Toni Basil

American dancer/choreographer/actress Toni Basil listed her official film debut as 1966. However, she can be spotted as a go-go dancer (along with Teri Garr) in 1964's The T.A.M.I. Show, and in the chorus of several other like-vintage musicals. Larger non-musical parts came Basil's way in two of Dennis Hopper's films, Easy Rider (1969) (as Mary) and The Last Movie (1971); and also in Robert Downey's allegorical western Greaser's Palace (1972). Bob Rafelson, another of the new-wave American directors of the 1970s, cast Basil as Terry Grouse in Five Easy Pieces (1972). Evidently a favorite of "cult" directors into the 1990s, Toni Basil was one of a fascinating group of birthday celebrants in Henry Jaglom's off-the-cuff Eating (1990).

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide