Known for her memorable role in the 1961 Elvis Presley film Blue Hawaii, Tompkins also gained recognition for her performance in the 1963 comedy My Six Loves, starring Debbie Reynolds. Prior to achieving fame, she appeared in a number of commercials and competed in beauty pageants. Her acting debut came in 1960 with the movie Beyond the Time Barrier. Originally named Darlene Perfect, she was born in Chicago, Illinois, and adopted the surname Tompkins—her stepfather’s last name—when she was just five years old. Her marriage, which eventually ended in divorce, resulted in two sons.