Episode 187 - Chatting With DeDee Pfeiffer About Cult Classics, Cybill & Coming Back to Hollywood – Part 1
Hollywood ObsessedShow Notes
On this episode of HOLLYWOOD OBSESSED, Tony Miros sits down with the wonderfully candid and entertaining actress DeDee Pfeiffer, best known for playing Cybill Shepherd’s daughter on “Cybill” and, more recently, Denise Brisbane on ABC’s “Big Sky.” In this revealing first part of their conversation, DeDee takes Tony back to her childhood in Orange County, sharing hilarious memories of growing up in a very different Southern California. She also opens up about being the middle Pfeiffer sister and what it was really like having Michelle Pfeiffer as an older sister.
Then comes the Hollywood story! DeDee reveals how she went from dancing in a Disneyland parade and delivering radiators to deciding she wanted to become an actress. With Michelle’s encouragement, she moved to LA, slept on her sister’s couch, and quickly discovered that becoming an actress wasn’t going to be easy. She admits she was initially terrible at acting and struggled to remember her lines—but she refused to quit. Then comes the incredible story of how DeDee got her SAG card, involving a casting Catch-22, a little creative storytelling, John Landis, Michelle, and “Into the Night”.
DeDee also takes Tony behind the scenes of her first starring role in the outrageous 1986 cult classic “Vamp,” starring the legendary Grace Jones. She shares unbelievable stories about the chaotic nighttime production in downtown Los Angeles, production delays, disappearing cast members, wardrobe malfunctions, and so much more! And then there was Grace Jones, arriving on set covered in body paint by artist Keith Haring and delivering a performance that left the cast and extras absolutely stunned.
DEDEE PFEIFFER With a career spanning more than three decades, DeDee Pfeiffer has established herself as a versatile actress whose credits include cult classics, hit television series, acclaimed dramas, and working alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. The younger sister of Oscar-nominated actress Michelle Pfeiffer, DeDee began acting at 21 making her feature-film debut in John Landis’ “Into the Night” (1985), alongside Jeff Goldblum and her sister Michelle. She soon landed starring roles in the cult favorite “Vamp “(1986), opposite legendary icon Grace Jones, “The Allnighter” (1987), and “The Horror Show” (1989).
Throughout the 1990s, Pfeiffer continued building an impressive film résumé, appearing opposite George Clooney in “Red Surf,” Michael Douglas in “Falling Down,” and Keanu Reeves in “Tune in Tomorrow.” On television, she became a familiar face as a series regular on the acclaimed sitcom “Cybill,” starring Cybill Shepherd, and later starred in “For Your Love.” Her guest appearances included iconic series such as “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” “Ellen,” “ER,” “CSI,” and “CSI: NY.”
In 2010, Pfeiffer made the courageous decision to step away from Hollywood and focus on her recovery from alcohol addiction. She returned to school, earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and ultimately received her Master of Social Work from UCLA. She then dedicated herself to social services, working with people affected by mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness.
After nearly a decade away, Pfeiffer made a remarkable return to television in 2020 with ABC’s “Big Sky”, portraying Denise Brisbane, a role created specifically for her by series creator David E. Kelley, who is married to her sister Michelle. A single mother of two sons, DeDee’s Hollywood story is anything but conventional.
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