Elvira Details Dreams About Late Mentors Paul Reubens & Phil Hartman
Cassandra Peterson, best known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark and queen of all things spooky, recently shared some special memories and dreams she had of two of her favorite mentors: the late Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman. She attended The Groundlings’ 50th anniversary party in Los Angeles, the location of the improv theatre and school that taught many of the most famous comedians of all time.
The 73-year-old recalled, “I liked comedy, but I really decided [it was for me] when I went to The Groundlings, and mostly because I studied Phil Hartman, John Paragon and Paul Reubens. They were my mentors and I just wanted to be like them, so they became my teachers and best friends. They really radically changed my comedy chops and everything.”
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She added that to always remember their impact on her career, she has pictures of them in her office and sometimes even dreams about them. Peterson explained, “It was so weird! The other night — I’m not kidding, about a week ago — I had a dream that I was coming here. And in the dream, I was holding hands with Phil, John and Paul and we were dancing together, like to a waltz. We were like, ‘1, 2, 3’ and we were dancing, and it was just them and me and we were in this big ballroom with all these people around, and I woke up sobbing.”
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The vampy actress added, “I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am in my career without The Groundlings. I guarantee you. It was 100% life-changing for me.” Peterson created her Elvira persona while attending Groundlings in 1979.
Reubens, best known for playing Pee-wee Herman, died in 2023 from cancer at the age of 70. Paragon was a part of the Pee-wee Herman Show and passed away in 2021 at the age of 66. Hartman died in 1998 at age 49, murdered by his wife in a shocking murder-suicide.
Remind 
Classic Comedy Duos
March 2021
Chuckle at television & films funniest comic duos.
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