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Phyllis Davis (born July 17, 1947, in Port Arthur, Texas) is an actress who appeared primarily on television. She was most notably a part of the cast of Aaron Spelling's drama Vega$, playing the character Beatrice Travis.
Some of her film appearances include Lord Love a Duck (1966), Spinout (1966), Russ Meyer's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970), The Choirboys (1977), and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995). Two of her most notable roles were in the exploitation action films Sweet Sugar and Terminal Island (both 1973), in which she displayed her voluptuous figure in the nude. "Terminal Island" also starred a young Tom Selleck and his future "Magnum, P.I." co-star Roger E. Mosley.
During her career, Davis also appeared in television series such as Knight Rider: she played the role of the villainous Tanya Walker in the pilot episode "Knight of the Phoenix." She also appeared in such TV shows as Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Magnum, P.I., The Love Boat, and Love, American Style. She was a Match Game panelist on occasion and appeared on a Battle of the Network Stars special.
According to the Knight Rider Season One DVD, Ms. Davis had a thick Southern accent, so her lines had to be dubbed by an anonymous actress.
For a time during the 1970s, Ms. Davis was in a serious relationship with Dean Martin.
Phyllis Davis grew up in Nederland, Texas. She lived on the second floor of her parents' mortuary business. Phyllis and her two younger brothers had to be very quiet upstairs during services because the floors would creak. Phyllis attended Lamar College briefly, then went to Los Angeles in the mid-'60s to pursue a career in show business. She attended acting classes at the Pasadena Playhouse. Phyllis' first acting break began with small parts in Elvis Presley movies. "Love, American Style" (1969) were holding auditions for the show. 200 actresses had already been tested and rejected. Phyllis put on a bathing suit and was hired on the spot. After a five season run with "Love, American Style" (1969), Phyllis started to get some small movie roles. She had a chance encounter with Candy Spelling, wife of Aaron Spelling, who at that moment was casting for a new TV series called "Vega$" (1978). Phyllis ended up with the role of "Beatrice" or "Bea" on "Vega$" (1978) from 1978-81. After "Vega$" (1978), Phyllis appeared in a few Aaron Spelling made-for-TV movies. Phyllis is still involved in show business, but on a limited basis.




