Pamelyn Ferdin
Pamelyn Ferdin | |
---|---|
![]() 1972 portrait of Ferdin | |
Born | Pamelyn Wanda Ferdin February 4, 1959 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Occupation | Actress, public relations director, activist |
Years active | 1959–2009 |
Spouse(s) |
Pamelyn Wanda Ferdin (born February 4, 1959) is an American animal rights activist and a former child actress. Ferdin's acting career was primarily during the 1960s and 1970s, though she appeared in projects sporadically in the 1980s and later years. She began her career in numerous television series, and gained renown for her work as a voice actress supplying the voice of Lucy Van Pelt in A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969), as well as in two other Peanuts television specials.
She had supporting roles in The Beguiled (1971) with Clint Eastwood and Geraldine Page, and a lead role in the exploitation film The Toolbox Murders (1978) with Cameron Mitchell. She also supplied the voice of Fern Arable in Charlotte's Web (1973). Ferdin distanced herself from acting in the late 1980s, and shifted her career to animal rights activism, working as an activist and protester in animal protection programs in New York City and Los Angeles.
Early life[edit]
Born in Los Angeles on February 4, 1959,[1] Ferdin began her career at age three, appearing in a hair product commercial.[2] She has two older sisters, Valerie and Wendy.[2] Ferdin attended Herbert Hoover High School, graduating in 1977.[citation needed]
Career[edit]
Acting[edit]
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20210126114728im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Pamelyn_Ferdin_%281968%29.jpg/170px-Pamelyn_Ferdin_%281968%29.jpg)
Ferdin played the Bumsteads' daughter Cookie in the 1968–1969 CBS revival series Blondie. She was subsequently cast Felix Unger's daughter Edna in the 1970s ABC series version of The Odd Couple[1] and Paul Lynde's daughter Sally on the short-lived The Paul Lynde Show.
She appeared on Star Trek in 1968 as one of a group of orphaned children led by an alien with sinister motives in the episode "And the Children Shall Lead"[3] and in the 1977 series Space Academy as Laura Gentry.[4]
Ferdin's distinctive voice soon secured her voice roles,[1] and she was cast to provide the voice of Lucy van Pelt in three Peanuts cartoons: the 1969 TV special It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown, a 1969 feature film A Boy Named Charlie Brown and the 1971 TV special Play It Again, Charlie Brown.[5] Ferdin was a frequent guest star on episodic television in the 1960s and 1970s, with appearances on Bewitched, Green Acres, The Andy Griffith Show, Branded, Daniel Boone, Custer, The Monkees, The Flying Nun, The Second Hundred Years, Gunsmoke, Shazam!, The High Chaparral, Mannix, The Brady Bunch, Family Affair, Love, American Style, Marcus Welby, M.D., Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Apple's Way, The Streets of San Francisco, Baretta, CHiPS, and 240-Robert.[3]
She had a brief and uncredited role in The Reluctant Astronaut (1967) and was featured in the Walt Disney musical The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968). She appeared as Mary Constable in the supernatural thriller Daughter of the Mind and as Abby Clarkson in the horror film The Mephisto Waltz (1971) with Alan Alda. The same year, Ferdin appeared in The Christine Jorgensen Story, based on the life of the first trans woman in the United States to undergo sex reassignment surgery,[6] and in The Beguiled[7] alongside Clint Eastwood and Geraldine Page. She then appeared in the Kurt Vonnegut adaptation Happy Birthday Wanda June,[8] and in the exploitation horror film The Toolbox Murders (1978).
She voiced Fern Arable, the little girl who raises Wilbur the pig, in the 1973 animated film Charlotte's Web.[9][10]
Ferdin was considered for the role of Regan MacNeil, the demon-possessed girl in the 1973 William Friedkin film The Exorcist, but casting directors decided she was too well-known and cast the less familiar actress Linda Blair.
She withdrew from acting in the mid-1980s, but did voice the character of Shelley Kelley in the Kids' WB series Detention in 1999.
In January 2020, Pamelyn became the co-host of the television entertainment talk show, "Ken Boxer Live," on TVSB TV originating in Santa Barbara, California with host Ken Boxer.
