It comes as no surprise that often, actors and actresses get typecast into roles they may or may not genuinely enjoy. In the case of Ann Margret, to fans, she was labeled no more than a “B” movie actress, which was solely based on her early movie roles. On February 29th, 1972, she was a guest on Johnny Carson’s couch.
During their conversation, Margret talked about being taken seriously as an actress. She had five Golden Globe awards to her name, along with several Golden Globe, Academy Awards, and Emmy nominations! She got a chance to fix her reputation with her appearance in “Carnal Knowledge,” alongside Jack Nicholson, a role that would show audiences a more genuine side of her acting skills.
Doris Day
Doris Day, the multi-faceted singer and actress, made an appearance on "The Tonight Show" in 1974. Not only did Day use the show as a platform to show off the long list of men she starred alongside (James Garner and Clark Gable, to name a few), but she discussed her role as an animal welfare activist.
In addition to her on-screen success, Day was also an accomplished singer. Her most memorable songs included "Sentimental Journey" and "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time." Truth be told, there was nothing particularly awkward about this interview. Doris Day is just impossible to ignore.
Cassandra Peterson
As one of the more prominent guest hosts of "The Tonight Show," Joan Rivers welcomed many esteemed guests. During her stint on the Halloween night episode in 1985, Rivers welcomed the Mistress of the Dark, Elvira.
She was known for her exposing attire, which made Peterson the envy of Rivers for most of the night's episode. The original and perhaps the most famed goth girl, Elvira was Peterson's sexy vampire alter ego. Elvira was featured in film, television, and comic books throughout the '80s. Is it just us, or is Cassandra giving off some real Bride of Frankenstein/Morticia Addams vibes?
Susan Anton
There was not a room Susan Anton couldn't light up, "The Merv Griffin Show" was no different. When David Brenner welcomed the actress, she stole the show. And it's not hard to see why. Anton was known for her roles in several Muriel Cigar commercials.
She was known for pushing products on television, radio, and print. She would go on to make many appearances on "The Merv Griffin Show," and though she never had a big breakout role on-screen, she was a popular choice when it came to guest appearances. She made her way onto many successful shows, including "Baywatch" and "The Love Boat."
Carol Wayne
Carol Wayne used her popularity to become one of the most adored talk show sidekicks in television history. Though she appeared in several television shows and movies, her best-known gig was that of the ditzy Matinee Lady on "The Tonight Show"'s Art Fern Tea Time Movie sketches. Wayne appeared in over 100 shows during a thirteen-year run.
Unfortunately, when the show was cut to an hour, Wayne's role declined, sending her through a downward spiral. Wayne found herself making bad business choices, dealing with addiction, and getting herself into a lot of financial trouble. She was such a talented individual.