Patti Astor American actress and singer. Country: USA

1. Early Life and Activism
2. Performing Artist and East Village Icon
3. Underground Film Career
4. Co-Founder of FUN Gallery

Patty Astor: Rebellious Actress, Performance Artist, and Art Gallery Pioneer

Patty Astor, an American actress and singer, defied societal norms throughout her career. She dropped out of college to join the protest movement, starred in independent films, and co-founded one of the first galleries dedicated to graffiti artists.

Early Life and Activism

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Astor embarked on a life of adventure at the age of 18. She moved to New York City and enrolled in Barnard College. However, her passion for activism soon led her to abandon her studies. She became a leader of 'Students for a Democratic Society' and actively protested the Vietnam War for over two and a half years.

Performing Artist and East Village Icon

After the war, Astor toured the United States and Europe with the dance performance 'A Diamond As Big As The Ritz.' With a background in ballet, she had already developed her artistic voice. In 1975, she returned to New York and emerged as a star of the East Village. Her interests spanned punk rock, new wave, and independent films by Jim Jarmusch and Eric Mitchell.

Underground Film Career

Astor studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute. She became a queen of the underground film scene, starring in over a dozen experimental and low-budget films. Her debut in Amos Poe's 'Unmade Beds' (1976) was a black-and-white remake of Godard's 'Breathless.' She gained recognition for her performances in Mitchell's 'Underground U.S.A.' and the hip-hop epic 'Wild Style.' While financially unsuccessful, these films were praised by critics and have been enshrined in the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 'Wild Style' has been hailed as one of the 'top ten rock and roll films of all time.'

Co-Founder of FUN Gallery

In 1981, Astor co-founded FUN Gallery with Bill Stelling, one of the first art galleries in the East Village. They specialized in graffiti and showcased influential artists in the field. After the gallery closed, Astor moved to Hollywood, where she continued her film career and ventured into producing and screenwriting.