As one of the most stunning actresses to ever grace the big screen in the 1970s, every red-blooded man had a crush on her
Once one of Hollywood’s most dazzling stars in the 1970s, Valerie Perrine mesmerized audiences with her beauty and undeniable talent.
But before the cameras found her, she was a topless dancer in Las Vegas — and narrowly escaped a shocking murder attempt in a high-profile case that shook the nation.
Now, at 82, Perrine still turns heads… And you might want to sit down when you see how stunning she looks today.
Charmed the Emperor of Japan
Valerie Perrine was born in Galveston, Texas, in 1943, into a family already steeped in performance. Her mother was a showgirl, and her father served as a U.S. Army officer. At just four years old, Valerie performed for the Emperor of Japan while her family was stationed there after World War II, taking part in a ceremonial dance for the finale — without a black wig — hinting at the star she would one day become.
After returning to the U.S., Valerie followed in her mother’s footsteps, turning to dancing as a teenager. By 17, she ran away from home to perform in Las Vegas. She went door to door along the Strip until she landed her first big break—as a chorus girl in the Hello America show at the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino.
After that, she started earning up to $800 a week, about $8,000 today.
Why she moved to Hollywood
In the 1960s, Perrine performed up to 12 shows a week in Las Vegas. She danced on floors and up and down stairs, in heavy costumes and topless get-ups, all while perfecting her craft. But after eight years in the desert, she knew it was time for a change.