Runaway Actress: Pamela Tiffin from Hollywood to Rome, 1961-1974.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/9/13 at 4:15pm

Tom Lisanti, an expert on everything "sixties cinema" is working on a book profiling one of my favorite actresses of that decade: Pamela Tiffin.

A former model, Tiffin was discovered at the age of 18 by legendary Hollywood producer Hal Wallis and cast in his production of Tennessee Williams' SUMMER AND SMOKE opposite Laurence Harvey, Geraldine Page and Rita Moreno, but it was her second film, Billy Wilder's ONE, TWO THREE opposite James Cagney that got her major recognition.

She went on to star in the 1962 remake of Rodgers & Hammerstein's STATE FAIR opposite Pat Boone, Ann-Margret and Bobby Darin, her singing voice however was provided by veteran screen dubber Anita Gordon.

Her other films during this period include: THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL, THE PLEASURE SEEKERS, THE LIVELY SET and HARPER.

In 1966 she went to Rome, when Carlo Ponti offered her a co-starring role in the Italian sex comedy, OGGI DOMANI DOPODOMANI with Marcello Mastroianni. In order to get the role she had to agree to dye her hair blonde.

Her marriage to New York magazine founder Clay Felker was floundering at this point and unhappy with the marriage and the roles she was being offered in Hollywood she moved to Rome, where as a blonde she completely re-invented herself. Her third Italian film, STRAZIAM MA DI BACI SAZIAMI opposite Nino Manfredi and Vittorio Gassman is widely considered a classic of Italian cinema.

In 1967 she starred in the Broadway revival of DINNER AT EIGHT, playing the Jean Harlow role.

In 1969 she starred as Yelena in Harold Clurman's production of UNCLE VANYA at the Mark Taper Forum.

She returned to the United States to film the comedy VIVA MAX! starring Peter Ustinov.

After marrying Edmondo Danon, son of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES producer Marcello Danon she quietly left acting in 1974 and moved back to New York City where she still resides.