Pat Ast American character actress Date of Birth: 21.10.1941 Country: USA

Biography of Pat Ast

Pat Ast was born on October 21, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York. Her father was a comedian who primarily performed at resorts in the Catskill Mountains, a region known as the "Borsch Belt" due to its large population of Jewish immigrants from Russia and Eastern Europe. Pat always had aspirations of becoming a singer and even won first place in a school singing competition, narrowly beating her classmate Barbra Streisand. However, after graduating from high school, Pat took a job as a factory worker.

It wasn't until she met director John Schlesinger that Pat got her first break in the entertainment industry. Schlesinger cast her in a small role in his film "Midnight Cowboy" in 1969, which earned her membership in the actors' union. Pat's career took off from there, and she went on to appear in numerous films such as "Reform School Girls," "The Incredible Shrinking Woman," "Foul Play," and "Homer and Eddie." She also had roles in TV shows like "Baretta," "Switch," and "The Twilight Zone."

In addition to her acting career, Pat had a close friendship with fashion designer Roy Halston, who even hired her as a model despite her larger size. She also appeared in a music video for the song "Smokin' In the Boys Room" by the band Motley Crue, in which she portrayed a teacher similar to her character in "Reform School Girls."

Although Pat didn't particularly enjoy living in Los Angeles, she continued to work in the entertainment industry and even took on a role in the Broadway production of "Nine." However, she was fired after three months due to her alleged attempts to take control of the show.

Tragically, Pat's close friend Berry Berenson, an actress, model, and successful photographer, died during the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001. Berry had planned a grand birthday celebration for Pat's 60th birthday, which was never realized.

Throughout her life, Pat battled with health issues, including diabetes and the amputation of her toes. She heavily relied on the support of her friends and neighbors. Sadly, she passed away in her West Hollywood apartment on October 3, 2001, just a few weeks shy of her 60th birthday. She was survived by her beloved Australian Shepherd named Winnie.