Joanna Pettet, who rose to prominence in the 1966 film The Group before starring in the James Bond parody Casino Royale, has died at the age of 83, according to film-news.co.uk.
Her death was confirmed on Facebook by her friend and former manager, Pam DuBois, who stated that the British-born actor passed away on the anniversary of the death of her son, Damien Zachary Cord, who died in 1995.
Born in London in 1942, Pettet moved to New York at the age of 16 to study acting. She achieved her breakthrough role as Kay in the 1966 drama The Group, appearing alongside Candice Bergen, Jessica Walter, Joan Hackett, and Shirley Knight. The following year, she portrayed Mata Bond in the 1967 James Bond satire Casino Royale, sharing the screen with Peter Sellers, David Niven and Woody Allen.
Pettet subsequently established a prolific career in television throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Her extensive screen credits included guest appearances and recurring roles in popular series such as Dr Kildare, Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Knight Rider and the prime-time soap opera Knots Landing.
The actor was also historically linked to the tragic events of August 8, 1969. On the afternoon of that day, Pettet and fellow actor Barbara Lewis attended a luncheon at the home of their close friend, Sharon Tate. Later that evening, Tate and four other individuals were murdered at the residence by members of the Manson Family.
This poolside luncheon was later dramatised in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, in which actor Rumer Willis portrayed Pettet.
Pettet was married to actor Alex Cord from 1968 until their divorce in 1989, and was previously romantically linked to British actors Terence Stamp and Alan Bates. She is survived by an extensive legacy across British and American cinema and television.