Pamela Austin, born Pamela Joan Akert, is a talented performer who has made a lasting impact in the entertainment industry. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, she is the daughter of Chester William Akert and his wife Virginia May (née Moon). During her pre-teen years, Pamela spent time in Europe, where her father was stationed with the Air Force, and she developed a passion for singing and ballet in Hungary and Germany.
Upon returning to the United States, Pamela continued to hone her dance skills at Sacramento State College. At the age of 17, she made her stage debut in the Broadway musical revue La Plume de Ma Tante, showcasing her talents as a "light soprano". This early success led to a six-month nationwide tour with Tony Martin in 1961.
Pamela's career in Hollywood began with a nightclub act with Tony Martin, which eventually turned into a film career. She is perhaps best remembered for her two appearances opposite Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii (1961) and Kissin' Cousins (1964),playing the role of Selena in both films.
In addition to her film work, Pamela gained recognition through a series of TV and newspaper commercials for Dodge, earning her the nickname "Dodge Rebellion Girl". She appeared in over 20 ads before being replaced by a 23-year-old in 1967.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Pamela made numerous guest appearances in TV shows, including comedy skits and song-and-dance routines on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967). She also starred in the zany slapstick comedy The Perils of Pauline (1967 playing),the role of the perennial damsel-in-distress.
Pamela's career was marked by a series of memorable roles, including a starring turn as amiable schoolmarm Betsy Potter in the cultish comedy western Evil Roy Slade (1972). She was briefly married to NFL defensive player Charley Britt and later to Hollywood press agent Guy McElwaine, before marrying aeronautical engineer Leopold S. Wyler in 1974, a union that lasted until his death in 2019.
