P.J. Soles, born Pamela Jayne Soles on July 17, 1950, in Frankfurt, Germany, led a life of international adventure and varied career pursuits. Her father's work with an insurance company led the family to relocate to various countries, including Casablanca, Morocco, Maracaibo, Venezuela, and Brussels, Belgium, where she attended the International School of Brussels.
As a student at Briarcliff College, Soles initially aspired to become the first woman ambassador to the Soviet Union. However, a visit to the Actors Studio in New York City shifted her focus towards acting. She began her career in commercials and modeling for fashion magazines, while married to J. Stephen Soles in New York.
After moving to Los Angeles, Soles divorced Soles and continued her acting career in television and film. She was one of the hundreds of actors auditioning for Brian De Palma and George Lucas's joint casting session for Carrie (1976) and Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). Following Carrie, she filmed Our Winning Season (1978) in Georgia, where she met actor Dennis Quaid. The couple married in 1978 on a dude ranch in Texas.
Soles then starred in Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979) alongside the Ramones. She went on to film Private Benjamin (1980) and Stripes (1981). Soles and Quaid divorced in 1983, after which she continued to take on numerous television and film roles. She married stunt pilot Skip Holm, who worked on The Right Stuff (1983),and they had two children before divorcing in 1998.
Throughout her career, Soles has remained active in television and film, consistently delivering impressive performances that have earned her the reputation as one of the most versatile actresses of her time.