Activism[edit]
After leaving her job as a public relations director in the mid-1990s, Ferdin began working for the Center for Animal Care and Control in New York City.[11] In August 2004, Ferdin accepted the presidency of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC), according to statements filed under oath in U.S. District Court in New Jersey. The incumbent, Kevin Kjonaas, resigned after being indicted on charges of conspiracy and interstate stalking.[12] When Kjonaas and six other SHAC activists were jailed in 2006, Ferdin vowed to continue the campaign. According to salon.com, she defined her role as "a squeaky-clean representative for SHAC USA," but warned that if the SHAC seven were convicted, "[P]eople, I think, are going to get hurt. There's going to be a lot of violence."[13]
In 2004, she accused the parents of Kelly Keen, a three-year-old child killed in a coyote attack, of murdering their daughter and using the story of an animal attack to cover up the crime. This was part of her protest against public efforts to control the coyote population near suburban homes.[14]
On June 22, 2006, Ferdin was sentenced to 90 days in jail for trespassing and "targeted demonstration" outside the home of an employee of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services. She stated that the conviction "is not going to affect my speaking out and exposing the atrocities occurring at our six city shelters".[15] She served 36 hours and was released before serving the full sentence due to prison overcrowding.
In December 2006, Ferdin's group, the Animal Defense League, Los Angeles (ADLLA), announced that it had been awarded $75,000 against the city of Los Angeles for an anti-strategic lawsuit against public participation motion.[16]
In 2008, Ferdin was found in contempt of court, after allegedly violating an injunction. The conviction was overturned and she filed a federal lawsuit against UCLA for harassment.[17]
Personal life[edit]
According to a 2017 post on Ferdin's official blog, she is working on writing an autobiography.[18]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1964 | What a Way to Go! | Geraldine Crawley (age 4) | |
1967 | The Reluctant Astronaut | Mary | |
1968 | The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band | Laura Bower | |
1969 | A Boy Named Charlie Brown | Lucy van Pelt (voice) | |
1970 | The Christine Jorgensen Story | Dolly (child) | |
1971 | The Beguiled | Amy | |
1971 | The Mephisto Waltz | Abby Clarkson | |
1971 | What's the Matter with Helen? | Kiddie M.C. | |
1971 | Happy Birthday, Wanda June | Wanda June | |
1973 | Charlotte's Web | Fern Arable (voice) (age 14) | |
1978 | The Toolbox Murders | Laurie Ballard | |
1982 | Heidi's Song | Klara (voice) |
Television[edit]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1964 | The Littlest Hobo | Cindy Clark | "The Babysitter" |
1965 | The Andy Griffith Show | Corlis | "The Bazaar" |
1965 | Branded | Abigail | "A Proud Town" |
1965–66 | The John Forsythe Show | Pamela | "The Little Old Matchmaker", "Super Girl", "Anyone for a Fat Lip?" |
1966 | The Legend of Jesse James | Rosey Bryant | "A Burying for Rosey" |
1966 | And Baby Makes Three | Linda Jayne | TV film |
1966 | Family Affair | Melissa | "Mrs. Beasley, Where Are You?" |
1966 | My Three Sons | Roseann | "Fly Away Home" |
1967 | Valley of Mystery | Penny | TV film |
1967 | Custer | Irene Maloney | "To the Death" |
1967 | Family Affair | Wendy | "Birds, Bees and Buffy" |
1967 | The Second Hundred Years | Nancy | "Luke's First Christmas" |
1968 | Green Acres | Molly Mullen | "Instant Family" |
1968 | Mad Mad Scientist | Sally Springer | TV film |
1968 | Star Trek | Mary | "And the Children Shall Lead" |
1968 | Gunsmoke | Annie Jarvis | "The Money Store" |
1968 | The Flying Nun | Linda Shapiro | "The Reconversion of Sister Shapiro" |
1968–69 | Blondie | Cookie Bumstead | Main role |
1969 | Family Affair | Jennifer | "No Uncle Is an Island" |
1969 | The Flying Nun | Violetta | "Cousins by the Dozen" |
1969 | The High Chaparral | Jennie Simmons / Charity | "No Bugles, No Drums", "For the Love of Carlos" |
1969 | It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown | Lucy van Pelt (voice) | TV short |
1969 | Daughter of the Mind | Mary Constable | TV film |
1970 | Smoke | Susie | TV film |
1970 | Mannix | Dana | "Fly, Little One" (Season 3, Episode 21) |
1971 | The Brady Bunch | Lucy Winters | "Will the Real Jan Brady Please Stand Up?" |
1971 | Family Affair | Shirley Dixon | "The Joiners" |
1971 | The Cat in the Hat | Sally (voice) | TV short |
1971 | Play It Again, Charlie Brown | Lucy van Pelt (voice) | TV short |
1971 | Curiosity Shop | Pam | "Special" |
