Diane McBain obit

Diane McBain, Actress in ‘Surfside 6’ and ‘Spinout,’ Dies at 81

She also played stamp-company queen Pinky Pinkston on 'Batman' and starred in such films as 'Parrish,' 'Claudelle Inglish' and 'The Mini-Skirt Mob.'

 

 She was not on the list.

Diane McBain, whose career playing spoiled rich girls included turns as the yacht owner Daphne Dutton on the ABC crime show Surfside 6 and an author stalking Elvis Presley in Spinout, has died. She was 81.

McBain died Wednesday morning at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills after a battle with liver cancer, her friend and writing partner, Michael Gregg Michaud, told The Hollywood Reporter.

McBain also guest-starred on four episodes of ABC’s Batman, first as a hat shop assistant who’s in cahoots with David Wayne’s Mad Hatter in 1966 and then as stamp company proprietor Pinky Pinkston — she wore only pink and had a pink dog — on the memorable 1967 installment that featured The Green Hornet (Van Williams) and Kato (Bruce Lee).

In her first film, McBain appeared with Richard Burton in Vincent Sherman’s Ice Storm (1960), then starred alongside Troy Donahue and Claudette Colbert in Delmer Daves’ campy Parrish (1961) and as the title character, a farm girl who meets a tragic end, in Claudelle Inglish (1961).

A contract player at Warner Bros. straight out of high school, McBain broke out as the loopy Daphne on the 1960-62 Miami Beach-set crime show Surfside 6. Her character owned a yacht, the Daffy II, that was berthed next door to the houseboat that served as home base for the private detectives portrayed by Williams, Donahue and Lee Patterson.

She portrayed Diana St. Clair, an author of books that help women get their men, in Spinout (1966), finding Elvis’ Mike McCoy the perfect subject to track for her next project, The Perfect American Male.

In Tom Lisanti’s 2001 book, Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema, McBain said she regretted being typecast as bad girls. “I wanted to play the ingenue,” she said. “I could never understand why everyone wanted to play the bitch. Because when you go into society, people view you as they see you onscreen. It’s terrible to be thought of as this messy, horrible person when you’re not!”

Born in Cleveland on May 18, 1941, McBain moved with her family to Glendale in 1944. She modeled for TV commercials and magazine ads as a teenager, and while appearing in a play at Glendale High School, she was spotted by a talent scout and signed by Warners to a seven-year contract on her 18th birthday.

“When I was about to graduate from high school, they offered me the role of Richard Burton’s granddaughter in Ice Palace,” she told Lisanti. “And believe it or not, I didn’t even know who Richard Burton was! … He was an English actor, and I was a teenybopper.” 

She had made her onscreen debut in 1959 on an episode of ABC’s Maverick, and in addition to Surfside 6, she showed up on many other Warner Bros. TV shows, including The Alaskans, Sugarfoot, Lawman, 77 Sunset Strip, Hawaiian Eye and Bourbon Street Beat.

McBain beat out Shirley Knight for the lead in Claudelle Inglish, then starred as a farm owner in Black Gold (1962), a nurse opposite Joan Crawford in The Caretakers (1963) and a health nut in Mary Mary (1963), starring Debbie Reynolds. She then reunited with Donahue for A Distant Trumpet (1964), the last film directed by Raoul Walsh. 

She left Warner Bros. after refusing a small part in Sex and the Single Girl (1964). “I was doing leads and thought this wasn’t a good idea,” she said.

McBain battled with characters played by Shelley Fabares and Deborah Walley for Elvis’ affection in Spinout, but her Diana wound up marrying an older guy portrayed by Carl Betz.

McBain then appeared in the low-budget AIP films Thunder Alley (1967), directed by Richard Rush; Maryjane (1968); and, as the savage leader of a motorcycle gang, The Mini-Skirt Mob (1968).

Her résumé included the films Five the Hard Way (1969), I Sailed to Tahiti With an All Girl Crew (1969), The Broken Hearts Club (2000) and Besotted (2001) and episodes of Burke’s Law, The Wild Wild West, Police Story, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Hawaii Five-O, Charlie’s Angels, Eight Is Enough, Dallas, Days of Our Lives and Knight Rider.

