Phyllis Davis


Phyllis Ann Davis was an American actress who appeared primarily on television. She was most notably a co-star with the cast of the dramatic series Vega$, in which she portrayed Beatrice Travis, secretary and girl Friday of the show's main character, Dan Tanna, played by Robert Urich

Early life

Phyllis Davis was born in Nederland, Texas, but considered Port Arthur, Texas, her hometown. Growing up, Davis and her family lived in her parents’ mortuary business, in their home on the second floor. She recalled that when a funeral service was being held, the children had to be very quiet on the second floor. Davis attended Lamar University, then moved to Los Angeles in the mid '60s. While in Los Angeles, Davis attended acting classes at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Career

Davis's films include The Big Bounce, Russ Meyer's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Sweet Sugar, Terminal Island, The Day of the Dolphin, The Choirboys, The Wild Women of Chastity Gulch and Guns.
Davis appeared in guest roles on the prime-time series Love, American Style for five seasons. She also appeared in television series such as Knight Rider; she acted out the role of the villainous Tanya Walker in its pilot installment, "Knight of the Phoenix." She had guest roles in Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Magnum, P.I., The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and The Wild Wild West and was a regular performer in the vignettes in Love, American Style. She was in an episode of Adam-12 titled "You Blew It" in 1969. She was also a Match Game panelist on occasion and, during her tenure on ABC's Vega$, appeared on a Battle of the Network Stars special.
Davis was a co star on the ABC prime-time series Vega$ from 1978 to 1981, alongside star Robert Urich. Davis's character, Beatrice Travis, worked for Dan Tanna, a Las Vegas-based private investigator played by Urich. Her role was as Tanna's smart secretary and girl Friday in the crime drama.

Later years

Davis never married, but she had a long-term relationship with actor-singer Dean Martin during the 1970s, and another
relationship with Hall of Fame racehorse jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. during the 1980s.
Davis died of cancer on September 27, 2013, in Henderson, Nevada, where she had made her home. She was 73.