This page uses content from the Pamelyn Ferdin biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Pamelyn Ferdin (born February 4, 1959) is an American animal rights activist and former child actress. She is best remembered for her roles as Felix Unger's daughter, Edna, on the TV sitcom The Odd Couple, as well as in fantasy and science fiction movies and television series. These roles included Mary Janowski in the Star Trek episode "And the Children Shall Lead", Laura Gentry in Space Academy [1], and Mary Constable in the supernatural thriller Daughter of the Mind. Ferdin also provided the voice of Lucy Van Pelt in the early Peanuts cartoon specials. She was nearly cast as Regan in The Exorcist, but producers wanted the role to go to a relative unknown, so Linda Blair was chosen. She co-starred opposite Lassie from 1972 to 1974 (sources vary on exact dates), at the end of the dog star's original television series. Her character, Lucy Baker, a deaf adolescent who initially had a pet wolf, loved and interacted with a variety of animals, including horses and a llama.

Activism

Ferdin left the acting world in the 1980s and became a registered nurse. She married surgeon and fellow animal-rights activist Jerry Vlasak in 1986. They have no children.

In 1996 she quit her job as director of public relations for the Center for Animal Care and Control, a nonprofit organization under contract to the New York City Department of Health, claiming mismanagement by the agency.

SHAC presidency

In August of 2004, Ferdin accepted the presidency of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty USA, according to statements filed under oath in U.S. District Court in New Jersey. The incumbent, Kevin Kjonaas, resigned after being indicted on charges of conspiracy and interstate stalking. [2]. When Kjonaas and six other SHAC activists were jailed in 2006, Ferdin vowed to continue the campaign. According to Salon.com she defines her current role as "a squeaky-clean representative for SHAC USA", but warning, "[p]eople, I think, are going to get hurt. There's going to be a lot of violence." [3]

Arrests

On January 11, 2000, Ferdin faced up to six months in jail after being found guilty of possessing an elephant bullhook at an August 1999 protest at Pierce College in California. Circus Vargas had set up near Pierce College, sparking protests regarding cruelty in circus training methods. Ferdin's arrest was based on a local ordinance that makes it a misdemeanor to carry a staff or rod greater than 1½ inches in diameter while engaging in protest. This law dates back to the civil rights era and was originally enacted to protect police from overly aggressive demonstrators. She received 30 days.

On June 22, 2006, Ferdin was sentenced to 90 days in jail for trespassing and "targeted demonstration" outside the home of an employee of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services. She stated that the conviction "is not going to affect my speaking out and exposing the atrocities occurring at our six city shelters." [4]

Filmography

• Detention (1999) TV Series (voice) .... Shelley Kelley
• Heidi's Song (1982) (voice) .... Klara
• The Toolbox Murders (1978) .... Laurie Ballard
• Space Academy (1977) TV Series .... Lt. Laura Gentry
• Miles to Go Before I Sleep (1975) (TV) .... Lisa
• These Are the Days (1974) TV Series (voice) .... Kathy Day
• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1974) (TV) .... Francie Nolan
• Lassie (1954) TV Series .... Lucy Baker (1973-1974)
• Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (1973) TV Series .... Peggy
• Charlotte's Web (1973) (voice) .... Fern Arable
• Lassie: Joyous Sound (1972) (TV)
• The Paul Lynde Show (1972) TV Series .... Sally Simms
• Roman Holidays (1972) TV Series (voice) .... Precocia
• Sealab 2020 (1972) TV Series (voice) .... Sally Murphy
• The Delphi Bureau (1972) (TV) .... Alice, the Boarder
• Happy Birthday, Wanda June (1971) .... Wanda June
• The Forgotten Man (1971) (TV) .... Sharon Hardy
• Curiosity Shop (1971) TV Series .... Pam
• What's the Matter with Helen? (1971) .... Kiddy M.C.
• The Mephisto Waltz (1971) .... Abby Clarkson
• The Beguiled (1971) .... Amelia
• Play It Again, Charlie Brown (1971) (TV) (voice) .... Lucy van Pelt
• The Cat in the Hat (1971) (TV) (voice) .... Sally
• The Odd Couple (1970) TV Series .... Edna Unger (1970-1971)
• The Christine Jorgensen Story (1970) .... Dolly as a Child
• Smoke (1970) (TV) .... Susie
• Daughter of the Mind (1969) (TV) .... Mary Constable
• A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969) (voice) .... Lucy Van Pelt: aka A Boy Called Charlie Brown (UK)
• It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown (1969) (TV) (voice) .... Lucy van Pelt
• Blondie (1968) TV Series .... Cookie
• Star Trek - "And the Children Shall Lead" (1968) -- Mary Janowski
• The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968) .... Laura Bower
• The Reluctant Astronaut (1967) (uncredited) .... Mary (little girl)
• Valley of Mystery (1967) (TV) (uncredited) (a.k.a. Stranded)
• Never Too Late (1965) (uncredited)
• The John Forsythe Show (1965) TV Series .... Pamela
• What a Way to Go! (1964) (uncredited) .... Geraldine Crawley, age 4

External links

• Ferdin's animal rights work
• AnimalScam scans of court documents

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