Dian Parkinson
Dian Parkinson is an American former actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. She represented the United States at Miss World 1965 in London, where she placed 1st runner-up. From 1975 to 1993, Parkinson served as a model on The Price Is Right.
Career history
In 1965, while living in Falls Church, Virginia, Parkinson won the Miss District of Columbia USA title and competed as Diana Batts in the Miss USA 1965 pageant, where she placed fourth runner-up. Parkinson won the 1965 Miss USA World contest. She went on to represent the United States in the international Miss World 1965 contest, and was first runner-up to Lesley Langley of the United Kingdom.Parkinson travelled during 1965 with the Bob Hope USO Show, including performances in Vietnam during late December 1965, and also served as Queen of the 1965 Bob Hope Desert Classic golf tournament.
In 1975, Parkinson was a guest star on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
In 1978, Parkinson appeared in the pilot of the TV series Vega$.
From 1975 to 1993, Parkinson was a model on the US television game show The Price Is Right. Her 18-year tenure on the show was among the longest of any of the models, tied for third with Holly Hallstrom, and third only to Rachel Reynolds, who has been with the show since 2003 and Janice Pennington, who was with the show for more than 28 years.
Departure from ''The Price Is Right''
Parkinson left the show in 1993, supposedly to "pursue other interests", as host Bob Barker announced during her final taping, which aired on June 18, 1993.In 1994, Parkinson filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Barker for sexual harassment. The suit was withdrawn in April 1995, with Parkinson claiming it was too costly and had taken a toll on her health.