60s actress Diane McBain, Elvis’ former co-star, passes away
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[Content warning: Please be advised this story contains distressing themes.]
Hollywood is shining less brightly after the passing of actress Diane McBain on Thursday, December 21.
The 81-year-old died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, according to her close friend Michael Gregg Michaud.
She succumbed to complications from liver cancer.
In an Instagram post, Michaud wrote: ‘My heart is heavy… She lost her bravely fought battle against liver cancer. I’ll miss her terribly.’
McBain first appeared in films in 1960, when she was cast as Christine Storm in the film Ice Palace alongside actor Richard Burton.
Six years later in 1966, she also starred alongside rock icon and Hollywood star Elvis Presley in Spinout. Her role as Diana St. Claire, one of three women vying for singer and race car driver Mike McCoy’s (played by Presley) attention, is said to be the most notable role in her acting career.
‘Women have asked me many times what it was like to kiss Elvis, and I tell them it was just as wonderful as you would imagine!’ she said in a 2021 interview.
‘He was charming and a lovely person to work with. He didn't come on to me, which I appreciated because so many did throughout my career.’
In a separate interview last May, she described working with the ‘spiritual’ actor.
‘I, too, was fascinated by those things. So we bonded over that. We used to exchange books on set, and it was great fun. We would have conversations all the time about being spiritual. It was a good relationship, very solid. I just thought he was so terrific,’ she said.
McBain also appeared in other 60s shows such as Batman, The Wild Wild West, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, and Burke’s Law.
She continued to appear in other productions over the next decade, including Hawaii Five-O, Charlie’s Angels, Eight Is Enough, Dallas, and Days of Our Lives.
McBain retired from acting in 2001, with her last on-screen appearance in an episode of the TV series Strong Medicine.
In the following years, she underwent a renaissance of sorts, turning into an anti-sexual assault advocate as well as an author.
In 1982, McBain was beaten and sexually assaulted by two men on the morning of December 25.
She spoke up at various interviews and told her story of picking up the pieces after the horrific event.
In one such interview, McBain bared that it took some time for her to fully accept what was done to her and that she wouldn’t have been able to do so in the first place without the help of counselling that she attended and eventually became a part of.
‘I had to understand that nothing was diminished in me by being raped… I managed, because of the help… I managed to keep my self-respect and I was able to deal with what happened to me,’ she said in one instance.
Her experience in the incident was among the things she discussed in her 2014 memoir Famous Enough — co-authored with her friend Michaud — which also covered her life beyond the camera lens in Hollywood.
‘When I decided to write my memoir, I knew I was going to be truthful. I was going to tell the story the way it was.’
‘I didn’t see any reason to hide anything. I suppose some people might look at it and go, "My gosh, why did she tell us that?" But I always felt it’s important, to be honest. I was going to tell my true story, not just the good things that happened to me.’
Six years later in 2020, she published The Laughing Bear, which also takes inspiration from her harrowing experience decades earlier.
The next year saw the release of a different story from McBain: The Color of Hope, which touches on the lives of four people and how they deal with issues like racism and poverty amid a backdrop of a rapidly changing world.
When she was once asked what life was like for her, McBain expressed contentment with how things were going.
‘I have a cottage surrounded by beautiful flowers and ponds. I’ve made lots of friends… and I’ve been writing, which has been my dream. It’s quite wonderful.’
‘It’s probably as good as it gets,’ she ended with a laugh.
Our deepest condolences to McBain’s family and friends at this difficult time.
How do you remember McBain? Which of her roles did you love most?
Tell us in the comments section below.
Hollywood is shining less brightly after the passing of actress Diane McBain on Thursday, December 21.
The 81-year-old died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, according to her close friend Michael Gregg Michaud.
She succumbed to complications from liver cancer.
In an Instagram post, Michaud wrote: ‘My heart is heavy… She lost her bravely fought battle against liver cancer. I’ll miss her terribly.’
McBain first appeared in films in 1960, when she was cast as Christine Storm in the film Ice Palace alongside actor Richard Burton.
Six years later in 1966, she also starred alongside rock icon and Hollywood star Elvis Presley in Spinout. Her role as Diana St. Claire, one of three women vying for singer and race car driver Mike McCoy’s (played by Presley) attention, is said to be the most notable role in her acting career.
McBain played an author vying for a singer and racer’s heart in Spinout. Screengrab Credit: YouTube/Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
‘Women have asked me many times what it was like to kiss Elvis, and I tell them it was just as wonderful as you would imagine!’ she said in a 2021 interview.
‘He was charming and a lovely person to work with. He didn't come on to me, which I appreciated because so many did throughout my career.’
In a separate interview last May, she described working with the ‘spiritual’ actor.
‘I, too, was fascinated by those things. So we bonded over that. We used to exchange books on set, and it was great fun. We would have conversations all the time about being spiritual. It was a good relationship, very solid. I just thought he was so terrific,’ she said.
McBain also appeared in other 60s shows such as Batman, The Wild Wild West, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, and Burke’s Law.
She continued to appear in other productions over the next decade, including Hawaii Five-O, Charlie’s Angels, Eight Is Enough, Dallas, and Days of Our Lives.
McBain retired from acting in 2001, with her last on-screen appearance in an episode of the TV series Strong Medicine.
McBain was the leader of an all-women biker gang in The Mini-Skirt Mob. Screengrab Credit: YouTube/SorryHaters
In the following years, she underwent a renaissance of sorts, turning into an anti-sexual assault advocate as well as an author.
In 1982, McBain was beaten and sexually assaulted by two men on the morning of December 25.
She spoke up at various interviews and told her story of picking up the pieces after the horrific event.
In one such interview, McBain bared that it took some time for her to fully accept what was done to her and that she wouldn’t have been able to do so in the first place without the help of counselling that she attended and eventually became a part of.
‘I had to understand that nothing was diminished in me by being raped… I managed, because of the help… I managed to keep my self-respect and I was able to deal with what happened to me,’ she said in one instance.
Her experience in the incident was among the things she discussed in her 2014 memoir Famous Enough — co-authored with her friend Michaud — which also covered her life beyond the camera lens in Hollywood.
‘When I decided to write my memoir, I knew I was going to be truthful. I was going to tell the story the way it was.’
McBain said she served as a counsellor for rape victims for five years. Screengrab Credit: YouTube/Wings For LIFE International
‘I didn’t see any reason to hide anything. I suppose some people might look at it and go, "My gosh, why did she tell us that?" But I always felt it’s important, to be honest. I was going to tell my true story, not just the good things that happened to me.’
Six years later in 2020, she published The Laughing Bear, which also takes inspiration from her harrowing experience decades earlier.
The next year saw the release of a different story from McBain: The Color of Hope, which touches on the lives of four people and how they deal with issues like racism and poverty amid a backdrop of a rapidly changing world.
When she was once asked what life was like for her, McBain expressed contentment with how things were going.
‘I have a cottage surrounded by beautiful flowers and ponds. I’ve made lots of friends… and I’ve been writing, which has been my dream. It’s quite wonderful.’
‘It’s probably as good as it gets,’ she ended with a laugh.
How do you remember McBain? Which of her roles did you love most?
Tell us in the comments section below.
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