Pati Behrs Eristoff (February 13, 1922 – July 4, 2004) was a Russian-American prima ballerina, wartime survivor, and actress whose remarkable life moved from the stages of Paris to the soundstages of Hollywood. A grandniece of Leo Tolstoy and the first wife of actor John Derek, she lived a life shaped by displacement, artistry, and extraordinary resilience.
Early Life
Behrs was born in Constantinople to Russian émigré parents who had fled their homeland after her father refused participation in pogroms. Her family resettled in Paris, where her classical dance training flourished. The glow of her background—steeped in Tolstoy’s literary legacy—contrasted sharply with the realities she faced during World War II.
During the German occupation of France, Behrs survived by dancing in Parisian nightclubs while simultaneously helping hide Russian Jews and Roma from Nazi authorities—quiet acts of courage that would later define her more powerfully than any film role.
Career
After the war, Behrs was offered a Hollywood studio contract and emigrated to the United States. Though her on-screen career was brief, she appeared in several notable studio productions of the late 1940s. Her credits include Apartment for Peggy (her only major credited performance), The Razor’s Edge, Forever Amber, Come to the Stable, and The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend.
Before her Hollywood years fully took shape, she had a short first marriage to George “Gogi” Tchitchinadze, a well-known Bel-Air Hotel host.
Marriage to John Derek
Behrs met rising actor John Derek in an acting class in December 1947; they married the following year. Their marriage was widely publicized, especially after Derek’s career ascended. They had two children: Russell Derek and Sean Catherine Derek, the latter of whom went on to a successful career in screenwriting. The couple separated in 1955 and divorced in 1956.
Later Life
In 1975, Behrs married pediatrician Dr. Lucius Lindley, with whom she remained until his death in 1986. Behrs eventually stepped away from Hollywood life, focusing instead on family, philanthropy, and particularly animal rights advocacy—one of her deepest passions. She donated her 1926 Steinway baby grand piano to Actors and Others, at her daughter Sean’s request, to help raise funds for animals in need.
Pati Behrs Eristoff lived long enough to become a grandmother and great-grandmother. She died on July 4, 2004, at age 82.
Selected Filmography
Film
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The Razor’s Edge (1946) – Guest (uncredited)
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Forever Amber (1947) – Makeup Artist (uncredited)
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Apartment for Peggy (1948) – Jeanne
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Unfaithfully Yours (1948) – Minor Role (uncredited)
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When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948) – Woman in Box (uncredited)
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The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949) – Roulette
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Come to the Stable (1949) – Nun
