Angelique Pettyjohn, born Dorothy Lee Perrins on March 11, 1943, in Los Angeles, California, began modeling at a young age. She also pursued acting, studying in the hub of "American Dreams".
Pettyjohn made her film debut at 21, under the name "Angelique", in the low-budget "The Love Rebellion" (1967),before co-starring with Elvis Presley in "Clambake" (1967). This marked her first appearance in a big-budget film, leading to small roles in other notable films.
However, her fame stems from her work on television, with memorable roles on "Get Smart" (1965) and "Star Trek" (1966). In 1967, she appeared on the former as "Charlie Watkins", a male CONTROL agent disguising himself as a beautiful woman.
Pettyjohn won the role of Shahna in the "Star Trek" episode "The Gamesters of Triskelion" (1968),a favorite among fans of science fiction. Although this role led nowhere for her career at the time, it would later earn her a reputation as an immortal among fans.
Pettyjohn continued to work in the exploitation circuit, appearing in films like "Hell's Belles" (1969),"The Curious Female" (1969),and "Bordello" (1974). In the early 1980s, she worked as a stripper in Las Vegas, but soon abandoned her profession for hardcore pornography.
Titillation (1982),Stalag 69 (1982),and Body Talk (1982) featured Pettyjohn, billed under various names. The resurgence of the Star Trek fandom, boosted by the film series starting in 1979, allowed her to transition away from hardcore pornography.
Pettyjohn began working at Star Trek conventions, selling posters and earning a living. Her appearance on the circuit raised her profile in the film industry, leading to indie film roles in "Repo Man" (1984),"Biohazard" (1985),and "The Wizard of Speed and Time" (1988).
Eventually, Pettyjohn's fame grew, and she began headlining science fiction conventions as the main guest of honor. She overcame addiction and low self-esteem to find success, appearing at her last convention in autumn 1989.
Pettyjohn passed away from cervical cancer at 48 on February 14, 1992, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
