Patricia Ann Priest, born on August 15, 1936, in Bountiful, Utah, was a stunning beauty with porcelain skin and blonde hair, epitomizing the quintessential girl-next-door of the early-to-mid 1960s.
As the daughter of Ivy Baker Priest, a renowned government official who served as United States Treasurer under Dwight D. Eisenhower and later as California's Treasurer during Ronald Reagan's governorship, Pat grew up in a life of luxury and glamour.
Living in Washington, D.C., during her mother's term, Pat won attention as a beauty contest winner in the area, and her stagestruck nature soon led her to pursue a career in show business.
In 1964, while in the San Francisco Bay area, Pat received a call from Hollywood to replace Beverley Owen as the original Marilyn Munster in the popular sitcom The Munsters. The role brought her minor household fame, but unfortunately, she was given limited acting opportunities, serving mainly as a pretty and innocent foil to the show's eccentric characters.
As the series progressed, Pat struggled to find substantial roles after its cancellation, with only a few guest appearances in shows like Bewitched, Perry Mason, The Virginian, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The opportunity to reprise her role as Marilyn in the feature film Munster, Go Home! (1966) eluded her, as she was deemed too old for the part at 29, and was replaced by Debbie Watson.
Pat did appear in a few films, including Easy Come, Easy Go (1967) with Elvis Presley and The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971),but her acting career eventually slowed down, and she retired in the 1980s.
Today, Pat remains active in nostalgic conventions and Munsters revivals, having lived in Idaho for over 20 years. She has been married twice and has two sons, Pierce and Lance Jensen.
