An Emmy for Miramanee?

I recently saw an episode of Gidget (1965) starring Sally Field, in which she falls in love with a photographer. The photographer was played by "Dan Travanty," whom I recognized as Daniel J. Travanti from Hill Street Blues. His girlfriend was a short-haired, cosmopolitan woman in a stylish suit--the type you see in all the 1960s shows playing a "career girl."

When I saw the credits, lo and behold, it was Sabrina Scharf, the actress who played Miramanee on Star Trek's "The Paradise Syndrome." I never would've recognized this urbane woman as the Indian flower child. Even knowing it was her, it was hard to believe she could play such polar opposites and carry them off.

The Penelope Peterson character on Gidget was Scharf's first acting role. According to IMDB.com, Miramanee was her 13th. In her 10-year career, she appeared in lots of popular shows of the era: The Man from U.N.C.L.E., I Dream of Jeannie, Hogan's Heroes, Mannix, Hawaii Five-O, etc.

She also appeared in a few movies. Her biggest role may have been as Sarah in Easy Rider.

Apparently Scharf played an Indian or part-Indian named Alkini Matthews in "Requiem for Craw Green," an episode of Daniel Boone. Perhaps that's where she got her "Indian" acting chops. Perhaps it's why she was chosen to play Miramanee.

Other Sabrina Scharf trivia from IMDB.oom:

Became a California state senator.

Former Playboy Bunny at New York City Playboy Club.

Now works as a real estate developer in Los Angeles.