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EspañolPAMELA BLAIR
'Pamela Blair' (born December 5, 1949) known as Pam, is an American actress, singer, and dancer best known for originating the role of "Val" in the musical A Chorus Line and several appearances on American Soap Operas.
Born in Bennington, Vermont, to Edgar Joseph and Geraldine Marie (Cummings) Blair; she was raised on a horse farm. She studied dance and gymnastics, played sports, and dreamed of becoming a Radio City Rockette. At age 16, she moved to New York City to audition for dance companies, but was roundly rejected for lack of experience. While she auditioned, she worked as a go-go dancer, waitress, barmaid, and a boyfriend tried to force her into becoming a hooker. Blair comments, "Whenever I don't seem to be getting anywhere in this business, I try to remember that I was almost a hooker and that I've come a long way." [1] Finally her dance lessons paid off and she made her debut as a replacement in the musical Promises, Promises, directed by Michael Bennett.
She continued to build credits with ''Wild and Wonderful'', ''Seesaw'', the revival ''Of Mice and Men'' and ''Sugar'', in which she played "Sugar Kane", a role made famous by Marilyn Monroe in the film ''Some Like It Hot''.
In 1974, Blair was invited by Michael Bennett to participate in the workshops from which A Chorus Line was developed. The character of "Valerie Clark" was in large part, based on her own life, although the surgical enhancement came from another dancer. "Val was based on Mitzi Hamilton, who actually underwent surgery to enhance her figure, and Pam Blair, whose mixture of angelic appearance and ribald tongue entertained Bennett enormously" [2]. The innocent yet sexy Val has a foul mouth, and introduces the popular Broadway song "Dance: 10; Looks: 3" which tells the story of an unattractive yet talented girl who uses plastic surgery to help her get cast in roles. The song is also known by its chorus, "Tits and Ass." Val is one of the larger roles, and Blair received much attention. Along with the cast, Blair won the 1976 Theatre World Award for Ensemble Performance for the show.
She next originated the role of "Amber" (later "Angel") in 1978's ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''. Her turn as an eager to work prostitute earned her a Drama Desk Award nomination. She can be heard on the cast recording as the lead in ''Hard Candy Christmas'', although apparently another song was taken from her before the show opened. Further roles on Broadway include ''King of Hearts'' (in the Genevieve Bujold role), Clelia in ''The Nerd'', and Joanne in ''A Few Good Men'', directed by her husband, Don Scardino.
Blair has made several appearances on American Soap operas such as ''Loving'', ''Another World'', ''Ryan's Hope'', and ''All My Children'', for which she received a Daytime Emmy nomination. She has guest starred on such shows as ''Law & Order'', ''The Cosby Show'', ''The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd'', and ''Sabrina, the Teenage Witch''. She appeared opposite Peter O'Toole in the TV film ''Svengali'', and also in ''Mighty Aphrodite'' and ''Annie'' as the maid Annette ("Silk, no satin, I think!").
Blair lived in California for a time, but her acclaim in portraying the comic and sexy Val did not bring her the work she desired. However, she has continued to amass many regional and national credits, and still appears in sexually appealing roles such as "Hedda" in ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying''. She married actor and director, Don Scardino in 1984, and they divorced in 1991. She lives in Northern New Jersey.
