Candice Rialson, a captivating and charismatic blonde actress, was a prominent figure in the exploitation film industry of the 1970s. Born on December 18, 1951, in Santa Monica, California, she grew up in Orange County, California, and was crowned Miss Hermosa Beach at the age of 18.
Rialson began her acting career with an uncredited role in the 1969 film "The Gay Deceivers," where she played a bikini-clad beauty on the beach. She went on to appear in a string of exploitation films, including "Pets" (1973),"Mama's Dirty Girls" (1974),"Chatterbox!" (1977),"Moonshine County Express" (1977),and "Stunts" (1977).
In addition to her work in exploitation films, Rialson also appeared in several mainstream movies, including "The Eiger Sanction" (1975),"Logan's Run" (1976),and "Silent Movie" (1976). She made guest appearances on several TV shows, including "Maude" (1972),"Shaft" (1973),"Switch" (1975),"Adam's Rib" (1973),and "Fantasy Island" (1977).
Rialson's most notable role was as "Candy Wednesday" in the 1976 film "Hollywood Boulevard," a parody of low-budget exploitation films. She also appeared in the soft-core comedies "Candy Stripe Nurses" (1974) and "Summer School Teachers" (1975),both directed by Roger Corman.
After retiring from acting in the late 1970s, Rialson married, had one child, and settled down in Studio City, California. However, she remained a cult favorite among fans of 1970s exploitation films, and her work continued to influence new generations of filmmakers. Quentin Tarantino, in particular, was a strong admirer of Rialson's work, and reportedly patterned the character of Bridget Fonda in "Jackie Brown" (1997) after her.
Sadly, Rialson passed away on March 31, 2006, at the age of 54, due to liver disease. She is still remembered and cherished by her many fans around the world.
