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Dana Kimmell

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Dana Kimmell
OccupationActress
Years active1974–2001
Children4

Dana Kimmell is an American actress and model. She is known for her performance as Chris in the Steve Miner-directed 3D horror film Friday the 13th Part III (1982)—which debuted at number one at the United States box office. She also starred as teenaged characters in the slasher film Sweet Sixteen (1983) and the Western film Lone Wolf McQuade (1983).

On television, Kimmell portrayed Dawn Marshall in an episode of the soap opera Another World (1980) before reprising the role in the first season of the spin-off series Texas (1980). She also had guest appearances on series such as Charlie's Angels (1977), Diff'rent Strokes (1981–84), The Facts of Life (1982), Days of Our Lives (1983–84), Hotel (1986), and The Young and the Restless (1984).

Career

Early life

Dana Kimmell, the daughter of Dolores and W. Dane Kimmell, grew up in Kingsburg, California, attending primary school until her family moved to Center, Texas.[1][2] In 1974, she was one of eight girls selected from 20,000 by Teen magazine to model in Hollywood for a week.[1] The following year, the magazine brought her back to appear on a cover.[1] She returned to Kingsburg her senior year, where she graduated Bullard High School in Fresno as valedictorian of her class in 1977 and signed with Nina Blanchard's modeling agency.[2][1] Kimmell pursued acting locally, participating in various talent shows and school and church-orientated programs.[2] Kimmell obtained an agent following graduation and made her professional acting debut on the television series Charlie's Angels (1977).[2] Kimmell attended the University of California for two years before dropping out to focus on her acting career.[2]

Sweet Sixteen, Friday the 13th Part III, and Lone Wolf McQuade

Kimmell made her theatrical debut in Jim Sotos' slasher film Sweet Sixteen (1983).[3] She describes the script she initially read as a "great family-type" film but alleges Sotos persuaded actress Aleisa Shirley into doing nude scenes after filming was complete that earned the film its R Rating.[4] Kimmell's efforts to voice her complaints went unnoticed, with Sotos' asking her to "name one star who has made it without taking her shirt off," which prompted Kimmell to set guidelines for herself when pursuing projects: no nudity and no profanity.[4] An independent film, Kimmell wasn't sure that a major distributor would pick the film up.[3] Her role in Sweet Sixteen caught the attention of one of the men financing Steve Miner's Friday the 13th Part III (1982). The producer (Frank Mancuso Jr.) and director (Steve Miner) contacted her and asked her to star in the film as Chris Higgins, a character she describes as "a young college girl who takes her friends up in the mountains."[3] Despite generally not liking violence, she has no problems with the violence depicted in Friday the 13th, stating it's not meant to be taken seriously and serves as "shock value" and entertainment for audiences.[3]

I feel television and movies have really gotten out of hand with too much sexuality. They have made sex so common. Women have let themselves be exploited.

— Kimmell discussing sex in film and television.[4]

Kimmell did have issues with certain unnecessary sex scenes.[3] Kimmell has expressed gratitude for the film, stating that "it's by no means a cheap horror film," and described her role as a "good part."[3] The film was a box office success, grossing over $34 million worldwide.[5] Her last theatrical role would be Sally McQuade, Chuck Norris's character's daughter, in Lone Wolf McQuade (1983), another box office success.[4] Kimmell would describe her part in Sweet Sixteen as her favorite of her three films.[4]

Television career

Kimmell's most prominent role on television would be Dawn Marshall, "the youngest daughter of the oil and land-rich Marshall family of Houston," in the NBC soap opera Texas for which she is credited for fifty-one episodes.[1] She was selected for the role of Dawn in early 1980, and first portrayed the character in an episode of Another World (1980).[1][3] Kimmell departed from the show when it was renewed for a second season.[6] Throughout 1977–1988, Kimmell had a nearly decade-long career of guest work in television. She appeared in one episode of Charlie's Angels (1977), Eight Is Enough (1977), Out of the Blue (1979), Bosom Buddies (1981), Code Red (1981), The Facts of Life (1982), Happy Days (1982), Private Benjamin (1982), Fame (1983), Alice (1983), Anatomy of a Scene (1983), The A-Team (1983), Dynasty (1983), Hollywood Beat (1984), Hotel (1986), You Again? (1986), Hunter (1986), and Out of This World (1988).[1][3] In addition to television series, Kimmell appeared in television films. She appeared in Rivals (1981), Midnight Offerings (1981) as Lily, Return of the Beverly Hillbillies (1981), By Dawn's Early Light (1990), and Sins of the Mother (2001).[7][8]