'1976' Theatre World Special Award
''A Chorus Line'' (winner) (for Ensemble Performance )
'1978' Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'' (nominee)
'1987' Daytime Emmy Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series
''All My Children'' (nominee)
★ ''A Few Good Men'' (1989) ....Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway
★ ''The Nerd'' (1987) ....Clelia Waldgrave
★ ''King of Hearts'' (1978) ....Jeunefille
★ ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'' (1978) ....Amber/Angel
★ ''A Chorus Line'' (1975) ....Val
★ ''Of Mice and Men'' (1974) ....Curley's Wife
★ ''Seesaw'' (1973) ....Ensemble
★ ''Sugar'' (1972) ....Ensemble, later Sugar Kane
★ ''Wild and Wonderful'' (1971)....Ensemble
★ ''Promises, Promises'' (1968)....Ensemble
★ ''21 Grams'' (2003)
★ ''The Last Dance'' (2000) (TV)
★ ''Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'' (1998) (TV) .... Sabrina's Mom
★ ''Beavis and Butt-Head Do America'' (1996) (voice only)
★ ''Before and After'' (1996)
★ ''Mighty Aphrodite'' (1995) .... Greek Chorus
★ ''Another World'' (1994) (TV) .... Bonnie Broderick
★ ''The Cosby Mysteries'' (1994) (TV)
★ ''Law & Order'' (1994) (TV)
★ ''Me and Veronica'' (1993)
★ ''The Cosby Show'' (1989) (TV).... Karen
★ ''The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd'' (1989) (TV)
★ ''All My Children'' (1985) (TV) Series .... Maida Andrews
★ ''Loving'' (1983-85) (TV) .... Rita Mae Bristow
★ ''Svengali'' (1983) (TV) .... Trish
★ ''Annie'' (1982) .... Annette
★ ''Ryan's Hope'' (1980) (TV)
1. Viagas, Robert, Baayork Lee, and Thommie Walsh, On the Line: The Creation of A Chorus Line, Morrow, 1990 ISBN 0-688-08429-X
2. Mandelbaum, Ken, A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett, St. Martin's Press, 1989. ISBN 0-312-03061-4
★ Flinn, Denny Martin, ''What They Did for Love: The Untold Story Behind the Making of A Chorus Line'', Bantam Books, 1989. ISBN 0-553-34593-1
★ Kelly, Kevin, ''One Singular Sensation: The Michael Bennett Story'', Zebra Biography, 1990. ISBN 0-8217-3310-9
★ Mandelbaum, Ken, ''A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett'', St. Martin's Press, 1989. ISBN 0-312-03061-4
★ Viagas, Robert, Baayork Lee, and Thommie Walsh, ''On the Line: The Creation of A Chorus Line'', Morrow, 1990 ISBN 0-688-08429-X
★ Internet Broadway Database
★ Internet Movie Database
| Contents |
| Early Life and Career |
| ''A Chorus Line'' and Broadway Fame |
| Television, Film, and Later career |
| Awards |
| Credits |
| Theater (Broadway) |
| Film and Television |
| References, Sources, and Links |
Early Life and Career
Born in Bennington, Vermont, to Edgar Joseph and Geraldine Marie (Cummings) Blair; she was raised on a horse farm. She studied dance and gymnastics, played sports, and dreamed of becoming a Radio City Rockette. At age 16, she moved to New York City to audition for dance companies, but was roundly rejected for lack of experience. While she auditioned, she worked as a go-go dancer, waitress, barmaid, and a boyfriend tried to force her into becoming a hooker. Blair comments, "Whenever I don't seem to be getting anywhere in this business, I try to remember that I was almost a hooker and that I've come a long way." [1] Finally her dance lessons paid off and she made her debut as a replacement in the musical Promises, Promises, directed by Michael Bennett.
She continued to build credits with ''Wild and Wonderful'', ''Seesaw'', the revival ''Of Mice and Men'' and ''Sugar'', in which she played "Sugar Kane", a role made famous by Marilyn Monroe in the film ''Some Like It Hot''.
''A Chorus Line'' and Broadway Fame
In 1974, Blair was invited by Michael Bennett to participate in the workshops from which A Chorus Line was developed. The character of "Valerie Clark" was in large part, based on her own life, although the surgical enhancement came from another dancer. "Val was based on Mitzi Hamilton, who actually underwent surgery to enhance her figure, and Pam Blair, whose mixture of angelic appearance and ribald tongue entertained Bennett enormously" [2]. The innocent yet sexy Val has a foul mouth, and introduces the popular Broadway song "Dance: 10; Looks: 3" which tells the story of an unattractive yet talented girl who uses plastic surgery to help her get cast in roles. The song is also known by its chorus, "Tits and Ass." Val is one of the larger roles, and Blair received much attention. Along with the cast, Blair won the 1976 Theatre World Award for Ensemble Performance for the show.
