Beverley Owen as Marilyn

There were a lot of other theories put forward, but that's the reason. I was in love with someone who lived in New York and I left my contract so we could get married and he's the father of my two children."

That's the happy part of her story. Now for the unpleasant part: She says she was cast in "The Munsters" against her wishes and that leaving severely cramped her career.

"I was under contract, a seven-year contract to Universal. In the first year of it, they would fly me out from New York to L.A. to do `The Virginian,' `Wagon Train,' `Kraft Mystery Theater,' an Audie Murphy movie. Then they put me in the series, which I protested at the time. I was told, `Do it or we'll sue you.' So I moved to California under protest and negotiated out of it."

Like Priest, Owen says she rarely is recognized as Marilyn any more. "Pat Priest didn't wear a wig, but I'm not a platinum blonde. Mine was a wig, so I don't bear a strong resemblance."

Owen suspects that "The Munsters" (now playing in reruns on TV Land) endures because the humor is timeless. "It's interesting. We did not think at the time that the scripts were as good as they might have been. And Fred Gwynne [who played Herman] and Al Lewis had just done `Car 54,' which they loved doing. But Fred once said to me a few years ago, `You know, I've seen a rerun of "Car 54" and in some ways it's more dated than "The Munsters."

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Pat Priest as Marilyn

Relocating to Washington, D.C., Pat soon started taking the crown in beauty contests. Pat discovered, however, that she had inherited her mother's interest in show business rather than politics, and after an appearance on "Art Lamb in Washington", she left the Washington social scene and made her way to California. She got some experience under her belt working in community theatre, including the Alameda Little Theatre, the London Circle Players in Oakland, and the Players of the Golden Hind in Berkeley. This led to a few local TV commercials and she soon began getting guest shots on TV shows.

In 1964, in the middle of the initial season of The Munsters, Beverly Owen decided to leave the series, and the part of Marilyn Munster was up for grabs. Marilyn, of course, was the "plain one of the family", the normal one in a family of "monsters". Pat got the part, and made her initial appearance on the last episode of the first season. She remained in the role until the series ended in 1966.

Her appearance with Elvis came a year later. In Easy Come, Easy Go, Pat plays Dina Bishop, the "bad girl" who gets in Elvis' way while he and Dodie Marshall search for treasure. Pat's memories of Elvis and that time were fond ones, although she regrets one thing: She bought Elvis' Cadillac (a 1967 El Dorado), and later traded it for a Pontiac! "If I had it today, I could retire!", she says.

Although not fully retired yet, (she occasionally makes TV appearances) Pat and her second husband, Fred Hansing, are settled in Haley, Idaho. Pat no longer has a website, but you can write her at:

612 Lighthouse Ave., #220
Pacific Grove, CA 93951

Pat's latest movie is called Soupernatural. Butch Patrick appears in the film with her.

Pat Priest's Filmography

1. Here Come the Munsters (1995) (TV) (uncredited) .... Cameo



2. Some Call It Loving (1973)
3. Incredible Two-Headed Transplant, The (1971) .... Linda Girard
   ... aka Incredible Transplant, The (1971)



4. Easy Come, Easy Go (1967) .... Dina Bishop
5. "Munsters, The" (1964) TV Series .... Marilyn Munster (1964-1966)

Notable TV guest appearances

1. "Mary Tyler Moore Show, The" (1970) playing "Lila Nivens" in episode: "Sue Ann's Sister" (episode # 7.3) 10/9/1976
2. "Bewitched" (1964) playingin episode: "Samantha's Lost Weekend" (episode # 6.16) 1/8/1970 "Nurse"
3. "Bewitched" (1964) playing "Day Supervisor" in episode: "And Something Makes Four" (episode # 6.5) 10/16/1969
4. "Perry Mason" (1957) playingin episode: "Case of the Crafty Kidnapper, The" (episode # 9.29) 5/15/1966 "Norma Fenn"
5. "Perry Mason" (1957) playingin episode: "Case of the Tandem Target, The" (episode # 7.29) 5/14/1964 "Miss Young"