Personal life

Kimmell is married and has four children.[9] Her eldest son Cody died in 2021.[10]

Kimmell is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[11]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes References
1982 Friday the 13th Part III Chris Higgins [3]
1983 Sweet Sixteen Marci Burke Filmed in 1982 [3]
1983 Lone Wolf McQuade Sally McQuade

Television

Year Title Role Notes Refs
1977 His and Hers Kelly McCabe Television pilot
1977 Charlie's Angels Holly Episode: "Pretty Angels All in a Row" [1]
1978 Eight Is Enough Popular Girl Episode: "Milk and Sympathy" [1]
1979 Out of the Blue Episode: "The Coin of Truth" [1]
1980 Another World Dawn Marshall unknown episodes [1]
1980 Texas Dawn Marshall Contract role, 51 episodes [1]
1981 Rivals Brook Television film
1981 Midnight Offerings Lily Television film [7]
1981 Return of the Beverly Hillbillies 2nd Old Maid Television film
1981 Bosom Buddies Susan Episode: "Reunion"
1981 Code Red Lisa Judson Episode: "The Little Girl Who Cried Fire" [3]
1981–1984 Diff'rent Strokes Michelle 3 episodes
1982 The Facts of Life Dina Becker Episode: "New York, New York" [3]
1982 Happy Days Carla Episode: "Tell-Tale Heart"
1982 Private Benjamin Bridget Episode: "Profiles in Courage" [3]
1982 Hart to Hart Maureen Tucker Episode: "A Christmas Hart"
1983 Fame Melanie Episode: "Love is the Question"
1983 Alice Girl #1 Episode: "Tommy, the Jailbird"
1983 Anatomy of a Scene Herself Episode: "Girl with the Pearl Earring"
1983 T.J. Hooker Susan Folsen / Lisa Telford 2 episodes
1983 The A-Team Lane Carter Episodes: "When You Comin' Back, Range Rider?" (Parts 1 & 2)
1983–1984 Days of Our Lives Diane Parker unknown episodes
1984 Dynasty Emily Episode: "Fallon"
1984 Hart to Hart Susan Wilmott Episode: "Silent Dance"
1984 Hollywood Beat Joeleen Beck Episode: "Baby Blues"
1986 Hotel Denise Episode: "Recriminations"
1986 You Again? Julie Episode: "Plastic Dream World"
1986 The Young and the Restless Stephanie 4 episodes
1986 Hunter Jill Tyler Episode: "From San Francisco with Love"
1988 Out of This World Terri Episode: "The Three Faces of Eve"
1990 By Dawn's Early Light Mrs. Tyler Television film

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Ex-Kingsburg girl a regular on "Texas"". Kingsburg Recorder. August 14, 1980. p. 3. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Newsmakers". Kingsburg Recorder. November 3, 1983. p. 2. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Kirpsel, Kerry M. (July 16, 1982). "Acting is basically the only thing she wants to do". Shreveport Journal. p. 55. Retrieved 15 July 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e Tompkins, Sandra (October 21, 1983). "Former Fresno actress visiting to see herself in 'Sixteen'". The Fresno Bee. p. 86. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Friday the 13th Part III". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  6. ^ Hirsch, Lynda (December 8, 1980). "Daytime Dial". Pensacola News Journal. p. 10. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  7. ^ a b Mullen, Patrick J (September 14, 2020). "Movie Review: Midnight Offerings (1981)". Medium. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  8. ^ Collum, Jason (2004). Assault of the Killer B's: Interviews with 20 Cult Film Actresses. McFarland. pp. 86. ISBN 978-0786418183.
  9. ^ "Former Marine, American Idol contestant sings a new tune in Afghanistan".
  10. ^ "Cody Leon Anderson - View Obituary & Service Information".
  11. ^ Saints Unscripted (2024-06-04). Hollywood actress joins the LDS Church!! | with Dana and Kyle. Retrieved 2024-06-05 – via YouTube.
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