A post shared by Elvira, Mistress Of The Dark (@therealelvira)This profile is part of Queerty’s 2021 Out For Good series, recognizing public figures who’ve had the courage to come out and make a difference in the past year, in celebration of National Coming Out Day on October 11.Name: Cassandra Peterson, 70Bio: Kansas-born Peterson always seemed destined for show business.
At age 17, she ran off to Las Vegas to become a showgirl. Bit parts in movies and modeling gigs followed before Peterson moved to Los Angeles to work with the famed comedy troupe The Groundlings.
In 1981, what seemed like a minor job turned out to be her big break: local LA TV station KJH-TV invited Peterson to join the station hosting late-night horror movies in.