She entertained U.S. troops overseas in the ’60s and counseled rape survivors after she herself was victimized in 1982.

McBain published her autobiography, Famous Enough, a Hollywood Memoir, co-written by Michaud, in 2014, then wrote two novels, 2020’s The Laughing Bear and 2021’s The Color of Hope.

“She lived a full life and experienced every opportunity that presented itself. She was very kind, thoughtful, loyal and generous, and she had a wicked sense of humor,” Michaud, her friend of 35 years, wrote on social media. “Despite her remarkable professional accomplishments, she was the most un-affected movie star I have ever known.”

The pair did numerous book signings and autograph shows, the latest just months ago, he said.

McBain was married to Rodney Burke, whom she met at a Buddhist camp, from 1972 until their 1974 divorce. Survivors include her son, Evan, and her goddaughter, Mary.

Actress

 

    Patricia Richardson and Rosa Blasi in Strong Medicine (2000)

    Strong Medicine

        Lovey Carmichael

        TV Series

        2001

 

Besotted (2001)

Besotted

 

    Mrs. Buell

 

    2001

 

The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000)

The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy

 

    Josephine

 

    2000

 

Eileen Davidson, Bryton James, Joshua Morrow, Gina Tognoni, Justin Hartley, Melissa Claire Egan, and Peter Bergman in The Young and the Restless (1973)

The Young and the Restless

 

    Society Matron

 

    TV Series

 

    1999

 

Invisible Mom II (1999)

Invisible Mom II

 

    Mrs. Chandler

 

    Video

 

    1999

 

The Christmas Path (1998)

The Christmas Path

 

    Laura

 

    1998

 

Maureen O'Hara, Jason Beghe, Catherine Bell, and Haley Joel Osment in Cab to Canada (1998)

Cab to Canada

 

    Mourner at funeral (uncredited)

 

    TV Movie

 

    1998

 

Jane Seymour, Chad Allen, Joe Lando, and Shawn Toovey in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993)

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

 

    Old Woman

 

    TV Series

 

    1998

 

Melissa Joan Hart in Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996)

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

 

    Granny

 

    TV Series

 

    1996

 

Puppet Master 5 (1994)

Puppet Master 5

 

    Attorney

 

    Video

 

    1994

 

The Streets of Beverly Hills

 

    TV Movie

 

    1992

 

William Conrad and Joe Penny in Jake and the Fatman (1987)

Jake and the Fatman

 

    Abigail Stevens

 

    TV Series

 

    1990

 

Maurice Benard, Ingo Rademacher, Julie Berman, Steve Burton, Tyler Christopher, Nancy Lee Grahn, Rebecca Herbst, Kelly Monaco, Kirsten Storms, Laura Wright, Dominic Zamprogna, and Chad Duell in General Hospital (1963)

General Hospital

 

    Claire Howard

 

    TV Series

 

    1988

 

David Hasselhoff in Knight Rider (1982)

Knight Rider

 

    Mama Flynn

 

    TV Series

 

    1985

 

John Rubinstein and Jack Warden in Crazy Like a Fox (1984)

Crazy Like a Fox

 

    TV Series

 

    1985

 

Ernest Borgnine, Jan-Michael Vincent, and Alex Cord in Airwolf (1984)

Airwolf

 

    Lylah Santini

 

    TV Series

 

    1984

 

The Red Fury (1984)

The Red Fury

 

    Mrs. French

 

    1984

 

Days of Our Lives (1965)

Days of Our Lives

 

    Foxy Humdinger

 

    TV Series

 

    1982–1984

 

Lee Horsley in Matt Houston (1982)

Matt Houston

 

    Nurse Marcia Bingham

 

    TV Series

 

    1983

 

Victoria Principal, Barbara Bel Geddes, Patrick Duffy, Larry Hagman, Charlene Tilton, Jim Davis, Linda Gray, and Steve Kanaly in Dallas (1978)

