 Patricia Ann Ast was born on October 21, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents Irwin and Rose (Ludwig) Ast.Ast made her screen debut after meeting director John Schlesinger, who cast her as a party guest in his film "Midnight Cowboy" (1969).Around that time, she caught the attention of fashion designer Halston, who gave her a job at his boutique and made her one of his models, despite her weighing 210 pounds.