Actress Cassandra Peterson on her dark alter-ego and the advice from Elvis that changed her life

off duty

Cassandra Peterson began her career as Elvira in 1981. Her latest venture is 'Elvira’s Cookbook from Hell: Sexy, Spooky Soirées and Celebrations for Every Occasion.'

Cassandra Peterson has spent more than four decades as the undisputed Queen of Halloween. Her reign began in 1981, when she unleashed her glamorous, gothic, wisecracking alter ego, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, on the late-night TV series Movie Macabre . Peterson’s creation – a sharp-tongued, pun-slinging, slit-dress-wearing campy vamp – shot to fame by gleefully interrupting vintage horror movies with cutting jokes, and a heap of double entendres. Her blend of humour and horror brought the show into multiple syndication deals and non-stop public appearances. “During Halloween,” she jokes, “I’m like a turkey on Th