Jill Schoelen
Biography
Jill Marie Schoelen is an American actress born on March 21, 1963, in Burbank, California. Known as a husky-voiced scream queen heroine of the 1980s, she is the daughter of fashion designer Dorothy Schoelen. She was born and raised in Burbank, where she studied at the Acting for Life Theatre. She began her television career as a teenager in the television pilot Best of Times in 1981, which starred Nicolas Cage and Crispin Glover. Her early film credits include D.C. Cab in 1983, Hot Moves in 1984, and Thunder Alley in 1985. Schoelen is recognized for her dark eyes, black hair, and trademark bangs. Her acting career includes a total of thirty-nine known credits on the database.
Career overview
Jill Marie Schoelen is an American actress born on March 21, 1963, in Burbank, California. She is the daughter of fashion designer Dorothy Schoelen. Raised in Burbank, she studied at the Acting for Life Theatre. She began her television career as a teenager, appearing in a Fame-influenced television pilot titled Best of Times in 1981, which also starred Nicolas Cage and Crispin Glover.
As her career progressed, Schoelen gained experience by appearing in a number of films geared primarily toward young audiences. Her early film credits include D.C. Cab in 1983, Hot Moves in 1984, and Thunder Alley in 1985. She established herself as an unconventional, husky-voiced scream queen heroine of the 1980s, recognizable for her dark eyes, black hair, and trademark bangs.
With 39 known acting credits recorded on the Movie Database, Schoelen remains a notable figure among 1980s genre performers. Her professional background encompasses television and film work originating from her early days as a teen performer in California through her notable appearances in youth-oriented cinema of the era.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
39 titles- Stereo-Vision (2024) as Katherine Barrows
- In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994 (2024) as Self
- Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story (2022) as Self
- A Taboo Identity (2017) as Herself
- Midnight Madness: The Making of "Popcorn" (2017) as Self
- Behind the Mask: The Making of The Phantom of the Opera (2015) as Self
- Not Again! (1996) as Jenny
- There Goes My Baby (1994) as Babette
- Diagnosis: Murder (1993) as Becky Garfield
- When a Stranger Calls Back (1993) as Julia Jenz
- Triumph Over Disaster: The Hurricane Andrew Story (1993) as Ruth Henderson
- The Heights (1992) as Betty B
- State Of Mind (1992) as Wishman
- Adventures in Spying (1992) as Julie Converse
- Popcorn (1991) as Maggie
- Rich Girl (1991) as Courtney
- The Phantom of the Opera (1989) as Christine Day
- Cutting Class (1989) as Paula Carson
- Curse II: The Bite (1989) as Lisa Snipes
- The Stepfather (1987) as Stephanie Maine
- Billionaire Boys Club (1987) as Amy Whitehall
- Babes in Toyland (1986) as Mary Piper / Mary Contrary
- Shattered Spirits (1986) as Allison
- Hell Town (1985) as Shelley
- Sara (1985) as Emily
- That Was Then... This Is Now (1985) as Angela Shepard
- Thunder Alley (1985) as Beth
- Chiller (1985) as Stacey
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Flora Gerakaris
- Hot Moves (1984) as Julie Ann
- Trauma Center (1983) as Leslie
- D.C. Cab (1983) as Claudette
- Happy Endings (1983) as Anne Marie Bartlett
- Great Day (1983) as Carla Simpson
- T. J. Hooker (1982) as Kelly Hobbs
- The Best of Times (1981) as Jill
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) as Jane Canfield
- A Dying Art as Mitzy Rudzinski
- Ralph's Perfekt Christmas as Heather
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Jill Schoelen best known for?
Jill Schoelen is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Mr. Jones (1993), The Fury (1978), Cutting Class (1989), The Stepfather (1987).
When and where was Jill Schoelen born?
Jill Schoelen was born on March 21, 1963 in Burbank, California, USA.
How many credits does Jill Schoelen have?
Jill Schoelen has accumulated over 39 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1974 to 2024.
What is Jill Schoelen's background in cinema and television?
Jill Marie Schoelen is an American actress born on March 21, 1963, in Burbank, California. Known as a husky-voiced scream queen heroine of the 1980s, she is the daughter of fashion designer Dorothy Schoelen. She was born and raised in Burbank, where she studied at the Acting for Life Theatre. She began her television c...
Jill Schoelen by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Sara (1985) as Emily — aged about 22
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) as Jane Canfield — aged about 11
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Flora Gerakaris — aged about 21
- Diagnosis: Murder (1993) as Becky Garfield — aged about 30
- Trauma Center (1983) as Leslie — aged about 20
- The Stepfather (1987) as Stephanie Maine — aged about 24
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