Profile of Pamelyn Ferdin on Famous Like Me

Pamelyn Ferdin (born February 4, 1959) is an outspoken animal rights activist and former child actress. In 1996 she quit her job as director of public relations for the Center for Animal Care and Control, a nonprofit organization under contract to the New York City Department of Health, claiming mismanagement by the agency.

Pamelyn is best remembered for her roles in fantasy and science fiction series, including Mary Janowski in the Star Trek episode And the Children Shall Lead, Laura Gentry in Space Academy, and Mary Constable in the supernatural thriller Daughter of the Mind. She was nearly cast as Regan in The Exorcist, but producers wanted the role to go to a relative unknown, so Linda Blair was chosen.

Ferdin left the acting world in the 1980s and became a registered nurse. She married surgeon and fellow animal-rights activist Jerry Vlasak in 1986. They have no children.

On January 11, 2000, Pamelyn, a vigorous animal activist, faced up to six months in jail after being found guilty of carrying an elephant bullhook at an August 1999 protest at Pierce College in California. Circus Vargas had set up nearby, sparking protests regarding cruelty in circus training methods. A bullhook is a wooden rod with a sharp hook that is jabbed into sensitive areas of the elephant to keep it fearful and manageable. Ferdin's arrest was based on a local ordinance that makes it a misdemeanor to carry a staff or rod greater than 1½ inches in diameter while engaging in protest. This law dates back to the civil rights era and was originally enacted to protect police from overly aggressive demonstrators. She received 30 days.

Filmography

• "Detention" (1999) TV Series (voice) .... Shelley Kelley
• Heidi's Song (1982) (voice) .... Klara
• The Toolbox Murders (1978) .... Laurie Ballard
• "Space Academy" (1977) TV Series .... Lt. Laura Gentry
• Miles to Go Before I Sleep (1975) (TV) .... Lisa
• "These Are the Days" (1974) TV Series (voice) .... Kathy Day
• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1974) (TV) .... Francie Nolan
• "Lassie" (1954) TV Series .... Lucy Baker (1973-1974)
• "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters" (1973) TV Series .... Peggy
• Charlotte's Web (1973) (voice) .... Fern Arable
• Lassie: Joyous Sound (1972) (TV)
• "The Paul Lynde Show" (1972) TV Series .... Sally Simms
• "Roman Holidays" (1972) TV Series (voice) .... Precocia
• "Sealab 2020" (1972) TV Series (voice) .... Sally Murphy
• The Delphi Bureau (1972) (TV) .... Alice, the Boarder
• Happy Birthday, Wanda June (1971) .... Wanda June
• The Forgotten Man (1971) (TV) .... Sharon Hardy
• "Curiosity Shop" (1971) TV Series .... Pam
• What's the Matter with Helen? (1971) .... Kiddy M.C.
• The Mephisto Waltz (1971) .... Abby Clarkson
• The Beguiled (1971) .... Amelia
• Play It Again, Charlie Brown (1971) (TV) (voice) .... Lucy van Pelt
• The Cat in the Hat (1971) (TV) (voice) .... Sally
• "The Odd Couple" (1970) TV Series .... Edna Unger (1970-1971)
• The Christine Jorgensen Story (1970) .... Dolly as a Child
• Smoke (1970) (TV) .... Susie
• Daughter of the Mind (1969) (TV) .... Mary Constable
• A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969) (voice) .... Lucy Van Pelt
• ... aka A Boy Called Charlie Brown (UK)
• It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown (1969) (TV) (voice) .... Lucy van Pelt
• "Blondie" (1968) TV Series .... Cookie
• Star Trek - "All the Children Shall Lead" (1968) -- Mary Janowski
• The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968) .... Laura Bower
• The Reluctant Astronaut (1967) (uncredited) .... Mary (little girl)
• Valley of Mystery (1967) (TV) (uncredited)
• ... aka Stranded
• Never Too Late (1965) (uncredited)
• "The John Forsythe Show" (1965) TV Series .... Pamela
• What a Way to Go! (1964) (uncredited) .... Geraldine Crawley, age 4

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