1971 | The Odd Couple | Cindy | "Bunny Is Missing Down by the Lake" |
1971 | The Forgotten Man | Sharon Hardy | TV film |
1971 | Night Gallery | Frances Anne Emsden | "Brenda" |
1971 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Felicia | "A Portrait of Debbie" |
1971–72 | The Odd Couple | Edna Unger | "Surprise! Surprise!", "Good, Bad Boy" |
1972 | Young Dr. Kildare | Julie Loomis | "The Night of the Intern" |
1972 | The Delphi Bureau | Alice | "Pilot" |
1972 | The Roman Holidays | Precocia (voice) | TV series |
1972 | Sealab 2020 | Sally Murphy (voice) | TV series |
1972 | The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie | Louisa / Lilibit (voice) | "Oliver and the Artful Dodger: Parts 1 & 2" |
1972 | Lassie: Joyous Sound | Lucy Baker | TV film |
1972–73 | The Paul Lynde Show | Sally Simms | Main role |
1972–73 | Lassie | Lucy Baker | Main role (seasons 18–19) |
1973 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Amy | "The Tall Tree" |
1973 | Sigmund and the Sea Monsters | Peggy | "Puppy Love" |
1974 | A Tree Grows in Brooklyn | Francie Nolan | TV film |
1974 | These Are the Days | Kathy Day (voice) | Main role |
1974 | Shazam! | Lynn Colby | "Thou Shalt Not Kill" |
1974 | Apple's Way | Sally | "The Flag" |
1975 | Miles to Go Before I Sleep | Lisa | TV film |
1976 | The Streets of San Francisco | Chris Cavanaugh | "Runaway" |
1977 | Baretta | Judy | "The Runaways" |
1977 | Space Academy | Laura Gentry | Main role |
1978 | CHiPs | Susie | "Rustling" |
1978 | Vegas | Katie Howard | "Serve, Volley and Kill" |
1978 | Project U.F.O. | Cindy Harper | "Sighting 4023: The I-Man Incident" |
1979 | 240-Robert | Nikki | "The Apology" |
1985 | It's Your 20th Television Anniversary, Charlie Brown | Herself | TV documentary |
1999 | Detention | Shelley Kelley (voice) | Main role |
2004 | Penn & Teller: Bullshit! | Herself | "P.E.T.A." (season 2, episode 1) |
2009 | Elf Sparkle Meets Christmas the Horse | Christmas the Horse (voice) | TV film |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Leszczak 2014, p. 49.
- ^ a b Witbeck, Charles (July 30, 1972). "Lassie's Got A New TV Pal". Tallahassee Democrat. Tallahassee, Florida. p. 1F – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Pamelyn Ferdin". TVGuide.com. TV Guide. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ "Space Academy". www.70slivekidvid.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2008.
- ^ Inman, David (November 3, 2002). "Trudi Ames, Pamelyn Ferdin Were Teen Stars 30 Years Ago". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. p. 143 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The Christine Jorgensen Story (1970) Directed by Irving Rapper". LETTERBOXD.com. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- ^ "THE BEGUILED (1971)". AFI.com. American Film Institute. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ "Happy Birthday, Wanda June (1971) Directed by Mark Robson". LETTERBOXD.com. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- ^ "IMDb".
- ^ "Pamelyn Ferdin".
- ^ Tuchman, Gary (December 23, 1995). "Why NOT to give a pet for Christmas". CNN. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
- ^ "Radical Animal Rights Group Convicted of Inciting Violence and Stalking". ADL. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008.
- ^ Cook, Jon (February 7, 2006). "Thugs for puppies". Salon. Archived from the original on April 17, 2008.
- ^ [1], "This just in: U.S. is 500 years old"], Glendale News Press by Jeff Keating, April 19, 2004.
- ^ "Former Child Actress Sentenced to Jail". ABC News. June 22, 2006. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2008.
- ^ Milionis, Allison. "Los Angeles CityBeat – SLAPPing Back". www.lacitybeat.com. Retrieved June 15, 2008.[dead link]
- ^ "Judge: To protect and to unnerve': animal rights activists accuse UCLA of intimidation tactics". LA Activist. February 3, 2011. Archived from the original on March 26, 2011.
- ^ Ferdin, Pamelyn (June 14, 2017). "My Autobiography is in the works". Archived from the original on April 24, 2020.
Sources[edit]
- Leszczak, Bob (2014). The Odd Couple on Stage and Screen: A History with Cast and Crew Profiles and an Episode Guide. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-476-61539-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
External links[edit]
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pamelyn Ferdin. |
- Official website
- Pamelyn Ferdin on IMDb
- Pamelyn Ferdin interview at Classic Film & TV Cafe
- AnimalScam scans of court documents
- Hoover High School "Scroll" yearbook, 1974
- Pamelyn Ferdin: ‘From Child Actress to Animal Activist’, Washington Times, December 1, 2016