Candace Hilligoss's journey in acting began at a young age, participating in elementary school plays. She then pursued her passion at the University of Iowa for three years before moving to New York to further her studies at the esteemed American Theatre Wing. Her professional debut took place in Pennsylvania, where she performed in summer stock productions.
Her early career continued to flourish as she took the stage at the renowned Cape Cod Playhouse and embarked on a national tour with the accomplished actress Nina Foch in the production of "Idiot's Delight". Her versatility as a performer was showcased in various New York TV shows, and she also gained recognition as one of the iconic Copa Girls, dazzling audiences with her dance skills at the prestigious Copacabana nightspot.
In 1961, Hilligoss's career took an unexpected turn when she was cast in the leading role for the cult classic film Carnival of Souls (1962),a spine-tingling horror movie that cemented her status as a scream queen. She later solidified her reputation in the horror genre by playing the innocent and naive ingenue in the Connecticut-made film The Curse of the Living Corpse (1964).
