Laurel Goodwin, who made her movie debut opposite Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls! and co-stared in the first Star Trek pilot episode has died aged 79. Goodwin died February 25 in Cathedral City, California, her sister, Maureen Scott, announced yesterday.
Born on Aug. 11, 1942, in Wichita, Kansas, Goodwin moved to San Francisco where she began working as a model when she was only 7 years old. Paramount studio signed her to a seven-year contract when she was only 19.
In the Elvis' Girls! Girls! Girls! Goodwin played the wholesome rich girl Laurel Dodge, who battles with Stella Stevens for the affections of Elvis’ tuna fisherman and helps him get the boat he always wanted. The two memorably share a dance in the clever “The Wall Have Ears” number.
Talking about working with Elvis, Laurel Goodwin noted, “Although it was my first film role and I was a little nervous, Elvis was very sweet and endearing. We got along wonderfully, we became good friends. I came from San Francisco I grew up in a sophisticated kind of world, and I felt his world was much more sheltered even though he was a huge star. I knew about Elvis' entourage but never felt threatened by them and we had a great time. We used to play touch football together and we had fun. I spent time on the movie-set with him talking about philosophy and I’d get Elvis to sing to me a cappella! It was a great thrill as he had a God’s given voice and a cappella was even better than the records I’d heard".