Alberta Nelson

Alberta Nelson (August 14, 1937 - April 29, 2006) was an American television actress. She was born on August 14, 1937, and attended Villa Maria Academy and later graduated from Andrews High School for Girls in Willoughby, Ohio. After several dramatic parts in television in the early 1960s, Nelson made five guest appearances on "The Andy Griffith Show", four of them as Goober Pyle's girlfriend, Flora Malherbe.

Nelson also appeared in seven movies in the 1960s as one of Eric Von Zipper's "mice" in the successful American International "Beach Party" series. She is the only person who appeared in all seven "Beach Party" movies, including "Beach Party", "Muscle Beach Party" and "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini". Nelson played the leather clad "rat pack" biker chick Puss (sometimes also called Alberta and in one film, Lisa), one of the comic villains who dogged the steps of America's sweethearts, Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon.

After her successful girl-next-door stint as Flora on "The Andy Griffith Show" and her comedic career as biker girl Puss, Nelson starred in 1970s "The Wild Scene" as Dr. Virginia Grant, a female psychiatrist who talks graphically about her tawdriest cases. When she goes underground to investigate her college daughter's sordid activities, she gets drawn into a world of prostitution, drugs, and more. This and a 1970 appearance on "Love, American Style" would be Nelson's last credited roles.

Alberta Nelson was married 35 years to Herbert Gilman. She died in Pennsylvania on April 29, 2006.

TV filmography

"The Andy Griffith Show"

* "The Andy Griffith Show" - Flora Malherbe - "Emmett's Anniversary" episode 245. February 26, 1968
* "The Andy Griffith Show" - Flora Malherbe - "Goober's Replacement" episode 186. March 28, 1966
* "The Andy Griffith Show" - Flora Malherbe - "Eat Your Heart Out" episode 182. February 28, 1966
* "The Andy Griffith Show" - Nettie Albright - "The Return of Barney Fife" Episode 176 .January 10, 1966
* "Mayberry R.F.D." - Flora Malherbe - "Emmett's Retirement" episode 23 March 10, 1969

Other television roles

* "Love, American Style" - Julia (1970)
* "The Dick Van Dyke Show" - Miss Reshovsky - "Go Tell the Birds and Bees" (episode # 5.10) November 17 1965
* "Peyton Place" - uncredited nurse - episode 28 December 22, 1964
* "Dr. Kildare" - Dr. Ruth Carrison - "Love Is A Sad Song" (episode #2.14) January 3 1963
* "General Hospital" - nurse (1963)
* "The New Breed" - Anna - "The Man with the Other Face" (episode # 1.28) April 10 1962
* "Thriller" - Marie Browning - "Portrait Without a Face" (episode # 2.14) December 25 1961

Movie filmography

* "The Wild Scene" (1970) - Dr. Virginia Grant
* "The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini" (1966) - Alberta/Puss
* "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" (1965) - Puss
* "Beach Blanket Bingo" (1965) - Puss (Rat Pack member)
* "Dr. Goldfoot & The Bikini Machine" - (1965) "bad robot" reject #12
* "Sergeant Dead Head" - (1965) NASA secretary
* "Pajama Party" (1964) - Alberta (Rat Pack member)
* "Bikini Beach" (1964) - Puss/Alberta (Rat Pack member)
* "Muscle Beach Party" (1964) - muscle girl (Lisa)
* "Beach Party" (1963) - rat pack member