Regina Carrol was a talented and captivating blonde bombshell, born Regina Gelfan on May 2, 1943, in Boston, Massachusetts. She began her journey in the entertainment industry at the tender age of 5, performing in stage productions of notable plays such as "West Side Story," "The Children's Hour," "Wish You Were Here," and "Daddy Long Legs." Tragedy struck when her mother passed away due to cancer when Regina was just 15 years old.
Undeterred, Regina pursued her passion for dance and became a professional dancer in Las Vegas, Nevada, and even toured Europe with her nightclub act. She also hosted her own television interview series, "The Regina Carrol Show," and wrote an entertainment column for the newspaper "The Las Vegas Panorama." Her big break came when she was discovered by actor Steve Cochran, who convinced her to venture into the world of film.
Regina's film debut was as a dancer in "The Beat Generation," followed by uncredited small parts in "The Glass Bottom Boat," "The Slender Thread," "Viva Las Vegas," "Two Rode Together," and "From the Terrace." She then stole the show with her wild and memorable performance as the crazed biker mama Gina in the 1969 film "Satan's Sadists," earning the nickname "the freak-out girl" in the film's advertisements.
Regina's subsequent film roles included the daffy Lori in the amusing "Blazing Stewardesses" (1975),the feisty cowgirl Claire in the gritty revenge Western "Jessi's Girls" (1975),and the melancholy lounge singer Valerie in the nifty blaxploitation film "Black Heat" (1976). Her rendition of the forlorn ballad "No More Mail Until Tomorrow" in this film showcased her impressive vocal range.
Regina Carrol ended her acting career performing cabaret on stage and sadly passed away at the tragically young age of 49 on November 4, 1992, due to cancer. Despite her untimely demise, Regina left an enduring legacy as a cult icon in the world of drive-in exploitation films, and her captivating performances continue to entertain and inspire fans to this day.
