Jill Marie Schoelen (born March 21, 1963) is an American actress.[1] She is best known for Chiller (1985), The Stepfather (1987), Cutting Class (1989), The Phantom of the Opera (1989), Popcorn (1991), Rich Girl (1991), and When a Stranger Calls Back (1993). For her numerous horror film appearances, she is widely regarded as a scream queen.

Jill Schoelen
Born (1963-03-21) March 21, 1963 (age 61)
Occupation(s)Actress, musician
Years active1978–present
Spouse
(m. 1993; div. 2002)
Children2

Career

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Schoelen’s theatrical debut was in the 1981 TV pilot The Best of Times, which starred Crispin Glover and Nicolas Cage. Schoelen went on to star in such movies as D.C. Cab (1983), Chiller (1985), That Was Then... This Is Now (1985), Babes in Toyland (1986), The Stepfather (1987), Billionaire Boys Club (1987 TV miniseries), Cutting Class (1989), The Phantom of the Opera (1989), Popcorn (1991), When a Stranger Calls Back (1993), and There Goes My Baby (1994).

She guest starred on episodes of T. J. Hooker, Little House on the Prairie, Murder, She Wrote, Diagnosis: Murder, Sara, Hell Town, and Aaron Spelling’s The Heights (1992). In 1988, Sean Penn cast her in a dramatic play he wrote and directed, The Kindness of Women.[2] Schoelen and Penn worked together again on stage, starring opposite each other in David Rabe’s Hurlyburly (1988/1989),[3] in a production that David Rabe also directed.

In 2009, she released her debut album, Kelly’s Smile, a jazz album that is composed of songs related to her childhood friend, Kelly Troup, who grew up across the street from Schoelen.[4]

Personal life

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Schoelen was born in Burbank, California. She dated Keanu Reeves during the time they starred in Babes in Toyland (1986).[5] She was engaged to Brad Pitt for three months in 1989.[6] In 1993, Schoelen married film composer Anthony Marinelli, and soon after retired from her acting career to be a stay-at-home mother. Schoelen and Marinelli have two sons.[7]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Film Role Director Notes
1983 D.C. Cab Claudette Joel Schumacher
1984 Hot Moves Julie Ann Jim Sotos
1985 Thunder Alley Beth J.S. Cardone
That Was Then... This Is Now Angela Shepard Christopher Cain
1987 The Stepfather Stephanie Joseph Ruben
1989 Curse II: The Bite Lisa Snipes Fred Goodwin
Cutting Class Paula Carson Rospo Pallenberg
The Phantom of the Opera Christine Day Dwight H. Little
1991 Popcorn Maggie Mark Herrier
Rich Girl Courtney Joel Bender
1992 Adventures in Spying Julie Converse Hil Covington
State of Mind Wishman Reginald Adamson
1994 There Goes My Baby Babette Floyd Mutrux
1996 Not Again! Jenny Fred Kennamer
2004 She Kept Silent Yalena Svetlana Cvetko Short film
TBA Mr. Christmas Heather Matthew Bellamy
Year Title Role Notes
1981 The Best of Times Jill Television pilot
1982 Little House on the Prairie Jane Canfield 9.10 "Love"
1983 Great Day Carla Simpson Television film
T.J. Hooker Kelly Hobbs 2.17 "Sweet Sixteen and Dead"
Happy Endings Anne Marie Bartlett Television film
1985 Sara Emily 1.11 "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"
Chiller Stacey Television film
Hell Town Shelley 1.2 "The People vs. Willy the Goat"
1986 Shattered Spirits Allison Television film
Babes in Toyland Mary Piper / Mary Contrary Television film
1987 Billionaire Boys Club Amy Whitehall Television film
1988 CBS Schoolbreak Special Amy Fletcher 6.2. "Gambler"
1989 Murder, She Wrote Flora Gerakaris 5.16 "Truck Stop"
1992 The Heights Betty B. 1.6 "Fear of Heights"
1993 When a Stranger Calls Back Julia Jenz Television film
Triumph Over Disaster: The Hurricane Andrew Story Ruth Henderson Television film
1994 Diagnosis: Murder Becky Garfield 1.17 "Shaker"
2021 Fault Shelley

Radio and podcast appearances

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Schoelen appeared on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor podcast on August 10, 2016.

References

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  1. ^ "Jill Schoelen". Hollywood.com. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  2. ^ Richard T. Kelly. "Sean Penn: His Life and Times". Faber and Faber Limited. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  3. ^ Dan Sullivan (11 December 1988). "'HurlyBurly' Hits Home". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  4. ^ Jerry Saravia. "Interview with Jill Schoelen: The Strength, Vitality and Allure of Jill Schoelen". Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  5. ^ Brian J. Robb (2003). Keanu Reeves: An Excellent Adventure. Plexus Publishing. p. 30. ISBN 0859653137.
  6. ^ "Brad Pitt recalls being dumped by ex-fiancee Jill Schoelen". CTV News. April 19, 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  7. ^ Starzik.com, accessed May 20th, 2015.
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