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R.I.P. Diane McBain, Pinky Pinkston from Batman, costar in Elvis movie ''Spinout''
McBain was signed to her first contract in the television industry as a teenager.
Diane McBain found the bright lights of show business at the age of 18 and didn't look back.
McBain passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022 after a battle with liver cancer according to The Hollywood Reporter.
She was best known for her lavish roles on screen, primarily in Surfside 6 as yacht owner Daphne Dutton, author Diana St. Clair in Elvis' Spinout and as the socialite owner of the Pink Chip Stamp Factory in Batman.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1941, McBain moved west with her family, landing in Glendale, California in 1944. She was a model for television commercials and magazine ads. Eventually she caught the eye of a talent scout, and for her 18th birthday, was signed to a seven-year contract with Warner Bros.
As a result, she made her onscreen premiere in a 1959 episode of Maverick titled "Passage to Fort Doom," while later appearing in "A Fellow's Brother." Her contract allowed her to star in Surfside 6 and appear on The Alaskans, Sugarfoot, Lawman and 77 Sunset Strip to name a few.
Ice Storm (1960) was McBain's first film, followed by Parrish and Claudelle Inglish in 1961. She played the titular character in the latter.
1966 was a big year for McBain, starting with her costar role alongside Elvis Presley in Spinout as author Diana St. Clair. She also made her first of four total appearances on Batman the same year, first as a shop assistant named Lisa in season one, followed by her memorable role as owner of the Pink Chip Stamp Factory, fittingly named Pinky Pinkston.
The role, unsurprisingly, saw McBain in an all-pink getup including a pink wig and a small pink dog to tote around. She could been seen in a plot that also included Van Williams as The Green Hornet and Bruce Lee as Kato.
She went on to appear in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Love, American Style, Mannix, Mod Squad, Land of the Giants, Hawaii Five-O and Charlie's Angels on the small screen. She could also be seen on the soap operas General Hospital and Days of Our Lives.
From the big screen to the small one, McBain leaves behind a career that will live on in classic films and television series for years to come.
She was 81.
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13 Comments
She was a very cordial beautiful and warm lady. She will be sadly missed God Bless her family and friends. RIP. Daphne. Dutton
R.I.P. Diane McBain
