Barbara Crampton (born December 27, 1958)[1][2] is an American actress and producer. She began her career in the 1980s in television soap operas before starring in horror and thriller films.[3] In 2024, Crampton was inducted into the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards' Monster Kid Hall of Fame.[4]
Barbara Crampton | |
|---|---|
 Crampton in 2017 | |
| Born | December 27, 1958 |
| Education | Castleton State College (BA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
Crampton made her television debut on the daytime drama Days of Our Lives (1983–84) before a supporting role as Leanna Love on the soap opera The Young and the Restless (1987–93, 1998–2002, 2006–07 & 2023). Later in her career, she would appear in television horror anthologies such as Syfy's Channel Zero: The Dream Door (2018), Hulu's Into the Dark (2019), and Shudder's Creepshow (2021).
She made her film debut in Body Double (1984), but received recognition in the comedy horror film Re-Animator (1985) as Megan Halsey and the science fiction film From Beyond (1986) as Dr. Katherine McMichaels. Later defining roles are Chopping Mall (1986), Puppet Master (1989), Castle Freak (1995), You're Next (2011), We Are Still Here (2015), Little Sister (2016), Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018), and Jakob's Wife (2021), for which she was nominated for Critics' Choice Super Awards.[5]
Early life
editCrampton was born December 27, 1958, in Levittown, Long Island, New York.[2] She was raised Roman Catholic.[6] Crampton grew up in Vermont, and spent summers traveling the country with the carnival, as her father was a carny. She started acting in school plays when she was in seventh grade and went on to study acting in high school. She attended Castleton State College in Vermont, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts.[7] After graduation, Crampton made a brief stop in New York, where she appeared as Cordelia in King Lear for the American Theater of Actors.[8][better source needed]
Career
editFrom New York, Crampton moved to Los Angeles and made her television debut on the daytime drama Days of Our Lives, playing Trista Evans Bradford. She subsequently starred in the pilot episode of Rituals, the television film Love Thy Neighbor, and the television series Santa Barbara. She made her film debut in the 1984 film Body Double. The following year, Crampton portrayed Chrissie in Fraternity Vacation, Megan Halsey in Re-Animator, and Stacy in Hotel.[9] In 1986, Crampton portrayed Suzie Lynn in Chopping Mall, Dr. Katherine McMichaels in From Beyond, and Anne White in Prince of Bel Air. In 1987, Crampton was cast in Kidnapped and portrayed Teri in the TV series Ohara. From 1987 to 2007, Crampton played Leanna Love in The Young and the Restless. In 2023, she returned to the role for the show's 50th anniversary.[10] In 1989, Crampton had a cameo role in the horror film Puppet Master. In 1991, Crampton portrayed Sadie Brady in Trancers II.
In 1993, Crampton portrayed archeologist Dr. Leda Fanning in Robot Wars with Don Michael Paul. That year she also guest starred on Civil Wars and portrayed Mindy Lewis on Guiding Light from 1993 to 1995 and left when her contract expired and when she got engaged to L.A.-based actor and director Kristoffer Tabori in April 1995.[11] By September of the same year, their engagement was called off.[12] In 1995, Crampton starred in Castle Freak. From 1995 to 1998, Crampton portrayed Maggie Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful. In 1996, Crampton portrayed Carol in Space Truckers. In 1997, Crampton guest starred on The Nanny. The following year, she guest starred on Party of Five and starred in the film The Godson. In 1999, Crampton guest starred on the television series Pacific Blue.
In 2001, Crampton had a recurring role as Dr. Leslie Bogan in 5 episodes of the television series Spyder Games and starred in the movie Thy Neighbor's Wife. Crampton starred the films The Sisterhood (2004), Read You Like a Book (2006) and Never Enough (2008). She was a special guest at Creation Entertainment's Weekend of Horror 2010.[13] She had a supporting role in the 2011 horror slasher film You're Next and played the leading role of Anne Sacchetti in We Are Still Here (2015).[14][15] Both films received positive reviews from critics.[16]
Crampton next appeared in Abner Pastoll's European thriller Road Games (2015),[17] in which she speaks both French and English.[18] In 2015 she starred along with fellow horror icons Danny Trejo, Kane Hodder, Bill Moseley, Michael Berryman, Doug Bradley, Gunnar Hansen, Ken Foree and Dee Wallace in the Harrison Smith horror film Death House.[19]
In 2018, Crampton was given the Horror Channel Lifetime Achievement Award at Grimmfest in Manchester, United Kingdom.[20]
In 2021, Crampton produced and starred in the horror-drama Jakob's Wife, which she developed over the course of several years. The same year, she voiced serial killer Nicolette Aster in an audio drama adaptation of Our Lady of the Inferno[21] and appeared in the Lovecraftian film Sacrifice.[22] Also that year she did a voice role for the first-person shooter video game Back 4 Blood, as Mom.
