Joanna Pettet, 1942 – 2026

British actress Joanna Pettet, 83, died on July 7. The native Londoner lost her father (an RAF pilot) in WWII, and moved to New York as a teenager. She found success on Broadway almost immediately, appearing in Take Her, She’s Mine, The Chinese Prime Minister, and Poor Richard. She made her film debut in the camp classic The Group, and went on to appear in Casino Royale, The Night of the Generals, Robbery, Blue, and The Best House in London. She was also very much in demand on TV (Route 66, The Fugitive, Dr. Kildare, Mannix, Night Gallery, McCloud, Medical Center, Captains and the Kings, Charlie’s Angels, Knots Landing, Hotel). Pettet retired in 1990. She was married to actor (and occasional costar) Alex Cord from 1968-89; their only child died of a heroin overdose in 1995. On August 8, 1969, Pettet had lunch at her good friend Sharon Tate’s, but happily did not stay for an overnight sleepover.