Dian Parkinson

Last updated
Dian Parkinson
Born
Diana Lynn Batts

(1944-11-30) November 30, 1944 (age 79)
Occupation(s)Model, actress, beauty pageant
Known for The Price Is Right

Diana Lynn Batts (born November 30, 1944) is an American former actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. She represented the United States at Miss World 1965 in London, where she placed 1st runner-up. From 1975 to 1993, Parkinson served as a model on The Price Is Right . [1]

Contents

Career history

In 1965, while living in Falls Church, Virginia, Parkinson won the Miss District of Columbia USA title and competed as Diana Batts in the Miss USA 1965 pageant, where she placed fourth runner-up. [2] Parkinson won the 1965 Miss USA World contest. [3] She went on to represent the United States in the international Miss World 1965 contest, and was first runner-up to Lesley Langley of the United Kingdom. [4]

Parkinson travelled during 1965 with the Bob Hope USO Show, including performances in Vietnam during late December 1965, and also served as Queen of the 1965 Bob Hope Desert Classic golf tournament. [5]

In 1975, Parkinson was a guest star on The Mary Tyler Moore Show ("Ted's Moment of Glory"). [6]

In 1978, Parkinson appeared in the pilot of the TV series Vega$ . [7]

From 1975 to 1993, Parkinson was a model on the US television game show The Price Is Right . Her 18-year tenure on the show was among the longest of any of the models, tied for third with Holly Hallstrom, and third only to Rachel Reynolds, who has been with the show since 2003 and Janice Pennington, who was with the show for more than 28 years.[ citation needed ]

Departure from The Price Is Right

Parkinson left the show in 1993, supposedly to "pursue other interests", as host Bob Barker announced during her final taping, which aired on June 18, 1993.

In 1994, Parkinson filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court (case no. BC106366) against Barker for sexual harassment. The suit was withdrawn in April 1995, with Parkinson claiming it was too costly and had taken a toll on her health. [8]

Playboy

Parkinson was the cover girl of Playboy in December 1991 [9] at the age of 47 and again in May 1993. [10] In 1993, Parkinson was featured exclusively in a Playboy "Newsstand Edition" photo magazine entitled Playboy Presents Dian Parkinson. Also in 1993, the video Playboy Celebrity Centrefold: Dian Parkinson was released. [11]

EZ Krunch

In 1993, Parkinson was the official spokesperson for the home exercise equipment machine EZ Krunch. [12]

Space Ghost: Coast to Coast

In 1994, Parkinson appeared as a guest on the animated talk show Space Ghost: Coast to Coast ("Punch"). [13]

Personal life

In November 2019, Parkinson listed a residence in Westlake Village, California. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Price Is Right</i> American television game show

The Price Is Right is an American television game show where contestants compete by guessing the prices of merchandise to win cash and prizes. A 1972 revival by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman of their 1956–1965 show of the same name, the new version added many distinctive gameplay elements. Contestants are selected from the studio audience: the announcer calls their name, invoking them to "Come on down!", the show's famous catchphrase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Barker</span> American media personality (1923–2023)

Robert William Barker was an American media personality and animal rights advocate. He hosted CBS's The Price Is Right, the longest-running game show in North American television history, from 1972 to 2007. Barker also hosted Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen O'Connell</span> American actress and singer (1920–1993)

Helen O'Connell was an American singer, actress, and hostess, described as "the quintessential big band singer of the 1940s".

<i>Playboy</i> Playmate Female model featured in a centerfold of Playboy magazine

A Playmate is a female model featured in the centerfold/gatefold of Playboy magazine as Playmate of the Month (PMOTM). The PMOTM's pictorial includes nude photographs and a centerfold poster, along with a pictorial biography and the "Playmate Data Sheet", which lists her birthdate, measurements, turn-ons, and turn-offs. At the end of the year, one of the 12 Playmates of the Month is named Playmate of the Year (PMOTY). Every Playmate of the Month is awarded a prize of US$25,000 and each Playmate of the Year receives an additional prize of US$100,000 plus a car and other discretionary gifts. In addition, Anniversary Playmates are usually chosen to celebrate a milestone year of the magazine. The use of the word "Playmate" in a sexual sense did not originate with Playboy, and was seen at least as early as 1950 in Vue magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pornographic magazine</span> Magazines that contain content of an explicitly sexual nature

Pornographic magazines or erotic magazines, sometimes known as adult magazines or sex magazines, are magazines that contain content of an explicitly sexual nature. Publications of this kind may contain images of attractive naked subjects, as is the case in softcore pornography, and, in the usual case of hardcore pornography, depictions of masturbation, oral, manual, vaginal, or anal sex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Bartholomew</span> American actress

Summer Bartholomew is an American actress, tv host and beauty pageant titleholder who won the Miss USA 1975 pageant.

