# Pamelyn Ferdin, a Great ‘Cutie’ **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** actor-characters\ **Created:** [February 18, 2026, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779 "2026-02-18T03:25:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/21 "2026-02-18T15:16:21Z")
She looks familiar, but I know I’ve never seen any of the films listed in her Wiki article. Probably saw her on TV a time or few. > [@terentii](#): > > Alyson Hannigan Now, _she_ was lovely! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/22 "2026-02-18T15:32:30Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Now, _she_ was lovely! When she showed up with the gang of nerds who wanted to crash the party, I knew instantly she’d turn out to be hot! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/23 "2026-02-18T15:48:52Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > Pamelyn Ferdin Ah, Edna Unger. I am surprised at how many notable shows she appeared in: - The Andy Griffith Show - Family Affair - My Three Sons - The Monkees - Green Acres - Star Trek - Gunsmoke - The Flying Nun - The High Chaparral - Mannix - The Brady Bunch - The Odd Couple - Night Gallery - Marcus Welby, M.D. - Young Dr. Kildare - The Paul Lynde Show - Lassie - The Streets of San Francisco - Baretta - CHiPs - Vegas …and several others mmm ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/24 "2026-02-18T17:13:11Z")
She was television’s answer to Jodie Foster, sort of. Did they ever resolve the Kelly Keen coyote case? The Wikipedia page seems to side with the parents. If the cause of Keen’s death was truly a coyote attack, then what Ferdin did was reprehensible. I was fairly neutral about the former child actress before learning about this. I despise liars, especially when it involves an otherwise worthy cause, because lies always hurt the progress of the crusade. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/25 "2026-02-18T17:48:02Z")
There were a handful of child actors who kept getting cast because they were both cute and dependable, and their parents weren’t tremendous pains. One of Ferdyn’s contemporaries - who I personally preferred to Ferdyn - was Lisa Gerritsen, best remembered as Bess from Mary Tyler Moore and the spoinoff Phyllis. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/26 "2026-02-18T18:24:31Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > and their parents weren’t tremendous pains Which sadly in those days often meant they allowed their kid to be exploited. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/27 "2026-02-18T18:36:35Z")
I agree that accusation was despicable (assuming it was false). I hadn’t know about it until recently. I hadn’t even know about Ferdin’s animal rights activism. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/28 "2026-02-18T19:07:22Z")
I watched a DVD of MTM a while back. In the audio commentary, one of the cast (Asner?) said that Gerritsen had (similarly to Ferdin) quietly left acting at around the same age. Considering how many child stars fail to succeed as adult actors, that may be a smart choice. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/29 "2026-02-18T19:44:55Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > There were a handful of child actors who kept getting cast because they were both cute and dependable, and their parents weren’t tremendous pains. Dawn Lyn. Very good actor at her age. I thought she was better in Adam-12 than even as Dodie on My Three Sons, And the Shea brothers. Man they were everywhere in the 70s. Two of them did Linus van Pelt. They sound a lot alike and when you see them in, say, Emergency! you naturally go “There’s Linus!”. As opposed to say, Robbie Rist, who should have skipped acting and become a vet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/30 "2026-02-18T19:49:36Z")
… And William Windom’s daughter in _ **My Life … and Welcome to It** _. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/31 "2026-02-18T21:03:51Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > And William Windom’s daughter in _ **My Life … and Welcome to It** _. Nitpick: My **World** and Welcome to It. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/32 "2026-02-19T04:32:33Z")
Never mind; image not posting. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/33 "2026-02-19T04:43:02Z")
All the bad outcomes make me think we should just suspend our disbelief and allow all children to be portrayed by adults. It worked for _Derry Girls_. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/34 "2026-02-19T05:00:42Z")
This is how she looked when I first saw her as a grade-school kid: [140300395\_1635252130008491\_8902657844481607688\_n.jpg (620×738)](https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/140300395_1635252130008491_8902657844481607688_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=0327a3&_nc_ohc=_z8Abm5RW4YQ7kNvwH658eT&_nc_oc=Adk03T_Lw_fnZUXx3l-MoOxULhNsNwnEXJavCciGz-d21KyHqQh-L_IL1WwIFmVfv3XWoDW7IrARVK84oWnMVjPe&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=ysj5j0q4QH8O2jOrqlZV5w&oh=00_Afv-XDktiZSEBtXMd_y98_h6KTjhkU0eCnklO4IVuWOMGQ&oe=69BDF612) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/35 "2026-02-19T06:50:13Z")
I still don’t see “homely”. I see “cute little girl”. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/36 "2026-02-19T12:50:38Z")
Love that hairdo! 🥰 ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/37 "2026-02-19T12:56:11Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Here is the pilot for the _ **Blondie** _ TV series. You can tell immediately that it was produced by one of the guys responsible for _ **Leave It to Beaver** _ in the '50s. I remember watching one episode, and when I looked for it again, it was gone. That’s the absolute worst music I’ve ever heard for a television show. Just nails on a chalkboard bad. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/38 "2026-02-19T12:59:40Z")
CBS must have been going through a really dark patch when they decided to put the show on their schedule. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/39 "2026-02-19T13:03:07Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I still don’t see “homely”. I see “cute little girl”. Circa 1990, I remember a kid at school who was going on and on about how ugly and old looking Vanna White was. No, I don’t remember how the subject of Vanna White came up to begin with. But I just checked, and White was about 33 at the time, and it was certainly the first time I had ever heard anyone describe her as either old or ugly. I didn’t realize it at the time, but no matter how pretty a girl or woman might be, it won’t be hard to find someone who makes a complaint about how she looks. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779/40 "2026-02-19T13:48:51Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > how pretty a girl or woman might be, it won’t be hard to find someone who makes a complaint about how she looks. The sharp knees are a deal-breaker. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779.md?page=3)