Patricia Apollonia Kotero (born August 2, 1959) is an American actress, singer, and former model.[2] She is known for co-starring in Prince's 1984 film Purple Rain and for having been the lead singer of the girl groupApollonia 6.[3]
Kotero was born in San Pedro, California, the daughter of immigrants from Mexico, and the eldest of four children. Her father, Victor, was a restaurant manager, and her mother, Socorro, was a caregiver for the elderly. She dropped out of high school at 16 to pursue a career as a model.[4]
Career
Early career
Kotero worked as an actress, singer, and model. After winning the Miss San Pedro beauty competition, and following her stint as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Rams in the early 1980s, Kotero began acting in film and television series such as CHiPs, Tales of the Gold Monkey, Fantasy Island, Matt Houston, and Knight Rider. In September 1982, she appeared in the music video "Shakin'" by Eddie Money. In May 1984, she appeared in the ABC television film The Mystic Warrior as the Native American woman Wicahpi. While dating Van Halen singer David Lee Roth, on and off when they were both in Los Angeles, she auditioned for Purple Rain. Roth had followed her modeling career and hired her for a Star of the Cars magazine cover.
Prince and Purple Rain
Kotero in 1984
When then-leader of Vanity 6, Denise "Vanity" Matthews, resigned from its membership before Prince's 1984 film Purple Rain was filmed, Kotero landed the film's female lead role. Vanity 6, which was renamed Apollonia 6 for the film, also featured supporting singers Brenda Bennett and Prince's then-girlfriend Susan Moonsie. Apollonia 6 embarked on a worldwide tour to promote their hit single "Sex Shooter".
In 1985, Kotero left Prince's camp to appear on the series Falcon Crest,[3] playing Apollonia, the girlfriend of the character played by Lorenzo Lamas. She performed several solo songs, including "Red Light Romeo", written and composed by Jon Lind.
Later career
In 1988, Warner Bros. Records released Kotero's eponymously titled first solo album, Apollonia.[6][7] Three singles were taken from the album: "Since I Fell for You", "The Same Dream" and "Mismatch".
She went on to appear in such films as Ministry of Vengeance (1989),[8]Back to Back (1990), Black Magic Woman (1991), and two Italian productions: La Donna di una Sera (A Lady for a Night) (1991) and Cattive Ragazze (1992). She returned to television on such shows as Sliders and Air America (which co-starred Lorenzo Lamas, her former co-star in Falcon Crest), and also hosted The Jazz Channel's Latin Beat program. During this period an exercise video entitled Go for It was also released. Kotero could also be seen on E!'s Celebrity Homes, The Test, Rendezview, and MTV Cribs, with her friend Carmen Electra.
In 2005, Kotero formed a multimedia entertainment company, Kotero Entertainment, which enlisted a number of producers to produce a children's animated television series as well as feature films. Kotero Entertainment also began managing young talent such as television and film star Sascha Andres and young pop singer Nikki Barreras, also known as Nikki B.
Kotero sued Prince's estate, Paisley Park Enterprises, in August 2025 over the trademark rights of her stage name Apollonia after the estate filed for the trademark and requested that the trademark Kotero obtained in 2016 be cancelled. Prince's estate said the name originated for a character Prince created for the film Purple Rain, and Kotero's trademark blocked them from selling merchandise using the Apollonia 6 name, and they had no intent to block her from performing under the name. Kotero stated that Prince encouraged her to use the name and only she had been actively using it for previous four decades.[9][10]
As of January 2024, the podcast has amassed 500,000 views and 10,000 subscribers.
Personal life
Apollonia dated rock singer David Lee Roth during the filming of Purple Rain.[14][15] She was married to actor, screenwriter, and director Kevin Bernhardt from 1987 to 1997.
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