Pioneering Actress Judy Pace Dies at 83

Pace was a trailblazer for Black actresses in Hollywood, appearing in 'Peyton Place' and 'Brian's Song'.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:20am

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Judy Pace, a groundbreaking model and actress who appeared in numerous TV shows and films throughout the 1960s and 1970s, died last week at the age of 83. Pace was the first Black woman under contract with Columbia Studios and the first Black bachelorette on 'The Dating Game'. She found success in both 'good girl' roles and more militant, sexually confident characters in 'blaxploitation' films.

Why it matters

Pace's career spanned decades and she was considered one of the 'last generation of truly pioneering Black actresses' in Hollywood, paving the way for more diverse representation on screen. Her versatile acting roles challenged stereotypes and provided more nuanced portrayals of Black women.

The details

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Pace graduated from Dorsey High School and studied sociology at Los Angeles City College. She won her first film role in 1963's '13 Frightened Girls' and later found fame on the soap opera 'Peyton Place' as a scheming, seductive character. Pace also appeared in the hit TV movie 'Brian's Song' and had roles in shows like 'I Dream of Jeannie' and 'The Flying Nun'. Her feature film roles often depicted 'militant, overtly sexual, cocky, totally confident characters'.

  • Pace died in her sleep on Wednesday, March 12, 2026 while visiting family in Marina del Rey.
  • Pace won an NAACP Image Award in 1970 for her role on the series 'The Young Lawyers'.

The players

Judy Pace

A pioneering model and actress who appeared in numerous TV shows and films throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and was considered one of the 'last generation of truly pioneering Black actresses' in Hollywood.

Don Mitchell

Pace's first husband, an actor.

Curt Flood

Pace's second husband, a baseball legend who took a stand against baseball's reserve clause and died in 1997.

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What they’re saying

“All the black women in the movies seem to be nurses, school teachers, social workers. Black women lead real lives, baby. They're not all doctors' wives.”

— Judy Pace, Actress (Roger Ebert review)

“The hardest thing to do is to find any sort of movie role if you're a black actress. People don't realize that. They talk about Sidney Poitier and Jim Brown — but where are the actresses? ... Let's face it. If it weren't for TV, all the young black actresses in Hollywood would be unemployed.”

— Judy Pace, Actress (Roger Ebert review)

The takeaway

Judy Pace's pioneering career as a Black actress in Hollywood paved the way for more diverse and nuanced portrayals of Black women on screen, challenging stereotypes and providing a model for future generations of actors to follow.