Pati Behrs

Pati Behrs (February 13, 1922 – July 4, 2004) was a Russian American prima ballerina and actress.

Pati Behrs
Born
Pati Behrs Eristoff

(1922-02-13)February 13, 1922
DiedJuly 4, 2004(2004-07-04) (aged 82)
OccupationActress, ballerina
Years active1946–1949 (film)
Spouse(s)Gogi Tchitchinadze
(m. 19??; div. 19??)
John Derek
(m. 1948; div. 1955)

Lucius Lindley
(m. 1975; died 1986)
Children2

Biography

Pati Behrs Eristoff was a prima ballerina and a grandniece of Leo Tolstoy. She may be best known as the first of John Derek's wives. Born in Turkey, her family fled to Paris after her father refused to partake in pogroms. She survived World War II and Occupied France by dancing in Parisian nightclubs, while at the same time doing all she could to hide Russian Jews and gypsies from the Nazis.

Receiving a Hollywood contract after the war, she emigrated to the United States. Behrs had a brief first marriage to George 'Gogi' Tchitchinadze (1917–1970), a host at the Bel-Air Hotel.[2] In December 1947 she met John Derek in an acting class, and they married on October 9, 1948. The couple had two children: son Russell Derek (1950–1999) and daughter Sean Catherine Derek (born 1953), who became a screenwriter. Behrs and Derek separated in September 1955 and divorced in April 1956. In 1975 she married pediatrician Dr. Lucius Lindley (1919–1986), who predeceased her. She became a grandmother in 1969, and a great-grandmother in 1996. She died on July 4, 2004, aged 82.

Philosophical and/or political views

An animal-rights advocate, she presented Actors and Others with her 1926 Steinway baby grand piano. Her daughter, Sean, requested it be sold to help as many animals in need as possible.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1946The Razor's EdgeGuestUncredited
1947Forever AmberMakeup ArtistUncredited
1948Apartment for PeggyJeanne
1948Unfaithfully YoursMinor RoleUncredited
1948When My Baby Smiles at MeWoman in BoxUncredited
1949The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful BendRoulette
1949Come to the StableNunUncredited, (final film role)

See also

References

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