Personal life
editIn December 1986, Crampton appeared in a nude pictorial in Playboy magazine titled "Simply Beastly. Behind every successful monster, there's a woman."[23]
She was married to director of photography David Boyd.[24]
As of 2015, Crampton lives in Mill Valley, California, with her husband, financial executive Robert Bleckman, her two children, and her adult stepson.[25]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Body Double | Carol | |
| 1985 | Fraternity Vacation | Chrissie | |
| Re-Animator | Megan Halsey | ||
| 1986 | Chopping Mall | Suzie Lynn | |
| From Beyond | Dr. Katherine McMichaels | Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actress | |
| 1987 | Kidnapped | Bonnie | |
| 1988 | Pulse Pounders | Said Brady | Segment: The Evil Clergyman. Considered a lost film until the discovery of a workprint in 2011 where it was then digitally restored and released. |
| 1989 | Puppet Master | Woman at Carnival | Cameo appearance |
| 1991 | Trancers II | Sadie Brady | |
| 1993 | Robot Wars | Leda | |
| 1995 | Castle Freak | Susan Reilly | |
| 1996 | Space Truckers | Carol | |
| 1998 | The Godson | Goldy | |
| 1999 | Cold Harvest | Christine Chaney | |
| 2000 | Learning to Surf | ||
| 2001 | Thy Neighbor's Wife | Nicole Garrett | |
| 2004 | The Sisterhood | Ms. Master | |
| 2006 | Read You Like a Book | Zoe | |
| 2008 | Never Enough | Dr. Gladmore | |
| 2011 | You're Next | Aubrey Davison | |
| 2012 | The Lords of Salem | Virginia Cable | |
| 2013 | Paisley | Christine | |
| The Cartridge Family | Mom | Short film | |
| The Well | Grace | ||
| 2014 | Sun Choke | Irma | |
| 2015 | We Are Still Here | Anne Sacchetti | Nominated—Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress |
| The Divine Tragedies | Mother | ||
| Road Games | Mary | Also producer | |
| Tales of Halloween | Darla | ||
| 2016 | Beyond the Gates | Evelyn | Also producer |
| Little Sister | The Reverend Mother | ||
| Day of Reckoning | Stella | ||
| 2017 | Death House | Dr. Karen Redmane | |
| Replace | Dr. Rafaela Crober | ||
| 2018 | Dead Night | Leslie Bison | |
| Reborn | Lena | Independent Horror Movie Award for Best Actress Nominated—Horrible Imaginings Film Festival Award for Best Actress in a Feature Film | |
| Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich | Carol Doreski | ||
| 2019 | In Search of Darkness | Herself | Documentary film[26] |
| 2020 | Run Hide Fight | Mrs. Crawford | |
| Stay Home | Barbara | Short film[27] | |
| In Search of Darkness: Part II | Herself | Documentary film | |
| Sacrifice | Renate Nygard | ||
| Castle Freak | Producer | ||
| 2021 | Jakob's Wife | Anne Fedder | Producer Nominated—Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Actress in a Horror Movie Nominated—Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress |
| King Knight | Ruth | ||
| Superhost | Vera | ||
| Alone with You | Mom | ||
| 2022 | Glorious | Producer | |
| 2023 | Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls[28] | Nancy | |
| Suitable Flesh[29] | Daniella | Also producer | |
| Blackout[30] | Kate | ||
| The Last Stop in Yuma County[31] | Virginia | ||
| 2024 | Snow Valley[32] | Ellen |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983–84 | Days of Our Lives | Trista Evans Bradford | |
| 1984 | Rituals | Sandy Hutchison | Episode: "Pilot" |
| Love Thy Neighbor | Carol | ABC television film | |
| Santa Barbara | Paula | ||
| 1985 | Hotel | Stacy | Episode: "Obsessions" |
| 1986 | Prince of Bel Air | Anne White | ABC television film |
| 1987 | Ohara | Teri | Episode: "Toshi" |
| 1987–93, 1998–2002, 2006–07, 2023 | The Young and the Restless | Leanna Love | Nominated – Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Villainess in a Drama Series – Daytime (1990) |
| 1993 | Civil Wars | Michele Connolly | Episode: "Dances with Sharks" |
| 1993–1995 | Guiding Light | Mindy Lewis | |
| 1995–1998 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Maggie Forrester | Nominated – Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Female Scene Stealer (1996) |
| 1997 | The Nanny | Barbara Crampton | Episode: "The Heather Biblow Story" |
| 1998 | Party of Five | Woman Shopper | Episode: "Tender Age" |
| 1999 | Pacific Blue | Gloria Stockwell | Episode: "Infierno" |
| 2001 | Spyder Games | Dr. Leslie Bogan | 5 episodes |
| Lightning: Fire from the Sky | Mayor Sylvia Scott | Pax television film | |
| 2018 | Channel Zero: The Dream Door | Vanessa Moss | 6 episodes |
| 2019 | Into the Dark | Betty | Episode: "Culture Shock" |
| 2021 | Creepshow | Victoria | Episode: "Pipe Screams" |
Video games
editCrampton was featured in the asymmetrical horror game The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as a playable character Virginia who used her likeness and voice.
