The Tragic Downfall Of Mama Cass

Cass Elliot carried one of her greatest secrets to her grave: nobody knew who her child's real father was. It was only years later that her bandmate Michelle Phillips discovered his identity, and it was the biggest bombshell of all. The breakout star of the folk rock band the Mamas and the Papas masked a tragic story full of unrequited love, embarrassing career blunders, secret trysts, and dangerous diets. Her struggle with self-image haunted her right until she sang her last note, with one cruel myth persisting to this day.

From Baltimore to the Big Time

Ellen Naomi Cohen was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in September 1941. Her family, Russian Jewish immigrants, struggled financially throughout her childhood, but she always seemed destined for greatness with a radiant personality and oodles of talent. Even from a young age, Cass struggled with her weight and the stigma that came with it. In high school, she found a community in theatre and performing. She adopted the stage name Cass Elliot, reportedly borrowing from actress Peggy Cass and a friend who had died. This alter ego gave her the confidence to drop out of high school and move to New York to pursue acting. Broadway wasn't kind, however, and after losing out on a role to the as-yet-unknown Barbra Streisand, Cass turned to singing.