Paula Prentiss
Biography
Paula Prentiss is an American actress born on March 4, 1938, in San Antonio, Texas, USA. Also known by her birth name Paula Ragusa, she is best known for her film roles in Where the Boys Are in 1960, What's New Pussycat? in 1965, Catch-22 in 1970, The Parallax View in 1974, and The Stepford Wives in 1975. In Where the Boys Are, she played the role of Tuggle alongside co-star Jim Hutton. From 1967 to 1968, Prentiss co-starred with her husband Richard Benjamin in the CBS sitcom He & She, earning a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
Career overview
Paula Prentiss is an American actress born on March 4, 1938, in San Antonio, Texas. Also known by her birth name Paula Ragusa, she is the daughter of university professor Thomas J. Ragusa. Prentiss leapt to fame playing the role of Tuggle in the 1960 hit film Where the Boys Are, starring alongside Jim Hutton. Following the favorable response to their pairing, MGM decided to reteam Prentiss and Hutton in three additional comedies.
Throughout her career, Prentiss has been recognized for her work across film and television. Her notable film roles include appearances in What's New Pussycat? in 1965, Catch-22 in 1970, The Parallax View in 1974, and The Stepford Wives in 1975. On television, she co-starred with her husband, Richard Benjamin, in the CBS sitcom He & She from 1967 to 1968. For her performance in the series, Prentiss received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
46 titles- SEGAL (2025) as Self
- Ida Western Exile (2017) Thanks
- I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016) as Iris Blum
- Hard Four (2007) as Sweet Cherrie
- AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions: America's Greatest Love Stories (2002) as Self
- The Stepford Life (2001) as Herself
- Mrs. Winterbourne (1996) as Nurse Allmeyer (uncredited)
- Burke's Law (1994) as Carla Martinet
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Leonora Holt
- M.A.D.D.: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (1983) as Lynne Wiley
- Packin' It In (1983) as Dianne Webber
- Buddy Buddy (1981) as Celia Clooney
- Saturday the 14th (1981) as Mary
- The Black Marble (1980) as Sgt. Natalie Zimmerman
- Top of the Hill (1980) as Norma Ellsworth Cully
- Friendships, Secrets and Lies (1979) as Sandy
- No Room to Run (1977) as Terry McKenna
- Having Babies II (1977) as Trish Canfield
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- The Stepford Wives (1975) as Bobbie Markowe
- The Lion Roars Again (1975) as Self
- The Parallax View (1974) as Lee Carter
- Crazy Joe (1974) as Anne
- The Couple Takes a Wife (1972) as Barbara Hamilton
- Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972) as Bobbi Michele
- Born to Win (1971) as Veronica
- Catch-22 (1970) as Nurse Duckett
- Move (1970) as Dolly
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- He & She (1967) as Paula Hollister
- In Harm's Way (1965) as Beverly McConnell
- What's New Pussycat? (1965) as Liz Bien
- Looking for Love (1964) as Self
- Man's Favorite Sport? (1964) as Abigail Page
- The World of Henry Orient (1964) as Stella Dunnworthy
- Follow the Boys (1963) as Toni
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Horizontal Lieutenant (1962) as Lt. Molly Blue
- Bachelor in Paradise (1961) as Linda Delavane
- The Honeymoon Machine (1961) as Pam Dunstan
- Where the Boys Are (1960) as Tuggle Carpenter
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) as Soap model (uncredited)
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Paula Prentiss best known for?
Paula Prentiss is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Burke's Law (1994), Murder, She Wrote (1984), Buddy Buddy (1981), Black and British: A Forgotten History (2016).
When and where was Paula Prentiss born?
Paula Prentiss was born on March 4, 1938 in San Antonio, Texas, USA.
How many credits does Paula Prentiss have?
Paula Prentiss has accumulated over 46 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1948 to 2025.
What is Paula Prentiss's background in cinema and television?
Paula Prentiss is an American actress born on March 4, 1938, in San Antonio, Texas, USA. Also known by her birth name Paula Ragusa, she is best known for her film roles in Where the Boys Are in 1960, What's New Pussycat? in 1965, Catch-22 in 1970, The Parallax View in 1974, and The Stepford Wives in 1975. In Where the ...
Paula Prentiss by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Leonora Holt — aged about 46
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self — aged about 24
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) as Soap model (uncredited) — aged about 20
- Man's Favorite Sport? (1964) as Abigail Page — aged about 26
- The Oscars (1953) as Self — aged about 15
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self — aged about 12
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