Whatever Happened to Pamelyn Ferdin: A Familiar Face from the ’60s & ’70s?

Unspecified - 1971: Pamelyn Ferdin appearing on the Walt Disney Television via Getty Images tv series 'Curiosity Shop'. — Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

I don’t think it is an exaggeration at all to say that there were literally hundreds of movies and TV shows that Pamelyn Ferdin made an appearance in during the 1960s and 1970s. As such, this article is not even going to try to capture everything that she was in. Instead, I’ll identify a handful of moments on TV and in the movies that were especially memorable for me, and then I’ll provide an update regarding what she’s up to these days.

The first thing that I remember seeing Pamelyn in was an episode of Family Affair, where Buffy loses her dear friend Mrs. Beasley, and Pamelyn plays a neighbor girl who has one that looks awfully similar. I’ve gone on record in a couple of other essays as saying that I think Mrs. Beasley is a pretty darn creepy-looking doll, so I won’t say anything else about it here — other than maybe that’s why this appearance of Pamelyn’s was so memorable to me.

RELUCTANT ASTRONAUT, Don Knotts, Pamelyn Ferdin, 1967

Everett Collection

Pamelyn’s first movie appearance that I actually remember occurred before Family Affair, but I’m going by the order in which I remember them. I didn’t see The Reluctant Astronaut until the early ’70s, during one of those PTA summer matinees where you’d go with all your friends to a movie theater and see movies that were a few years old. This was before VCRs, so seeing movies this way was a lot of fun and a great way for moms everywhere to get all of the kids out of their hair for a couple of hours. The film starred Don Knotts as a carnival ride operator of a kiddie-spaceship ride who finds himself working for NASA.

Pamelyn actually began her movie career at age 4 and has logged over 40 feature films and made-for-TV movies, and has starred with Hollywood’s biggest stars from Clint Eastwood (The Beguiled) and Tony Randall (The Odd Couple) to Sally Field (The Flying Nun) and Shirley MacLaine (What a Way to Go!).

THE BEGUILED, Pamelyn Ferdin, Clint Eastwood, 1971. ©Universal/courtesy Everett Collection

The Beguiled, Pamelyn and Clint Eastwood ©Universal/courtesy Everett Collection

On the TV front, she’s logged more than 200 episodes. Another great Pamelyn Ferdin appearance I remember was when she showed up on the original Star Trek series in the Season 3 episode “And the Children Shall Lead.”

In a 2015 interview with Classic Film & TV Café, Pamelyn said “I had a big crush on William Shatner, and I followed him everywhere. Finally, I think he got so tired of me pestering him that he sat down with me and started talking and we became good, good friends. In fact, he asked me to marry him”

Pamelyn was also an accomplished voiceover actress who provided the voice of Lucy in various Peanuts specials, and she was also the voice of Fern in the animated adaptation of Charlotte’s Web. While there have been other versions of this classic children’s book since the 1973 movie, this one will always be my favorite. Pamelyn was great as the girl who loves Wilbur the pig with all of her heart.

SPACE ACADEMY, from left: Brian Tochi, Ty Henderson, Maggie Cooper, Pamelyn Ferdin, Ric Carrott, Eric Greene, 1977-79.

Everett Collection

Like I said earlier, I’m not going to talk about everything that Pamelyn has been in, but I’ve got to mention her starring role in the classic Filmation live-action Saturday morning children’s program, Space Academy (pictured below in just the blue T-shirt). In this show, Pamelyn got the chance to work with another legend: Jonathan Harris, AKA Dr. Smith from Lost in Space.

Whatever Happened to Pamelyn Ferdin?

Actress Pamelyn Ferdin (voice of Lucy in Peanuts cartoon) attends the "Hollywood Collectors and Celebrities Show" April 7, 2001 in North Hollywood, CA.

Newsmakers/Getty

Alright, so let’s answer the big question now, the whole point of this article: Whatever happened to Pamelyn? Let’s start with what Pamelyn did after high school.

Spoiler alert: it was a complete 180-degree turn. Pamelyn made the decision to step away from the entertainment industry to study and become a nurse. She got her nursing degree and spent the next decade or so on the front lines, helping people the best that she could. Pamelyn has always been a kind and caring person, and those sentiments are not just for her fellow human beings.

Over the years, Pamelyn has become extremely passionate about our furry friends, especially those animals who find themselves without a home where someone can love and care for them. It is extremely rare for her to pass on an opportunity to discuss the plight of animals that find themselves in shelters or, even worse, being experimented on.

Screenshot/Pamelyn Ferdin

Pamelyn also has an official website where you can go and learn about upcoming appearances, as well as read thoughtful essays by her. This is a well-maintained site, and if you are a fan, you can spend hours there reminiscing.

Another place where you can stay up to date on Pamelyn is her official Facebook page where she frequently posts pictures as well as her memories from her incredible career.

From being that recognizable young actress who seemed to be everywhere, Pamelyn has transitioned into a life of dedicated service – first as a nurse and now as a tireless advocate for animal welfare. She’s a great example of a life well-lived with both talent and a whole lot of heart.