References
edit- ^ "Barbara Crampton Biography". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ a b Rout, Nancy E.; Buckley, Ellen, eds. (1992). The Soap Opera Book. Todd Publications. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-915-344239.
- ^ Rife, Katie (April 16, 2021). "Barbara Crampton shows why she's a horror legend in the pulpy, uneven Jakob's Wife". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
- ^ "Here are the Winners of the (Gasp!) 22nd Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards". RondoAward.com. April 30, 2024. Archive link
- ^ "Nominations Announced for the 2nd Annual Critics Choice Super Awards | Critics Choice Awards". Archived from the original on 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2022-04-10.
- ^ "Fantasia 2016 Interview: Barbara Crampton Talks LITTLE SISTER and Upcoming Films". 29 July 2016. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Barbara Crampton". Why Horror?. Archived from the original on 2014-11-03.
- ^ "Barbara Crampton". Toronto Star. December 30, 1991.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (October 18, 1985). "Re Animator (1985) Screen: Stuart Gordon Directs 'Re-Animator'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
- ^ Evans, Greg (March 7, 2023). "'The Young And The Restless' To Celebrate 50 Years With Visits From Past Favorites Michael Damian, Patty Weaver & Others; Anniversary Special Set". Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ Sloan, Kathleen (June 10, 1995). "Zany Barb Boldly goes". Toronto Star.
- ^ Sloan, Kathleen (September 3, 1995). "Life mimics art for Y&R star". Toronto Star.
- ^ "Creation's Weekend of Horrors Fleshes Out Its Re-Animator Reunion". 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
- ^ Miska, Brad (February 10, 2015). "'We Are Still Here' Trailer Satisfies the Darkness (SXSW '15)". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ "SXSW 2015: We Are Still Here in This Poster and Trailer". Dread Central. 10 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ Harvey, Dennis (19 March 2015). "'SXSW Film Review: 'We Are Still Here'". Variety. Archived from the original on 22 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ "Check the first Teaser and Posters..." Twitch. Archived from the original on 2016-06-12. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
- ^ "There's no way out..." Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2015-05-10. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
- ^ "Death House". Dread Central. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
- ^ "GRIMMFEST GIVES £80K WORTH OF PRIZES TO 2018 AWARD-WINNING MOVIES". Grimmfest. 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2021-03-26.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Barbara Crampton Goes into the Mind of a Serial Killer". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
- ^ Collins, Clark. "Watch horror icon Barbara Crampton in Lovecraftian Sacrifice trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ Walkuski, Eric (October 1, 2012). "AJ Bowen and Barbara Crampton join Halloween comedy, Grow Up, Tony Phillips". JoBlo Movie Network. Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
- ^ Gingold, Michael (August 2, 2017). "Barbara Crampton Talks PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTLEST REICH". Birth.Movies.Death. Archived from the original on 2017-09-07. Retrieved September 19, 2017. "Well, my role in [Puppet Master] was a cameo; I was there for one day. I did it with my then-husband David Boyd, who played my boyfriend and is a director now. He was the 1st camera assistant on Re-Animator and From Beyond, and we got together on From Beyond".
- ^ "11 Questions for Barbara Crampton". Marin Magazine. Marin County, California. 28 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2020-07-07. Retrieved 2019-03-13. "I have three: a bonus child — my stepson, Ben — who is 20, and my own two kids, Olivia and Luke, who, at 12 and 13 respectively."
- ^ Miska, Brad (March 22, 2019). "Exclusive Clip: John Carpenter Joins '80s Horror Documentary 'In Search of Darkness'!". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ Squires, John (October 9, 2020). "Watch the Quarantine Horror Short 'Stay Home' Starring Kane Hodder, Danielle Harris and More Horror Icons!". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
- ^ Wise, Damon (January 25, 2023). "Sundance Review: Andrew Bowser's 'Onyx The Fortuitous And The Talisman Of Souls'". Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ Navarro, Meagan (June 13, 2023). "Suitable Flesh Teaser Offers a Taste of Joe Lynch's Lovecraftian Horror". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- ^ MacCary, Julia (February 2, 2023). "Yellow Veil Pictures Boards World Sales Rights on Larry Fessenden's Werewolf Horror Film 'Blackout,' Drops Teaser Poster (EXCLUSIVE)". Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (November 11, 2022). "Jim Cummings, Jocelin Donahue, Richard Brake, Faizon Love, Michael Abbott Jr., Headline Crime Thriller 'The Last Stop in Yuma County' (EXCLUSIVE)". Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ "Cooper Van Grootel, Tom Williamson, Barbara Crampton to Star in Brandon Murphy's 'Snow Valley' (Exclusive)". May 19, 2021. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
External links
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