Before she became the “Mistress of the Dark,” Cassandra Peterson was a small-town Kansas girl with big dreams. She had her early start as a go-go dancer and showgirl in Las Vegas, she pursued acting, comedy, and improv. But it was in L.A. where her sharp wit and campy humor flourished. 

In 1981, she auditioned for a late-night horror hosting gig, transforming into the big-haired, gothic vamp we know and love as Elvira. With her tongue-in-cheek humor, satirical jokes, and spooky charisma, Elvira quickly became a pop culture phenomenon. 

From Movie Macabre to feature films, and decades of appearances, she carved a niche as both horror icon and cult comedy legend, forever redefining horror TV. Now she’s forever etched in our minds as more than a character, but a spooky glamorous queen.