When Dick Gautier, the original actor playing Conrad Birdie, fell ill, Pearson took the role of the rock idol inspired by Elvis Presley.

In the next decade, Pearson narrated the film The Norseman (1978), a Viking saga starring Lee Majors and Cornel Wilde.

As expressions of sexuality became culturally more free, Pearson wrote two adult films, Pro-Ball Cheerleader (1979) and The Legend of Lady Blue (1978), which he also directed, both under the name, A. Fabritzi.

Pearson also recorded the album The Glory of Love for RCA Victor, which remains unreleased to this day.

[2] Pearson was diagnosed with cancer and moved to Monroe, Louisiana, to be near his mother, dying there at age 49 on December 5, 1979.