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Priscilla Barnes More at IMDb Pro »

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Though probably not to her liking, actress Priscilla Barnes is best known for her bittersweet replacement of TV goddess Suzanne Somers during the tension-riddled times of the popular ABC slapstick comedy series "Three's Company" (1977) -- bittersweet for her in that although the lovely, stringy-framed blonde did become a TV name as a result, she had to endure the anguish of stepping into the shoes of the enormously popular sex star who had decided to pull a diva act and was unceremoniously dumped from the show during contractual negotiations that went awry. It was not the happiest of times for Priscilla yet she managed to pull the whole thing off as nurse Terri Alden, the pretty roommate and co-foil to John Ritter's outrageous shenanigans. Priscilla chose to be her own person and allowed her character more substance and intelligence than Somer's jiggly ding-a-ling Chrissy Snow. If nothing else, the new girl on the block added a much-needed stability to an already emotionally wrought set and was accepted by the show's fans for a final three seasons. Interestingly, Priscilla had been previously turned down for the vapid Cindy Snow character (played by Jenilee Harrison) because she was perceived as "too old" for the role.

Priscilla was born in Fort Dix, New Jersey on December 7, 1952, the daughter of an Air Force commander. An average student in school, the leggy beauty with the prominent cheekbones and intriguing slash of a mouth originally planned to become a dancer and joined a pre-teen group called the "The Vivacious Vixens," but a severe accident while performing on the Hollywood Bowl stage (she broke her leg and fractured her jaw) ended such dreams.

During her formative years she earned some attention as a beauty pageant contender ("Miss Hollywood," "Miss San Bernardino," "Miss California" (runner-up) while paying her dues waitressing. A chance acquaintance with Peter Falk, who saw promise in the girl who countered her fresh-faced beauty with a self-deprecating wit, led to a bit part on one of his "Columbo" episodes in 1976, and the start of her professional career. The parts she nabbed typically accentuated her physical assets. She willingly trudged through a series of unmemorable projects, including the films Texas Detour (1978), Delta Fox (1979) and The Seniors (1978) plus the short-lived TV series "The American Girls" (1978) in which she played a smart-styled, traveling reporter. Handed a somewhat better supporting role in the Gene Wilder sequence of the four-part film Sunday Lovers (1980), she gathered experience on such shows as "Cannon," "Starsky and Hutch," "The Incredible Hulk," "The Rockford Files," "Kojak," "Taxi" and "The Love Boat" before becoming a vital part of the "Three's Company" 1981 cast.

Barnes continued with the popular show in spite of her frustrations with producers and her dread of being typecast in innocuous comedy. Since then she has maintained in a Hollywood that doesn't cater to women of "maturing" age, especially former TV stars. On TV she added a feisty glamor to the series "Dark Justice," "Viper," "Murder, She Wrote" and other "Love Boat" episodes. More often, however, she has shown up in a lowbudget film. She has certainly taken on more than her fair share of horror projects, including Stepfather III (1992) (TV), Witch Academy (1993), The Back Lot Murders (2002) (V), Unseen Evil 2 (2004) (V), The Devil's Rejects (2005), Trailer Park of Terror (2008) and Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield (2007) (V), in which some of her characters have met grisly ends. One film highlight was her featured role, not as a Bondian girl but as the bride of a CIA agent (David Hedison) who is shot to death on her wedding day, in the Timothy Dalton "007" film Licence to Kill (1989). She also enjoyed her role as a quirky fortune teller in Mallrats (1995).

Active on the theater scene over the years with credits such as "Born Yesterday," "Vanities," "Bus Stop" and "A Streetcar Named Desire" under her belt, she recently played Hillary Clinton in the 2007 black comedy "Hillary Agonistes" in New York. She has been married to actor Ted Monte since 2003.

Spouse

Trivia

Began dancing as a pre-teen in a group of young starlets known as the Vivacious Vixens.

Met Bob Hope in 1975, who hired her to accompany him on trips to entertain troops at military bases.

Has previously held the following titles in her early starlet days: Miss San Fernando Valley, Miss San Bernadino, Miss Redlands and Miss Hollywood.

Measurements: 35-23-36 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Penthouse Pet of the Month, March 1976 under the name Joanne Witty.

Sued Penthouse for re-publishing her nude photos under her real name.

1st runner up in the Miss California Beauty Pageant

Was Miss Photogenic in the Miss California Beauty Pageant

Was set to star in "She's the Sheriff" (1987) as the sheriff, but shortly before production began she was let go and Suzanne Somers was brought in as her replacement.

She said her years on the show "Three's Company" (1977) were the unhappiest in her professional career. She almost quit as soon as she was cast because she did not like the backstage atmosphere.

Remained good friends with "Three's Company" (1977) co-star Joyce DeWitt after the show's demise.

Steven Spielberg wanted her for the role of Willie Scott in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), but she couldn't accept the role because she was still working on "Three's Company" (1977).

Personal Quotes

[about her first audition for "Three's Company" (1977)] I read for them, but they turned me down. They wanted someone younger. In Hollywood, you're over the hill when you are 25.

I was the black sheep, so I became very dramatic.

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