She next originated the role of "Amber" (later "Angel") in 1978's ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''. Her turn as an eager to work prostitute earned her a Drama Desk Award nomination. She can be heard on the cast recording as the lead in ''Hard Candy Christmas'', although apparently another song was taken from her before the show opened. Further roles on Broadway include ''King of Hearts'' (in the Genevieve Bujold role), Clelia in ''The Nerd'', and Joanne in ''A Few Good Men'', directed by her husband, Don Scardino.
Television, Film, and Later career
Blair has made several appearances on American Soap operas such as ''Loving'', ''Another World'', ''Ryan's Hope'', and ''All My Children'', for which she received a Daytime Emmy nomination. She has guest starred on such shows as ''Law & Order'', ''The Cosby Show'', ''The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd'', and ''Sabrina, the Teenage Witch''. She appeared opposite Peter O'Toole in the TV film ''Svengali'', and also in ''Mighty Aphrodite'' and ''Annie'' as the maid Annette ("Silk, no satin, I think!").
Blair lived in California for a time, but her acclaim in portraying the comic and sexy Val did not bring her the work she desired. However, she has continued to amass many regional and national credits, and still appears in sexually appealing roles such as "Hedda" in ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying''. She married actor and director, Don Scardino in 1984, and they divorced in 1991. She lives in Northern New Jersey.
Awards
'1976' Theatre World Special Award
''A Chorus Line'' (winner) (for Ensemble Performance )
'1978' Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'' (nominee)
'1987' Daytime Emmy Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series
''All My Children'' (nominee)
Credits
Theater (Broadway)
★ ''A Few Good Men'' (1989) ....Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway
★ ''The Nerd'' (1987) ....Clelia Waldgrave
★ ''King of Hearts'' (1978) ....Jeunefille
★ ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'' (1978) ....Amber/Angel
★ ''A Chorus Line'' (1975) ....Val
★ ''Of Mice and Men'' (1974) ....Curley's Wife
★ ''Seesaw'' (1973) ....Ensemble
★ ''Sugar'' (1972) ....Ensemble, later Sugar Kane
★ ''Wild and Wonderful'' (1971)....Ensemble
★ ''Promises, Promises'' (1968)....Ensemble
Film and Television
★ ''21 Grams'' (2003)
★ ''The Last Dance'' (2000) (TV)
★ ''Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'' (1998) (TV) .... Sabrina's Mom
★ ''Beavis and Butt-Head Do America'' (1996) (voice only)
★ ''Before and After'' (1996)
★ ''Mighty Aphrodite'' (1995) .... Greek Chorus
★ ''Another World'' (1994) (TV) .... Bonnie Broderick
★ ''The Cosby Mysteries'' (1994) (TV)
★ ''Law & Order'' (1994) (TV)
★ ''Me and Veronica'' (1993)
★ ''The Cosby Show'' (1989) (TV).... Karen
★ ''The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd'' (1989) (TV)
★ ''All My Children'' (1985) (TV) Series .... Maida Andrews
★ ''Loving'' (1983-85) (TV) .... Rita Mae Bristow
★ ''Svengali'' (1983) (TV) .... Trish
★ ''Annie'' (1982) .... Annette
★ ''Ryan's Hope'' (1980) (TV)
References, Sources, and Links
1. Viagas, Robert, Baayork Lee, and Thommie Walsh, On the Line: The Creation of A Chorus Line, Morrow, 1990 ISBN 0-688-08429-X
2. Mandelbaum, Ken, A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett, St. Martin's Press, 1989. ISBN 0-312-03061-4
★ Flinn, Denny Martin, ''What They Did for Love: The Untold Story Behind the Making of A Chorus Line'', Bantam Books, 1989. ISBN 0-553-34593-1
★ Kelly, Kevin, ''One Singular Sensation: The Michael Bennett Story'', Zebra Biography, 1990. ISBN 0-8217-3310-9
★ Mandelbaum, Ken, ''A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett'', St. Martin's Press, 1989. ISBN 0-312-03061-4
★ Viagas, Robert, Baayork Lee, and Thommie Walsh, ''On the Line: The Creation of A Chorus Line'', Morrow, 1990 ISBN 0-688-08429-X
★ Internet Broadway Database
★ Internet Movie Database
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