Tawny Kitaen

Julie Ellen "Tawny" Kitaen (August 5 1961 - May 7, 2021) was an American model, actress and a media personality. She began her career as a model and actress on television, appearing in television movies Malibu (1983) and California Girls (1985). She also starred in the comedy films The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik-Yak and Bachelor Party (both 1984) as well as the horror film Witchboard (1986). Kitaen was famous for her performance in the music videos of heavy metal like Ratt's "Back for More", Whitesnake "Still of the Night", and "Is This love" (all 1987). Kitaen also appeared on reality TV shows, like Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew (2008) and The Surreal Life (2006) that detailed Kitaen's struggles with addiction to drugs. Julie Kitaen was the youngest of three children. She was born in San Diego in 1961 to Linda Kitaen (nee Taylor) as an actress and former beauty pageant contestant and Terry Kitaen who worked for a neon sign business. Kitaen's mother, from Irish and Scottish descent, was married to Terry Kitaen (an employee of a company that made neon signs). Her father was Russian Jewish. Kitaen was raised Jewish. Kitaen first began using the title "Tawny", at 12 years old, and on her own initiative. She struggled with dyslexia as a young person and was eventually kicked out of Mission Bay High School. 7. At the age of 14, with tickets to the backstage after an Peter Frampton concert at Balboa Stadium, she was able to witness the privileges offered to Frampton's wife Penny and wanted to be a part of the same for herself. [9]