5 Freakily Fun Facts About Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

Lauren Novak September 17, 7:29 pm

Actress Cassandra Peterson — Evan Agostini/Getty Images

October and Halloween are approaching faster than you may think. And if the prospect of trick-or-treaters and candy corn isn’t enough to get your seasonal festivities started, consider this: September 17 is the 73rd birthday of Cassandra Peterson a.k.a. Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Peterson has been playing the character of Elvira on TV shows and films since 1981, but she’s lived a rich life beyond her famous character … she even went on a date with Elvis Presley. Let’s find out some other fun (and even slightly bizarre) facts about the Mistress of the Dark!

1She went on a date with Elvis when she was just 17

Everett Collection

When Peterson was 17, she dreamed of being a showgirl like Ann-Margret‘s character in Viva Las Vegas. She convinced her family to visit Las Vegas and attended the musical revue Vive Les Girls. During the show, she was reportedly noticed in the audience and asked to audition for the show. (Since she was underage, her parents had to sign a release.)

Despite not being able to drink or gamble, she got the gig and became one of the youngest showgirls in Las Vegas. It was there she met the famous Elvis Presley. On their date, he advised her to leave Las Vegas and pursue a singing career. Turns out, you listen to the King. She did what he said and moved to Europe to become a singer, appearing in the Italian pop band The Latins 80.

2Her childhood led her to create her Elvira persona

ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK, Cassandra Peterson, 1988

New World/Everett Collection

Peterson remembers seeing House on Haunted Hill when she was a small child — and while it gave her nightmares, it also gave her a love of horror films.

But the character also has roots in a sadder, earlier part of Peterson’s childhood. She received horrible third-degree burns when she was just 18 months old from a pot of boiling water that left her with permanent scarring. As she got older, she became more entranced not just by horror movies, but by the thought of creating a new persona for herself, free of the self-consciousness she felt about her scars. And thus, Elvira was born.

3A Pee-wee’s Playhouse actor helped her create Elvira

Peterson eventually moved to Los Angeles and joined the iconic comedy improv group the Groundlings. During this time, she developed the beginnings of the character — although at first, she wanted to wear a pink tattered dress. She became friends with John Paragon, who would later play Jambi on Pee-wee’s Playhouse. He helped her create Elvira and eventually co-wrote the 1988 feature film.

4She almost got an Elvira sitcom

While she starred in a feature film Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, Peterson missed out on a sitcom. There was one in the works with NBC and later CBS. The Elvira Show actually taped a pilot with CBS in 1993, also starring Katherine Helmond. Unfortunately, it never made it to the air, but you can watch the unaired pilot above! Let us know what you think about it in the comments.

5She was an extra in a James Bond film

Cassandra Peterson poses during New York Comic Con 2022 on October 07, 2022 in New York City

Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for ReedPop

While she worked as a showgirl, she got the chance to appear as an extra in the 1971 James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever. You can spot her briefly in a scene with Leonard Barr.