Jacob Marley" in Christmas Carol. Frank is a founding member of Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice, California, which has won over 25 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards.

Frank began his film and television career when he moved to Los Angeles in 1984. He is perhaps best known as "Horace Bing," the hapless telegraph operator on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993) and "Wash Hogwallop" in "O Brother Where Art Thou?

Frank is married to actress, Laura Gardner.

William Duell was born on 30 August 1923 in Corinth, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), 1776 (1972) and Funny Farm (1988). He was married to Mary Barto. He died on 22 December 2011 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.

Pat Crawford Brown was born on 29 June 1929 in New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for The Rocketeer (1991), Reality Bites (1994) and Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997). She was married to Calvin Burdell Brown. She died on 2 July 2019 in the USA.

Ellen Dunning is known for Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), Demonic Toys (1992) and Secret Bodyguard (1991).

Kris Kamm was born on 29 November 1964 in Evanston, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Wyatt Earp (1994), Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) and Coach (1989).

Scott Morris is known for G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), Swingers (1996) and Never Been Kissed (1999).

Ira Heiden was born on 22 September 1966 in New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987), Father of the Bride (1991) and Alias (2001).

Tress MacNeille is one of the most talented women in the voice-over industry to date. With her versatile talent has done the voices of Dot Warner from Animaniacs, Babs Bunny from Tiny Toon Adventures to being a featured singer in the Weird "Al" Yankovic song "Ricky", She has also appeared in a small part in the full-length motion picture "Elvira Mistress of the Dark".

Frank Welker was born in Colorado. He followed his dream to California, and started a voice acting career which has spanned over five decades and hundreds of credits. Frank has worked with fellow voice actors Casey Kasem, Nicole Jaffe, Don Messick, Heather North, and Stefanianna Christopherson on Hanna-Barbera's iconic Scooby Doo, Where Are You! (1969), voicing Fred Jones, among other Scooby credits over the years. He has also worked with Kurt Russell, Peter Cullen, and Michael Bay.

James Signorelli is known for Saturday Night Live (1975), Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) and Saturday Night Live Christmas Special (1999).

Eric Gardner was a producer and manager, known for Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), Elvira's Horror Classics (2004) and Samurai Jack (2001). He died on 19 July 2024 in Camarillo, California, USA.

Mark Pierson was born on 6 September 1955 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Midnight Madness (1990), Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988) and Heavy Metal Heaven (1989). He was previously married to Cassandra Peterson.

Emmy-nominated Writer/Producer Sam Egan, most recently has been Creative Consutant for Shaw's Canadian Sci-Fi Series "Continuum", as well as the Developer for Television of Robert Rotenburg's "Old City Hall" for CTV. He is currently consulting on Shaw TV's "Beloved Mr. Fox" with its creator Alexander McCall Smith ("First Ladies Detective Agency.") He served as Creative Consultant on the Canadian Mini-Serlies "Bloodletting and Other Mirculous Cures." He is developing the internet series "The Node" for Trifecta productions, as well as "State of Syn" for Shaftesbury Films.

Egan was Executive Producer/Showrunner of Season Two of the Listener, for CTV and FOX International, and Creative Consultant for Season Three. He was previously Co-Executive Producer of ABC's "V." Prior to that he was Executive Producer of "Sanctuary" for the Sci Fi Channel. He was a Creative Consultant on the mini-series "Bloodletting and Other Miraculous Cures" for The Movie Network based. He also developed "The Listener" for NBC. He was Co-Executive Producer, Head Writer and Showrunner on "Masters of Science Fiction" for ABC--an anthology series featuring Judy Davis, Sam Waterston, John Hurt, Brian Dennehy, Anne Heche, Malcolm McDowell, and James Cromwell.

Egan is best known for his five seasons of work on Showtime/MGM's "The Outer Limits." He was showrunner/Executive Producer on the series which ran on Showtime and the Sci Fi Channel.

Egan has been a Creative Consultant on the Canadian series "ReGenesis", and Executive Producer on Showtime and MGM's "Jeremiah", starring Luke Perry and Malcolm Jamal-Warner. He was recently nominated for a Leo Award in Canada for his writing on "Sanctuary." An episode of "Jeremiah" he wrote, "Out of the Ashes", garnered Egan the Literacy in the Media Award for Outstanding Television Series in their 4th Annual Awards. Another episode of Jeremiah "City of Roses" was nominated for Canada's Top Ten Writing Awards, honoring the best writing in Film and Television--Egan's second nomination.

Before his five seasons on "The Outer Limits", Egan produced and wrote CBS's "Northern Exposure." Included in Egan's many writing and producing awards are nominations for an Emmy and four Gemini's.

John Dixon Paragon was born in Alaska, but grew up and attended schools in Fort Collins, Colorado. He got his start in the Los Angeles-based improvisation group The Groundlings alongside Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman. John is best known for his work on children's show Pee-wee's Playhouse where he played Jambi the Genie and voiced Pterri the Pterodactyl. In addition to writing many of the regular season episodes of Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986), John also co-wrote with Paul Reubens the acclaimed "Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special" in 1988, for which they were nominated an Emmy Award for Best Writing in a Children's Special. He has also collaborated with fellow Groundling Cassandra Peterson on numerous projects, including the recurring role of The Breather, an annoying caller, for her first television series Movie Macabre on KHJ-TV-Los Angeles and was co-writer on her 1988 feature film, Elvira Mistress of the Dark. Some of his other memorable roles include Cedric, one half of the homosexual couple Bob and Cedric on the television series Seinfeld; the title character in the children's movie The Frog Prince; the sex shop salesman in the cult favorite Eating Raoul; and the owner of a Strip-o-gram business in the 1986 film Echo Park. In recent years, John has worked with Walt Disney Imagineering on ways to incorporate improvisational performance into attractions at Disney parks. He returned to his performance as Jambi the Genie in the Broadway outing of the new "Pee-wee Herman" stage show that began performances October 26, 2010 at the Stephen Sondheim Theater.

James B. Campbell was born on 15 October 1946 in Laguna Beach, California, USA. James B. is a composer, known for Predator (1987), The Abyss (1989) and Back to the Future (1985).