Elvira, Mistress of the Dark Looks 'Incredible' at 71 - She Fell for 'Tattooed & Muscular' Woman aft

May 2024 ยท 7 minute read

Cassandra Peterson has been well-known in Hollywood for a long time, since her appearance in her 1988 film "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark." Now, she is 71 and still looks youthful.

Peterson has also become an icon because she came out as lesbian after being with her ex-husband for 22 years. The actress talked about her relationship with her partner and why she kept things under wraps for so long.

Cassandra Peterson as Elvira in the "Nash Bridges" in 1997 | Source: Getty Images

Recently, Peterson's followers have praised her because she seems to possess an ageless beauty in her early 70s. Fans think she looks as wonderful as she did in the 1980s when she first appeared as Elvira.

She is now open about her 19-year relationship with her partner, Teresa, but for many years she kept her sexuality and relationship a secret from her fans. Peterson only revealed the truth after a long time.

Peterson was married to a man named Mark Pierson for over two decades and said she had never taken an interest in women before her marriage to Pierson ended. However, it all changed after they divorced.

Cassandra Peterson at the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards | Source: Getty Images

The actress and Pierson worked together often as he was a producer, singer, and manager. The pair collaborated on "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark," "The Elvira Show," and "Elvira's Haunted Hills."

Pierson also flexed his acting muscles in "Elvira's Haunted Hills" when he played the butler. The multi-talented man also wrote the theme track featured in "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark."

The couple were often in close quarters, and in 1981, Pierson became Peterson's husband and personal manager. By 1994, they had welcomed their only daughter, Sadie, before they called it quits in 2003.

Cassandra Peterson and Mark Pierson attend the Jean & Casey Kasem's Christmas Party in Holmby Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

Cassandra Peterson, Mark Pierson and Sadie Pierson at the Caring for Babies with AIDS' Fifth Annual Stroll-A-Thon on November 12, 1995 | Source: Getty Images

Sadie showed a keen interest in music from a young age and can sing. She also plays the guitar, showing that she has the same artistic genes as her parents, who split after 22 years together.

How Does Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Look Now at 71?

On March 21 this year, Peterson took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and voice actress Grey DeLisle at Comic-Con. She sported an all-black outfit and long, red hair, which she paired with neutral makeup.

A comment left under a picture of Cassandra Peterson on Instagram | Source: instagram.com/therealelvira/

A comment left under a picture of Cassandra Peterson on Instagram | Source: instagram.com/therealelvira/

Fans gushed in her comments that she looked terrific for her age and wanted to know her secrets to reverse aging. One fan joked:

"You must be a vampire."

A day later, Peterson shared another photo from Comic-Con. This time, she sat alongside the multi-talented actor William Shatner. Once again, fans were enamored with how wonderful Peterson looked.

A comment left under a picture of Cassandra Peterson on Instagram | Source: instagram.com/therealelvira/

A comment left under a picture of Cassandra Peterson on Instagram | Source: instagram.com/therealelvira/

One fan asked her if she had ever aged before telling her she looked "amazing." Other fans remarked how beautiful she was, and one commented that both Peterson and Shatner must be vampires because they did not seem to age.

The possible reason for Peterson looking so wonderful is because she is well-loved by her partner, Teresa. The actress made a shocking admission in her memoir about becoming a lesbian and talked about her 19-year relationship with Teresa Wierson.

Who is Elvira's Current Partner, Teresa "T" Wierson & How Did They Meet?

While fans of Peterson's have noticed that she has been without a man since she and Pierson divorced, Peterson told the world in 2021 that she has not been single all this time. In fact, she has been in a very committed relationship.

Teresa "T" Wierson and Peterson met at Gold's Gym in Los Angeles, where Wierson was a trainer. Initially, Peterson thought Wierson was a "sexy bad boy" many people in the gym had a major crush on. She also said Wierson was "tattooed and muscular."

Peterson mentioned that she could not help but focus on Wierson, who was unaware and charismatic. Peterson said that watching her when she was walking on the treadmill made time seemingly move faster.

One day, Peterson spotted Wierson in the women's changing rooms and realized that her "bad boy" crush was a woman. The pair then struck up a friendship, with Peterson learning that Wierson is a former bodybuilder, cyclist, and track runner.

While Wierson had a tough persona, Peterson said she was incredibly sweet, and the two got along well. Surprising even herself, Peterson made the first move with her partner.

The actress revealed that one night, after watching a movie together, she suddenly wanted to kiss Wierson. The situation caught Peterson off-guard, as she admitted:

"I felt so confused. This just wasn't me! I was stunned that I'd been friends with her for so many years and never noticed our chemistry."

Cassandra Peterson and daughter Sadie Pierson attend Stan Lee's Comikaze red carpet Launch Party on June 21, 2013 | Source: Getty Images

Soon after their first kiss, Peterson discovered that their physical connection was unlike anything she had experienced in her heterosexual relationships. Peterson confessed that she fast fell in love with Wierson.

The actress shared that Wierson had been there for her when she needed someone the most, which she loved most about her. Peterson even described her partner as an "angel."

Wierson and Peterson had been friends for years before they moved in together following Peterson's divorce from Pierson. Wierson was also facing her own struggle and came to Peterson for help.

Peterson described the day she showed up, saying she arrived on Peterson's doorstep with a trashbag of her belongings after splitting from her longtime partner and spending time in rehab.

The pair found relief in spending time together and even spent time together with Peterson's daughter. The actress said they spent their evenings laughing, singing, cooking, and dancing.

The couple's romance ensued, and they have been together for many years, yet Peterson kept it a secret until she released her memoir in 2021. Peterson also revealed her reason for keeping her relationship a secret for so long.

Elvira Mistress of the Dark Photo Op at the 2011 Comic-Con | Source: Getty Images

Peterson said that it would not have personally affected her to share her sexuality, but she felt a sense of responsibility to protect Elvira and her career. The actress believed that fans would find her hypocritical for being with a woman when her character has a thing for men.

The actress lost 11,000 followers when she came out, but within the same time frame, she gained another 60,000. Talking about sharing this part of her life, she gushed:

"It's so much nicer to just be who you are, and I mean, if I can't be who I am by the age of 70, then, oh my God, I'm in big trouble, right?"

Cassandra Peterson discusses "Elvira, Mistress Of The Dark" at AOL HQ on December 15, 2016 | Source: Getty Images

Cassandra Peterson poses during New York Comic Con 2022 | Source: Getty Images

Fans had wondered why she waited until her late 60s before she came out, and she said it was as good a time as any because she didn't want to wait until she was 100 before revealing her truth.

Now, Peterson loves that she can introduce Wierson and her partner and hold hands with her in public. The couple went on vacation to Hawaii soon after Peterson's book release, and she said she felt grateful to walk on the beach and hold hands with her love.

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