Pia Zadora
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
During her first marriage, she and her husband Meshulam Riklis purchased 'Pickfair', the former home of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, in 1988. Reportedly because of termite damage, they were forced to raze the mansion build a new house on the same site.
Director John Waters, in his book "Crackpot", discusses the qualities that made him cast Zadora in a cameo role in his film "Hairspray" (1988): "Pia is my kind of movie star. She's shorter than Elizabeth Taylor, cuter than Alvin the Chipmunk, richer than Cher, more publicized than Zsa Zsa, and has a better hairdo than Farrah."
Biography
A media personality and professional "guest star," Zadora was a seasoned child and teen performer who kept busy in the 1960s and 70s in a series of understudy and supporting roles on Broadway and in road companies before becoming the "Dubonnet Girl" of TV commercials in the late 70s. Starring in a series of ubiquitous advertisements finally brought the hardworking, ambitious actress a measure of the fame that had eluded her, one which increased after her marriage at 22 to reticent, paternal multimillionaire Meshulam Riklis, owner of Dubonnet's parent company.
Petite, energetic, her hair generally blonde and highly teased, with kewpie-doll looks and mannerisms to match, Zadora became the focus of an incredible barrage of publicity engineered with the purpose of making her a multimedia sensation. Starring vehicles such as "Butterfly" (1981) and "The Lonely Lady" (1983), though, failed with both critics and the public and her surprise win at the Golden Globes as most promising newcomer of the year was enough to almost sabotage the reputation of the award and lead to an investigation. These days Zadora, having attracted enough attention to fuel a career as a "personality," is content to successfully perform in an occasional concert, make cameo appearances in campy feature films and occasional appearances on stage.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Music (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1961
Broadway debut as Cleo June in "Midgie Purvis"; play closed after 21 performances
1961
Was an understudy in short-lived Broadway play, "The Garden of Sweets"
1962
Appeared in "We Take the Town," a musical version of "Viva Villa" starring Robert Preston
1964
Made film debut in "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians"
1964
Replaced Linda Ross as Bielke, Tevye's youngest daughter, in the Broadway production of "Fiddler on the Roof"
1967
Appeared in the chorus for "Henry, Sweet Henry," a musical version of the film, "The World of Henry Orient"
1968
Replaced Bernadette Peters in the cast of the off-Broadway musical "Dames at Sea"
1981
First starring role in a film, as Kady in "Butterfly"; produced by husband Meshulam Riklis
1983
Played leading role of Babette Latouche in the Showtime cable TV comedy special, "Pajama Tops"
1983
Released the single, "The Clapping Song"; also performed song in the feature film, "The Lonely Lady"
1988
Returned to feature films for a cameo role in John Waters's "Hairspray"
1994
Played a small role in the comedy, "Naked Gun 33?: The Final Insult"
1995
Returned to the Broadway stage in the musical "Crazy for You"
1996
Retired from show business to concentrate on raising her family
Videos
Movie Clip
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
During her first marriage, she and her husband Meshulam Riklis purchased 'Pickfair', the former home of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, in 1988. Reportedly because of termite damage, they were forced to raze the mansion build a new house on the same site.
Director John Waters, in his book "Crackpot", discusses the qualities that made him cast Zadora in a cameo role in his film "Hairspray" (1988): "Pia is my kind of movie star. She's shorter than Elizabeth Taylor, cuter than Alvin the Chipmunk, richer than Cher, more publicized than Zsa Zsa, and has a better hairdo than Farrah."
