Paula Prentiss

Paula Prentiss, born as Paula Ragusa on March 4, 1938, is an accomplished American actress. She is widely recognized for her remarkable performances in 'Where the Boys Are' (1960), 'Man's Favorite Sport?' (1964), 'What's New Pussycat?' (1965), 'Catch-22' (1970), 'The Parallax View' (1974), and 'The Stepford Wives' (1975). Between 1967 and 1968, Prentiss shone in the CBS sitcom 'He & She', co-starring with her husband Richard Benjamin. This period marks a highlight of her career as she earned a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

Born in San Antonio, Texas as the elder daughter of Paulene (née Gardner) and Thomas J. Ragusa, a social sciences professor, Prentiss' early life was steeped in academia. At a towering height of 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), she always stood out in her class. Her first taste of acting came while studying drama at Northwestern University, where she met her future husband Richard Benjamin, a fellow actor who she married in 1961. Prentiss' successful career has spanned from 1960 to present. Despite experiencing a challenging time with a nervous breakdown on set in the mid-1960s, she returned to her craft each time, proving her indomitable spirit. Her film career was briefly punctuated with a stint on Broadway alongside her husband in 'The Norman Conquests'.