Apollonia Kotero

Patricia Apollonia Kotero (born August 2, 1959) is an American actress, singer, and former model. She is known for co-starring in Prince's 1984 film Purple Rain and for having been the lead singer of the girl group Apollonia 6.

Early life Kotero was born in San Pedro, California, the daughter of immigrants from Mexico, and the eldest of four children. Her father, Victor, was a restaurant manager, and her mother, Socorro, was a caregiver for the elderly. She dropped out of high school at 16 to pursue a career as a model.

Career

Early career Kotero worked as an actress, singer, and model. After winning the Miss San Pedro beauty competition, and following her stint as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Rams in the early 1980s, Kotero began acting in film and television series such as CHiPs, Tales of the Gold Monkey, Fantasy Island, Matt Houston, and Knight Rider. In September 1982, she appeared in the music video "Shakin'" by Eddie Money. In May 1984, she appeared in the ABC television film The Mystic Warrior as the Native American woman Wicahpi. While dating Van Halen singer David Lee Roth on and off when they were both in Los Angeles, she auditioned for Purple Rain. Roth had followed her modeling career and hired her for a Star of the Cars magazine cover.

Prince and Purple Rain

When then-leader of Vanity 6, Denise "Vanity" Matthews, resigned from its membership before Prince's 1984 film Purple Rain was filmed, Kotero landed the film's female lead role. Vanity 6, which was renamed Apollonia 6 for the film, also featured supporting singers Brenda Bennett and Prince's then-girlfriend Susan Moonsie. Apollonia 6 embarked on a worldwide tour to promote their hit single "Sex Shooter".

Kotero claims to have co-written "Manic Monday" (unverified) with Prince, which later became a worldwide hit single for The Bangles. Prince's song "Take Me with U" featured vocals by Kotero, with help from Lisa Coleman and Jill Jones, and it reached number 25 on the Billboard Top 40 chart in the United States.

In 1985, Kotero left Prince's camp to appear on the series Falcon Crest, Three singles were taken from the album: "Since I Fell for You", "The Same Dream" and "Mismatch".

She went on to appear in such films as Ministry of Vengeance (1989), Back to Back (1990), Black Magic Woman (1991), and two Italian productions: La Donna di una Sera (A Lady for a Night) (1991) and Cattive Ragazze (1992). She returned to television on such shows as Sliders and Air America (which co-starred Lorenzo Lamas, her former co-star in Falcon Crest), and also hosted The Jazz Channel's Latin Beat program. During this period an exercise video entitled Go for It was also released. Kotero could also be seen on E!'s Celebrity Homes, The Test, Rendezview, and MTV Cribs, with her friend Carmen Electra.

In 2005, Kotero formed a multimedia entertainment company, Kotero Entertainment, which enlisted a number of producers to produce a children's animated television series as well as feature films. Kotero Entertainment also began managing young talent such as television and film star Sascha Andres and young pop singer Nikki Barreras, also known as Nikki B.

In 2009, Kotero's vocals appeared on The Twilight Singers cover of Prince's "When Doves Cry" for Spin magazine's 25th anniversary tribute to the Purple Rain album, Purplish Rain.

Kotero sued Prince's estate, Paisley Park Enterprises, in August 2025 over the trademark rights of her stage name Apollonia after the estate filed for the trademark and requested that the trademark Kotero obtained in 2016 be cancelled. Prince's estate said the name originated for a character Prince created for the film Purple Rain, and Kotero's trademark blocked them from selling merchandise using the Apollonia 6 name, and they had no intent to block her from performing under the name. Kotero stated that Prince encouraged her to use the name and only she had been actively using it for previous four decades.

Apollonia Studio 6 In January 2022, Apollonia and her business partner Seth Neblett launched their YouTube podcast Apollonia Studio 6. Over the last two seasons, they've hosted guests such as Jill Jones, Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias, JoKoy, Apollonia 6, Tia Carrere, André Cymone, Joe Isgro, Diana-Maria Riva, Susannah Melvoin, DJ Vlad, Amanda Wyss, Anna Fantastic, LeRoy "Roy" Bennett, Autumn Rowe, and Duane Tudahl. The podcast received a Telly Award in 2023.

As of January 2024, the podcast has amassed 500,000 views and 10,000 subscribers.

Personal life Apollonia dated rock singer David Lee Roth during the filming of Purple Rain. She was married to actor, screenwriter, and director Kevin Bernhardt from 1987 to 1997.

Discography Studio albums Apollonia (1988)

with Apollonia 6 Apollonia 6 (1984)

Singles Title Release Peak chart positions Album US USDance USR&B "Take Me with U" 198525—40 Purple Rain "Since I Fell for You" 1988—6— Apollonia "Mismatch" 1989—22— "The Same Dream"—31—

The "Take Me with U" duet reached No. 7 in the United Kingdom, becoming Kotero's only chart entry in the country.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1979 La mafia de la frontera Girl in Bikini 1980 Tricks of the Trade Frank (as Patty Kotero) Amor ciego Patty (as Patty Kotero) 1983 Heartbreaker Rose (as Patty Kotero) 1984 The Mystic Warrior Wicahpi TV movie (as Patty Kotero) Purple Rain Apollonia 1989 Ministry of Vengeance Zarah Back to Back Jesse Duro 1991 Black Magic Woman Cassandra Perry 1992 A Woman's Secret Barbara (as Apollonia) Cattive ragazze Esmerelda 1998 Anarchy TV Hot Tub Woman (as Apollonia) 2006 The Divorce Ceremony Sophia

Television Year Title Role Notes 1982 CHiPs Barbara Episode: "Alarmed" (as Patti Kotero) 1983 Tales of the Gold Monkey Native Girl Episode: "Force of Habit" (as Patty Kotero) Fantasy Island Iya Episode: "Love Island/The Sisters" (as Patty Kotero) Matt Houston Gilda Rivera Episode: "The Centerfold Murders" 1984 Knight Rider Tiara D'Arcy Episode: "Mouth of the Snake" (as Patty Kotero) 1984 Late Night with David Letterman Herself Episode dated December 3, 1984 1985–86 Falcon Crest Apollonia Recurring cast: season 5 1987 Fantastico 8 Herself 4 episodes 1988 Showtime at the Apollo Herself - Host Episode S2.E9 1989 American Bandstand Herself Episode S32.E5 1989 Soul Train Herself Episode S18.E22 1997 Sliders Dr. Deera Mubaric Episode: "Slide Like an Egyptian" (as Apollonia) 1998 Air America Lucy Ortega Episode: "Crosshairs" (as Apollonia) 2001 The Goods Herself Episode: "Fashion Crimes" 2002 VH-1 Where Are They Now? Herself Episode: "Girls, Girls, Girls" 2002 I Love the '80s Herself 7 episodes 2003 The Wayne Brady Show Herself Episode dated December 12, 2003 2014 Life with La Toya Herself 2 episodes 2015 Oprah: Where Are They Now? Herself (as Apollonia) Episode: "Oprah Talks to Andrea Yates' Husband; Actress Angie Harmon & Apollonia"