Edy Williams Biography - Edy Williams Information
Date of birth : 9 July 1942, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Birth Name(s) : Edwina Beth Williams
Measurements : 37-23-37
Height : 5' 7" (1.70 m)
Spouse : Russ Meyer (27 June 1970 - 7 November 1975
Born in Utah and raised in Oregon and Southern California, Edy Williams began her career as a model and beauty pageant contestant. After winning several local pageants, Williams was signed as a contract player by 20th Century Fox.
Seductive Edy Williams first started her Hollywood career making appearances on popular TV shows, including The Beverly Hillbillies and Batman. She also made a number of films in the 1960s, including the Sonny and Cher vehicle Good Times (1967) and I Sailed to Tahiti with an All Girl Crew (1968). Williams married sexploitation producer Russ Meyer, and Williams was then featured in Meyer's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) and The Seven Minutes (1971). Williams and Meyer eventually parted ways, and in the 1980s, Williams renewed her career in sexy comedies.
Edy Williamss grew up in Southern California. Her career began with modelling work with many local photogrpahers such as Peter Golwland. Edy won many California beauty contests which led to a multi-year contract with 20th Century Fox. Early parts included appearances with Elvis Presley in Paradise, Hawaiian Style and Steve McQueen in Nevada as well as television roles in The Twilight Zone and other shows.
Edy Williams landed bit parts in several films, with her cameo in Samuel Fuller's The Naked Kiss bringing her critical praise. She won a co-starring role in George Aselrod's comedy Secret Life of an American Wife working alongside of Walter Matthau and Patrick O'Neal. Other comedy work paired her with Gardner McKay in I Sailed to Tahiti. Her most famous role cam in Beyond the Valley of the Dolls when she co-starred as Ashley St. Ives. The Seven Minutes, also from 20th Century Fox, followed the next year with Edy starring as Faye Osborne.
Throughout the 1960s, Williams appeared in several television series and film including roles in The Beverly Hillbillies, Batman, Adam-12, Lost in Space, The Naked Kiss, and the Sonny & Cher film, Good Times.
In 1970, she appeared as Ashley St. Ives in Russ Meyer's first mainstream film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, followed by his second mainstream film The Seven Minutes (1971). Meyers and Williams married in 1970, shortly after the release of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
In March 1973, she was photographed for Playboy in a full color photo spread by then-husband Russ Meyer.
After her divorce from Meyer in 1977, Williams continued acting, mainly appearing in films, many of which involved nudity.
In 1982, she appeared on an episode of The People's Court as a defendant in a case titled "The Star Who Wouldn't Pay". Williams was sued for payment for publicity work the plaintiff had done for her. She counter-sued for half of the retainer she'd paid him.
After her appearance on The People's Court, Williams was sporadically active in films during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Since the 1990s, Edy Williams has traditionally appeared at both the Academy Awards and the Cannes Film Festival in revealing and flamboyant outfits.