Priscilla Barnes (born December 7, 1952 or 1955) is an American actress known for replacing Suzanne Somers (Jenilee Harrison having stepped in the season before) when the contract of Somers was not renewed on the show Three's Company. On that series, she portrayed Terri Alden, an intelligent nurse who seemed to be the show's answer to complaints about their portrayal of blondes. Barnes had previously auditioned for the part of Cindy Snow, but was turned down because she was deemed "too old" for the part.
Before she made it big on Three's Company, Barnes was a beauty pageant contestant. During her teens, aspired to be a dancer. During a Hollywood Bowl performance, she fell off the stage, fracturing her jaw and breaking her leg, and putting a lid on her dancing career. Barnes eventually turned to acting and appeared on TV shows such as Starsky and Hutch, The Rockford Files and The Love Boat. Being cast as Terri Alden on Three's Company brought Barnes instant public recognition, something she said she never really cared for. In 1998, on the show, E! True Hollywood Story, she called Three's Company the "three worst years" of her life, even though she became lifelong friends with castmate Joyce DeWitt and she does have some favorite episodes of the show. Barnes revealed that after shooting a couple of episodes of the show, she felt "uncomfortable" on the set and asked to be released from her contract. When she turned down the producers' offer to pay her more money as an incentive to stay, she claimed they penalized her with a lower salary.
Barnes stuck on with the show in spite of her disagreements with the producers. She also claimed the show typecast her as a comedic actress whereas before Three's Company, she was "up for anything". Barnes has many film credits to her name as well as extensive experience on stage, notably appearing in the James Bond film Licence to Kill, as Della Churchill, the ill-fated bride of CIA agent Felix Leiter, as well as the three-nippled fortune teller in Kevin Smith's Mallrats. In the 2005 Rob Zombie movie, The Devil's Rejects, she played Gloria Sullivan.
Prior to fame she appeared in the March 1976 issue of Penthouse magazine under the false name Joann Witty. Barnes later sued the magazine when they republished her photo using her real name. In her personal life, she has been married to actor Ted Monte since 2003.
Began dancing as a pre-teen in a group of young starlets known as the Vivacious Vixens.
Met Bob Hope (I) in 1975, who hired her to accompany him on trips to entertain troops at military bases.
Has previously held the following titles in her early starlet days: Miss San Fernando Valley, Miss San Bernadino, Miss Redlands and Miss Hollywood.
Measurements: 35-23-36 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Penthouse Pet of the Month, March 1976 under the name Joanne Witty.
Sued Penthouse for re-publishing her nude photos under her real name.
1st runner up in the Miss California Beauty Pageant
Was Miss Photogenic in the Miss California Beauty Pageant
Was set to star in "She's the Sheriff" (1987) as the sheriff, but shortly before production began she was let go and Suzanne Somers was brought in as her replacement.
She said her years on the show "Three's Company" (1977) were the unhappiest in her professional career. She almost quit as soon as she was cast because she did not like the backstage atmosphere.