Dallas

 

    Dee Dee Webster

 

    TV Series

 

    1982

 

Dan Haggerty in Legend of the Wild (1981)

Legend of the Wild

 

    Jenny

 

    1981

 

Willie Aames, Betty Buckley, Grant Goodeve, Dianne Kay, Connie Needham, Lani O'Grady, Adam Rich, Susan Richardson, Dick Van Patten, and Laurie Walters in Eight Is Enough (1977)

Eight Is Enough

 

    Mrs. Hall

 

    TV Series

 

    1981

 

Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith in Charlie's Angels (1976)

Charlie's Angels

 

    Marian HestonPenny

 

    TV Series

 

    1979–1981

 

Kam Fong, Al Harrington, Jack Lord, and James MacArthur in Hawaii Five-O (1968)

Hawaii Five-O

 

    Eva Pritchard

 

    TV Series

 

    1980

 

Dan Haggerty in The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (1977)

The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams

 

    Jenny

 

    TV Series

 

    1978

 

Dan Haggerty in Once Upon a Starry Night (1978)

Once Upon a Starry Night

 

    Jenny

 

    TV Movie

 

    1978

 

Donner Pass: The Road to Survival (1978)

Donner Pass: The Road to Survival

 

    Margaret Reed

 

    TV Movie

 

    1978

 

James Brolin, Robert Young, and Elena Verdugo in Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)

Marcus Welby, M.D.

 

    Barra Dean

 

    TV Series

 

    1976

 

Barbary Coast (1975)

Barbary Coast

 

    Myra Landis

 

    TV Series

 

    1975

 

The Deathhead Virgin (1974)

The Deathhead Virgin

 

    Janice Cutter

 

    1974

 

Robert Forster, David Birney, and Richard E. Kalk in Police Story (1973)

Police Story

 

    Mrs. Thompson

 

    TV Series

 

    1974

 

Polly Bergen, Donna Mills, Paul Burke, Judy Carne, and Barbara Feldon in The Wide World of Mystery (1973)

The Wide World of Mystery

 

    Laura Stone

 

    TV Series

 

    1974

 

Tiffany Bolling and Randolph Roberts in Wicked, Wicked (1973)

Wicked, Wicked

 

    Dolores Hamilton

 

    1973

 

Huyendo del halcón (1973)

Huyendo del halcón

 

    1973

 

The Wild Season (1971)

The Wild Season

 

    Celia 'Doc' Drew

 

    1971

 

Peggy Lipton, Michael Cole, and Clarence Williams III in Mod Squad (1968)

Mod Squad

 

    Melba Norwood

 

    TV Series

 

    1971

 

Diane McBain, Yvette Mimieux, and Ralph Taeger in The Delta Factor (1970)

The Delta Factor

 

    Lisa Gordot

 

    1970

 

John Forsythe, Melanie Fullerton, Joyce Menges, and Susan Neher in To Rome with Love (1969)

To Rome with Love

 

    Connie

 

    TV Series

 

    1970

 

Gary Conway in Land of the Giants (1968)

Land of the Giants

 

    Mrs. Evers

 

    TV Series

 

    1970

 

Mike Connors in Mannix (1967)

Mannix

 

    Stella Diamond

 

    TV Series

 

    1970

 

Love, American Style (1969)

Love, American Style

 

    Jill Dougherty (segment "Love and the Roommate")

 

    TV Series

 

    1969

 

I Sailed to Tahiti with an All Girl Crew (1969)

I Sailed to Tahiti with an All Girl Crew

 

    Liz Clark

 

    1969

 

Ross Hagen and Diane McBain in Five the Hard Way (1969)

Five the Hard Way

 

    Rita

 

    1969

 

The Mini-Skirt Mob (1968)

The Mini-Skirt Mob

 

    Shayne

 

    1968

 

Maryjane (1968)

Maryjane

 

    Elli Holden

 

    1968

 

Robert Vaughn, Leo G. Carroll, and David McCallum in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964)

