Actress Joanna Pettet, Bond Girl, Dies At 83 In Temecula

TEMECULA, CA — Joanna Pettet, a London-born 1960s through 1990s film star, died July 7 at the Temecula Valley Hospital. The Temecula resident was 83 years old.

Pam DuBois, her friend and former manager, released a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "Her death came exactly 31 years after the death of her son, Damien Cord, who died of a heroin overdose in 1995," according to DuBois.

Joanna Pettet was a star of stage and screen, both big and small; her Hollywood career included a role as a Bond girl opposite Larry Niven in "Casino Royale." She appeared in multiple features and, on television, was the most reprised actress in the anthology series by Twilight Zone's Rod Serling, "Night Gallery" in the early 1970s, and made numerous appearances on "Fantasy Island" and "The Love Boat."

Pettet had recurring roles on "Knots Landing" in the early 1980s. She also starred alongside actors such as Lee Majors in "The Fall Guy," and "Larry Hagman" in "The Group," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Playboy Magazine showcased her beauty after her performance of "Blue" with Alex Cord, the father of her son.

Aside from her performances, she is also famously known for a poolside lunch in Topanga Canyon. In August of 1969, Pettet gathered with fellow actresses at the home of Shannon Tate mere hours before Tate and four others were murdered by followers of Charles Manson at Tate's home. That story was recreated in Quentin Tarantino's 2019 rendition "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," where Rumer Willis played Pettet and Margot Robbie played Tate.

Pettet's final acting credit was in 1990, in "Terror in Paradise," a Roger Corman-produced film. Her obituary states:"She remained respected by audiences for her body of work that reflected the changing landscape of television and film during the era."

Temecula residents who remember Joanna Pettet are welcome to share their comments here.