Vintage Horror fans were buzzed by a recent sighting of a beloved ’80s cult icon, whose goofy, sexy charm has bewitched audiences for decades.
The 73-year-old actress, who began her career as a Las Vegas showgirl, conjured a touch of her signature goth style in an all-black ensemble as she arrived at LAX on Tuesday.
Although still striking in a turtleneck, leggings and bucket hat, her look was a far cry from the vampy style that made her famous as the witty host of the film Macabre, which debuted on LA KHJ-TV in 1981.
The iconic look—jet black hair, porcelain skin, a black dress, and bold black eyeliner—was born during her time training as an improv actress at the famed Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles.
Comedy school came after she had tried a few other avenues, including lead singer of an Italian rock band and a Playboy Club host, before landing the role of Mistress of the Dark.
Can you guess who this timeless star is?
Vintage horror fans were buzzed by a recent sighting of a beloved ’80s cult icon, whose goofy, sexy charm has spellbound audiences for decades

The 73-year-old actress, who began her career as a Las Vegas showgirl, conjured a touch of her signature goth style in an all-black ensemble as she arrived at LAX on Tuesday
If you guessed Cassandra Peterson, aka Elvira, you’re right!
Peterson began her career as a Las Vegas showgirl and member of the comedy troupe The Groundlings, before transforming into legendary horror host Elvira in 1981.
She debuted Elvira’s Macabre on KHJ-TV, quickly gaining a dedicated fan base thanks to her unique gothic style, tight black dresses, and sharp, humorous commentary on classic horror films.
Her Elvira persona achieved even greater fame with the release of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark in 1988, a film she co-wrote and helped propel her to pop culture stardom.
Later, she also starred in the iconic 1993 comedy The Elvira Show, where her character moved to Manhattan, Kansas, along with her flamboyant Aunt Minerva and her talking cat, while working as a fortune teller and selling love potions.
The iconic witch quickly became a fan favorite and returned to screens in Elvira’s Haunted Hills in 2001.
Elvira, who is told to bring scary movies to life while ‘providing sarcastic and campy commentary’ is also seen in the 2010 Elvira series Macabre, which has 5 seasons.
The eccentric Mistress of the Dark returned for 13 Night of Elvira in 2014, where she takes on films like Puppet Master, Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle, and Evil Bong and skews them in the sexy, creepy way that only she Can’, according to her synopsis.

The horror alum revealed that he has been in a relationship with his assistant for the past two decades in the pages of his memoir, Yours Cruelly, Elvira, which was published in 2021 (pictured in 1983)


It’s Cassandra Peterson, 72, who starred as the iconic Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

Cassandra shoots to stardom as she first appears in the 1988 film, where Elvira turns a Puritan community on its ear when she comes to town to claim her inheritance (pictured in promoting the film)

Promotion poster for Elvira Mistress of the Dark from 1988

Cassandra donned her black wig and slipped once again into her plunging black dress for Elvira’s 40th Anniversary Very Scary Very Special Special, a 2021 television mini-series that celebrated her legendary role
Cassandra donned her black wig and slipped once again into her plunging black dress for Elvira’s 40th Anniversary, Very Scary, Very Special, Special, a 2021 television mini-series that celebrated her legendary role.
The horror alum previously revealed that he has been in a relationship with his assistant for the past two decades.
The performer opened up about her personal life in the pages of her memoir, Yours Cruelly, Elvira, which was published in 2021.
Although the horror host had never dated women before, something clicked when she and Wierson met decades ago at a gold gym in Hollywood.
In an extract from The defenderHe recalled that “when I was doing my pre-workout warm-up on the treadmill, I couldn’t help but notice one trainer in particular… stalking the gym floor, his knit cap so low over his long brown hair that it almost covered his eyes.
The TV star spared no details when describing the first impression her now-partisan made on everyone at the gym.
“Dark and brooding, he gave off such intense energy that when he crossed the massive gym floor, the waters parted and people stopped in their tracks to stare,” he wrote.
However, the two later met in one of the training center’s bathrooms, where the actress realized that her “bad boy” was actually a “bad girl.”
At the time, the actress was married to signee Mark Pierson, whom she married in 1981 and shares a daughter named Sadie.
When their relationship came to an end in 2003, it was Teresa who was there to comfort Cassandra.
Things turned romantic after Teresa, who the star affectionately calls ‘T’, split from her own partner.
‘There at the door was my coach, T, holding a garbage bag full of his belongings, looking sad and discouraged.
“He had separated from his lifelong partner, spent time in rehab, and now had nowhere to go,” Cassandra recalled.
They started living together when things started to get romantic.
Noticing her impulse to kiss T, Cassandra said she was “surprised.”
‘What the hell was he doing? “I had never been interested in women as anything other than friends…I was surprised that I had been friends with her for so many years and never realized our chemistry,” he said.

The movie legend looked ageless as she posed on the red carpet

Things turned romantic after Teresa, whom the star affectionately calls ‘T’, split from her own partner and not long after they started living together (Cassandra and Teresa shown in 2021)

The actress was previously married to signee Mark Pierson, whom she married in 1981 and shares a daughter named Sadie (pictured together in 1991)

Later, she also starred in the iconic 1993 Elvira broadcast, where her character moved to Manhattan, Kansas, along with her flamboyant Aunt Minerva and her talking cat, while working as a fortune teller and selling love potions (1988 photo)
Although they found love, the actress said she decided to keep their relationship private to protect the Elvira brand, which has a large male fan base.
‘Could my fans hate me for not being what they expected me to be?
“I’m well aware that there will be some who will be disappointed and maybe even angry, but… at this point in my life, I have to be honest about who I am,” he said.
Since then, Teresa has served as Cassandra’s assistant, and the actress noted that she couldn’t be happier about her love life.
“For the first time in my life, I am with someone who makes me feel safe, blessed, and truly loved,” she wrote in the memoir.
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