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

 

    Contessa Margo De FanziniJoanna Lydecker

 

    TV Series

 

    1965–1967

 

Thunder Alley (1967)

Thunder Alley

 

    Annie Blaine

 

    1967

 

Adam West and Burt Ward in Batman (1966)

Batman

 

    LisaPinky Pinkston

 

    TV Series

 

    1966–1967

 

Robert Conrad and Ross Martin in The Wild Wild West (1965)

The Wild Wild West

 

    Elaine DoddJennifer Wingate

 

    TV Series

 

    1965–1967

 

Elvis Presley, Shelley Fabares, Victoria Carroll, Nancy Czar, Dodie Marshall, Diane McBain, and Deborah Walley in Spinout (1966)

Spinout

 

    Diana St. Clair

 

    1966

 

Vacation Playhouse (1963)

Vacation Playhouse

 

    Sherry

 

    TV Series

 

    1965

 

Gene Barry in Burke's Law (1963)

Burke's Law

 

    Cissy Davenport DeWittLana De ArmandSusan Shaw ...

 

    TV Series

 

    1964–1965

 

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

 

    Show Girl

 

    TV Series

 

    1965

 

Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963)

Kraft Suspense Theatre

 

    Diana WestonMary Jorgenson

 

    TV Series

 

    1964

 

Valentine's Day (1964)

Valentine's Day

 

    Sheila

 

    TV Series

 

    1964

 

Wendy and Me (1964)

Wendy and Me

 

    Linda

 

    TV Series

 

    1964

 

Troy Donahue, Diane McBain, and Suzanne Pleshette in A Distant Trumpet (1964)

A Distant Trumpet

 

    Laura Frelief - Quaint's Niece

 

    1964

 

Ben Gazzara and Chuck Connors in Arrest and Trial (1963)

Arrest and Trial

 

    Elyse Binns

 

    TV Series

 

    1964

 

Mary, Mary (1963)

Mary, Mary

 

    Tiffany Richards

 

    1963

 

Edd Byrnes, Roger Smith, and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in 77 Sunset Strip (1958)

77 Sunset Strip

 

    Carla StevensDoris SpinnerLaura Stanley ...

 

    TV Series

 

    1959–1963

 

The Caretakers (1963)

The Caretakers

 

    Alison Horne

 

    1963

 

Robert Conrad, Anthony Eisley, Poncie Ponce, and Connie Stevens in Hawaiian Eye (1959)

Hawaiian Eye

 

    Charlene 'Charley' BoggsLiz Downing

 

    TV Series

 

    1962–1963

 

Philip Carey, Diane McBain, and Fay Spain in Black Gold (1962)

Black Gold

 

    Ann Evans

 

    1962

 

Diane McBain and Van Williams in Surfside 6 (1960)

Surfside 6

 

    Daphne Dutton

 

    TV Series

 

    1960–1962

 

Diane McBain in Claudelle Inglish (1961)

Claudelle Inglish

 

    Claudelle Inglish

 

    1961

 

Troy Donahue, Sharon Hugueny, Diane McBain, and Connie Stevens in Parrish (1961)

Parrish

 

    Alison Post

 

    1961

 

Bourbon Street Beat (1959)

Bourbon Street Beat

 

    ChristinaGinny CostelloLorraine Elliott

 

    TV Series

 

    1960

 

Peter Brown and John Russell in Lawman (1958)

Lawman

 

    Lilac Allen

 

    TV Series

 

    1960

 

Sugarfoot (1957)

Sugarfoot

 

    Joan Guild

 

    TV Series

 

    1960

 

The Alaskans (1959)

The Alaskans

 

    Harriet Pemberton

 

    TV Series

 

    1960

 

Richard Burton, Jim Backus, Ray Danton, Martha Hyer, Carolyn Jones, Diane McBain, and Robert Ryan in Ice Palace (1960)

Ice Palace

 

    Christine Storm

 

    1960

 

Maverick (1957)

Maverick

 

    Charlotte StantonHolly Vaughn

 

    TV Series