Biography
Model turned actress Pamela Gidley played a variety of supporting parts and the occasional lead in a range of films and television shows, though she is best known for recurring roles on crime dramas such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." After winning a "Most Beautiful Girl in the World" modeling contest, Gidley soon found her first feature film part in the skateboard drama "Thrashin'" (1986), playing opposite a young Josh Brolin. After other film and TV spots, including the android wife of the title in the science fiction romp "Cherry 2000" (1987), she landed a brief recurring role on the Vietnam drama "Tour of Duty" (CBS 1987-1990) Parts in smaller films followed, with a notable bit as the mysterious but pivotal Teresa Banks in David Lynch's "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me" (1992) before a regular role on the coincidence-fueled drama "Strange Luck" (Fox 1995-96). A recurring run as an assassin on the role-playing series "The Pretender" (NBC 1996-2000) spanned occasional episodes over several seasons. Another repeat role brought Gidley back to crime drama: the potential love interest of William Petersen's character, Gil Grissom, in the early years of the very successful "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS 2000-2015). A subsequent part as the wife of a pornographer in "Skin" (Fox 2003), a Romeo & Juliet tale set in modern-day Los Angeles, barely made it to the screen before the show was cancelled. Following one last TV role on procedural drama "The Closer" (TNT 2005-2012), Gidley quietly retired to her native New England. She died at her home in Seabrook, New Hampshire on April 16, 2018 at the age of 52.
