Phyllis Davis

Phyllis Davis
Davis (center) with cast of Love, American Style, 1973
Born Phyllis Ann Davis
(1940-07-17)July 17, 1940
Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.
Died September 27, 2013(2013-09-27) (aged 73)
Henderson, Nevada, U.S.
Cause of death Cancer
Other names Phyllis Elizabeth Davis
Occupation Actress

Phyllis Ann Davis (July 17, 1940 – September 27, 2013) was an American actress who appeared primarily on television. She was most notably a part of the cast of the Aaron Spelling-produced dramatic series Vega$, which was shot entirely on location in Las Vegas, Nevada throughout its prime time run. Davis acted in the role of Beatrice Travis, secretary of Dan Tanna (Robert Urich), the private investigator who was the show's main character. Davis appeared in all 66 prime-time episodes of the show. Vega$ aired from 1978 to 1981 on ABC.

Early life

Phyllis Davis was born and raised in Nederland, Texas. Growing up, Phyllis and her family lived at her parent's mortuary business, in their home on the second floor. Davis recalled when a funeral service was being held, the children had to be very quiet on the second floor. Phyllis attended Lamar University, then went to Los Angeles in the mid-'60s. While in Los Angeles Davis attended acting classes at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Career

Her films include The Big Bounce (1969), Russ Meyer's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970), Sweet Sugar (1972), Terminal Island (1973), The Day of the Dolphin (1973), The Choirboys (1977), The Wild Women of Chastity Gulch (1982) and Guns (1990).

Davis appeared in guest roles on the prime time seriesLove, American Style (1969) for five seasons.[1] Davis also appeared in television series such as Knight Rider; she acted out the role of the villainous Tanya Walker in it's pilot installment, "Knight of the Phoenix." She had guest roles in Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Magnum, P.I., The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, The Wild Wild West and was a regular performer in the vignettes in Love, American Style. She was in an episode of Adam-12 titled "You Blew It," in 1969.
She was also a Match Game panelist on occasion and during her tenure on ABC's Vega$, appeared on a Battle of the Network Stars special.

Miss Davis was a regular cast member of the ABC prime time series Vega$ from 1978 to 1981, alongside star Robert Urich. Davis' character, Beatrice Travis, worked for Urich's lead character Dan Tanna, a Las Vegas-based private investigator. Her role was as Tanna's secretary and Girl Friday in the crime drama.

Later years

Davis was a lifelong bachelorette but had a long-term relationship with famed actor-singer Dean Martin in the 1970s and another relationship with Hall of Fame racehorse jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. in the 1980s.

Davis died of cancer on September 27, 2013, in Henderson, Nevada, where she had made her home. She was 73.

References

  1. ↑ "Phyllis Davis Bucks A Family Tradition". Times-News. 1 September 1979. p. 13.
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