When you think of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, you probably picture the tight black dress, the towering beehive hair, and a relentless stream of double entendres directed at every man in sight. For decades, Cassandra Peterson—the woman under the wig—built an entire empire on being the ultimate "horndog" for the opposite sex. So, naturally, when people start digging into who is elvira married to, the answer they find usually catches them completely off guard.
Honestly, the real story is way more interesting than any Hollywood script. It involves a massive secret kept for nearly twenty years, a case of mistaken identity at a gym, and a transition from a long-term marriage to a relationship that redefined everything Peterson thought she knew about herself.
The Mystery Partner: Teresa "T" Wierson
If you’re looking for a current husband, you won't find one. Cassandra Peterson isn't married right now, but she has been in a deeply committed relationship with a woman named Teresa "T" Wierson since roughly 2002.
The way they met sounds like a scene from a rom-com. Peterson was working out at Gold’s Gym in Hollywood when she noticed a trainer she described as a "sexy bad boy." Think tan, tattoos, and a knit cap pulled low. Peterson actually thought Wierson was a man at first. It wasn’t until a chance encounter in the ladies' room that the lightbulb went off.
They became best friends first. For years, they were just gym buddies and confidantes. At the time, Peterson was still married to her manager, Mark Pierson. Life was complicated, and the idea of a romantic connection between the two women wasn't even on the radar.
From Best Friends to Life Partners
The shift happened when both of their lives hit a breaking point simultaneously. Peterson’s 25-year marriage to Mark Pierson was ending in 2003. Around the same time, "T" was dealing with her own messy breakup and a stint in rehab.
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One night, Wierson showed up at Peterson’s door with nothing but a trash bag full of her belongings and nowhere else to go. Peterson let her move in. What started as a supportive friendship during a time of mutual personal hardship eventually turned into something deeper. Peterson admits she was the one who made the first move, surprisingly feeling the urge to kiss her friend after a night out at the movies.
This was a total shock to Peterson. She had never been attracted to women before. In her memoir, Yours Cruelly, Elvira, she talks about how she felt confused because she still considered herself "straight," yet she was undeniably in love with this specific person. It’s a nuance that a lot of fans find relatable—the idea that love isn't always about a label, but about the human being standing in front of you.
The Long-Kept Secret
Why did we only find out about this in 2021? For 19 years, they kept their romance hidden from the public eye.
Peterson was terrified. She had spent years cultivating the Elvira brand as a man-obsessed vamp. She worried that if her fans—especially the men who had posters of her on their walls for decades—found out she was in a relationship with a woman, they’d call her a hypocrite or feel "lied to."
- The "Assistant" Cover: For years, Wierson was introduced publicly as Peterson's assistant.
- The Professional Risk: Peterson saw friends in the industry come out only to see their careers evaporate, and she wasn't ready to lose the "Mistress of the Dark" legacy.
- The Family Side: While the public was in the dark, their inner circle knew. Peterson’s daughter, Sadie, was totally fine with the relationship.
Keeping that kind of secret is exhausting. Peterson has since said that finally coming out felt like "holding in gas"—it’s a relief to just let it out. By the time she hit 70, she decided she didn't care about the gatekeepers anymore. She wanted to hold her partner’s hand in public.
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The Previous Marriage: Mark Pierson
To understand where she is now, you have to look at where she started. Before "T," there was Mark Pierson. They married in 1981, right as the Elvira character was beginning to explode in popularity.
Mark wasn't just her husband; he was her manager. They were a business powerhouse. Together, they navigated the height of Elvira-mania, from the 1988 feature film to the endless merchandising deals. They had a daughter, Sadie, in 1994.
But mixing marriage with management is a recipe for burnout. By 2003, the relationship had run its course, and they divorced. Despite the split, they remained linked through their daughter and the business for a long time. It’s worth noting that while the marriage ended, it provided the foundation for the career Peterson still enjoys today.
What’s the Status in 2026?
As of 2026, Cassandra Peterson and Teresa Wierson are still going strong. They’ve been together for well over two decades now. While they aren't legally married—at least not in any way they've shared publicly—they are, for all intents and purposes, a lifelong partnership.
Peterson has recently stepped back from putting on the full Elvira costume, noting that "people don't want to see Elvira be 90." She’s transitioned into managing the brand as a "mythical character," similar to how Santa Claus exists independently of any one performer. This shift has seemingly given her even more freedom to live her private life authentically.
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Key Takeaways for Fans
If you’re following the journey of the Mistress of the Dark, here is the real deal on her relationship status:
- She isn't married to a man. Her long-term marriage to Mark Pierson ended over twenty years ago.
- Her partner is Teresa "T" Wierson. They met at Gold's Gym and have been together since 2002.
- The "Coming Out" was about honesty. She revealed the relationship in her 2021 memoir to stop living a double life.
- Labels are secondary. Peterson often describes herself as sexually fluid or "mostly straight but in love with a woman," showing that real life is often more complex than a checkbox.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the history of the character, reading Yours Cruelly, Elvira is the best move. It's a raw, funny look at the woman behind the makeup who spent twenty years protecting a brand while quietly building a life with the person she loves. You can find the book at most major retailers or listen to the audiobook, which she narrates herself—and honestly, hearing her tell these stories in her own voice is the only way to go.
Next Steps
You can check out Cassandra Peterson's official social media channels where she occasionally shares glimpses of her life in Hawaii or her work managing the Elvira estate. If you're interested in the business side of how she kept her brand alive while hiding her personal life, her memoir offers a play-by-play of the marketing genius required to stay relevant for forty years.