Biografia
Taaffe O'Connell, a striking blonde with a voluptuous figure, was born on May 14, 1951, in Providence, Rhode Island, into an affluent family. She spent much of her childhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she excelled academically as a straight-A student. O'Connell earned a master's degree in drama from the University of Mississippi.
She relocated to Hollywood, California, to pursue acting, initially landing guest roles on TV shows such as Starsky and Hutch (1975), Baretta (1975), Police Woman (1974), Vega$ (1978), and CHiPs (1977). Her film debut was an uncredited role in Rocky II (1979). O'Connell had a regular role as showgirl Hillary S. Prentiss on the short-lived sitcom Blansky's Beauties (1977) and portrayed the ill-fated nurse Jane in the seasonal slasher film New Year's Evil (1980).
O'Connell gained cult fame as Dameia, a spaceship crew technical chief who meets a grisly end at the hands of a giant slimy creature, in the cult sci-fi/horror film Galaxy of Terror (1981). She later appeared as the witty USO showgirl Honey in the women-in-prison exploitation film Caged Fury (1983) and as the insatiable German nymphomaniac Brigitte Fritz in the comedic Hot Chili (1985).
Additionally, O'Connell guest-starred on several TV shows, including Happy Days (1974), The Incredible Hulk (1977), Laverne & Shirley (1976), Archie Bunker's Place (1979), Three's Company (1976), Knight Rider (1982), Dallas (1978), and Dangerous Women (1991).
In recent years, Taaffe appeared in minor roles in low-budget horror films such as The Stoneman (2002) and Dismembered (2003). Beyond acting, she has created a specialized directory to assist fellow actors, writes articles for casting-focused magazines, and occasionally makes guest appearances at film conventions.