Meet the Barkers is a reality television series which aired on MTV. The series followed the everyday life of Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and his wife Shanna Moakler, as well as Moakler and Barker's two children, Alabama Luella Barker and Landon Asher Barker. Moakler and Oscar De La Hoya's daughter, Atiana Cecelia De La Hoya, also appeared on the show. Meet the Barkers lasted two seasons, airing 16 episodes. Barker filed for divorce after the series finale until it was finalized in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shanna Moakler</span> American actress and model (born 1975)

Shanna Lynn Moakler is an American actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. She was the winner of the Miss New York USA pageant in 1995 and was the first runner-up at Miss USA 1995. After winner Chelsi Smith won the Miss Universe 1995 pageant, Moakler succeeded her as Miss USA. She was chosen as a Playmate of the Month for Playboy magazine in December 2001.

Holly Anne Hallstrom is an American former model. She appeared on the daytime game show The Price Is Right from 1977 to 1995 as one of the "Barker's Beauties" models.

Janice Maurine Pennington is an American former model and was one of the original "Barker's Beauties" models on The Price Is Right. As its longest-running model, Pennington was with The Price Is Right from the show's premiere in 1972 until 2000. She was also Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for the May 1971 issue. She is the older sister of fellow model Ann Pennington and the cofounder of the Hollywood Film Festival.

Hawaiian Tropic is an American brand of suntan lotion that was founded by Ron Rice in 1969. Hawaiian Tropic became the largest private manufacturer of sun care products in the United States. The company was acquired by Playtex Products, Inc. in May 2007. With Hawaiian Tropic and Playtex's Banana Boat brand, Playtex became the largest manufacturer of sun care products in the Western Hemisphere. Shortly after purchasing Hawaiian Tropic, Playtex Products was purchased by Energizer Holdings Inc. in a deal valued at $1.9 billion.

The American television game show The Price Is Right has, since its 1972 relaunch, employed a number of models to showcase the prizes and items that are given away on the show. From 1972 to 2007, the group was referred to as "Barker's Beauties", in reference to Bob Barker, who hosted the show during that period.

Christie Lee Woods is an American actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. in 1996 she was the first Texan to capture the Miss Teen USA crown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Kentucky USA</span> Beauty pageant competition

The Miss Kentucky USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Kentucky in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by Proctor Productions and it was formerly directed by Connie Clark Harrison, Miss Kentucky USA 1976.

The Miss Ohio USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Ohio in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. It has previously been known as Miss Ohio Universe. It is produced by Proctor Productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marianne Gaba</span> American beauty queen, model, and actress (1939–2016)

Marianne Gaba was an American actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Illinois USA 1957 and Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for its September 1959 issue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Huntingdon</span> American beauty queen (born 1940)

Terry Lynn Huntingdon is an American actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 1959.

Miss Teen USA 1989, the 7th Miss Teen USA pageant, was televised live from Orange Pavilion, San Bernardino, California on July 25, 1989. At the conclusion of the final competition, Brandi Sherwood of Idaho was crowned by outgoing titleholder Mindy Duncan of Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 1965</span>

Miss USA 1965 was the 14th Miss USA pageant, held in Miami Beach, Florida on June 4, 1965. This was the first Miss USA pageant to be televised live, and the first to be a self-contained production, held several weeks before, and independent of, the Miss Universe pageant.

Karen Jo Pini is an Australian actress, model, TV personality and beauty pageant titleholder. She represented her country at the 1976 Miss World pageant held in London, United Kingdom and finished first runner up. She was also the nude centerfold in the first Australian edition of Playboy magazine in February 1979. Pini also co-hosted the weekly televised New South Wales lotto draw for twelve years.

References

  1. 1 2 "Former 'Price Is Right' model Dian Parkinson lists Westlake Village home for $3.125M". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. November 6, 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  2. "Miss D.C. Captures A Miss USA. Title With Tresses Intact". 1965-08-23. p. B9. Retrieved 2007-02-25.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. Miss World USA Titleholders Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine , jimmyspageantpage.com; accessed April 2, 2017.
  4. Miss World 2008 [ permanent dead link ], missworld.tv; accessed April 2, 2017.
  5. Bob Hope Chrysler Classic - The Tradition of the Classic Girls, bhcc.com; accessed April 2, 2017.
  6. ""The Mary Tyler Moore Show" Ted's Moment of Glory (TV Episode 1975) - IMDb". IMDb .
  7. "Vega$" High Roller (TV Episode 1978) - IMDb , retrieved 2019-04-04
  8. Bob Barker to face courtroom battle after model's suit ruled valid Archived 2009-03-05 at the Wayback Machine , v; accessed April 2, 2017.
  9. "Super Model - Dian Parkinson - Playboy Plus". www.playboyplus.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  10. "Classics - Dian's Back! - Playboy Plus". www.playboyplus.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  11. "Playboy Celebrity Centrefold: Dian Parkinson (1993)". IMDb . Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  12. Coolestmovies (2009-10-11), 1990's INFOMERCIAL HELL #12: Dian Parkinson shills for the exercise gadget EZ Krunch, archived from the original on 2021-12-22, retrieved 2019-04-04
  13. Dian Parkinson on Space Ghost: Coast to Coast
Preceded by Miss District of Columbia USA
1965
Succeeded by