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Diane Franklin

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Diane Franklin
Franklin in January 2009
Alma materCalifornia State University, Northridge
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
  • model
Years active1982–present
Spouse
Ray DeLaurentis
(m. 1989)
Children2

Diane Franklin is an American actress, producer, and model.

Education

Franklin attended New York University for one year in 1981-1982 before dropping out to become a professional actress.[1] She continued her education thirty years later when she attended Moorpark College and then California State University, Northridge where she graduated with a degree in Education in 2017.[1]

Career

Early in her acting career, Franklin appeared in TV commercials for Coca-Cola, Trident, Jell-O, and Maxwell House coffee. At the age of 17, she appeared in two episodes of As the World Turns which aired in October 1979. Her breakthrough role was as Karen in the 1982 teen drama film The Last American Virgin. That same year, she played Patricia Montelli in the horror film Amityville II: The Possession. She was given top billing in her next film, the 1984 erotic comedy film Second Time Lucky, and played French exchange student Monique Junet in the 1985 comedy film Better Off Dead.

Franklin played Princess Joanna in the 1989 comedy film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and has appeared as an extra or in guest roles in episodes of television series such as Bay City Blues, Matlock, and Family Law. She also appeared in three television films, including a role as Jock Ewing's first wife in the 1986 film Dallas: The Early Years.

In 2012, Franklin published a memoir called Diane Franklin: The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French Exchange Babe of the 80s.[2] In 2017, she published a second memoir called Diane Franklin: The Excellent Curls of the Last American, French-Exchange Babe of the 80s.[3][4] In 2018, she returned to the Amityville franchise to play Louise DeFeo in the horror-drama film The Amityville Murders[5] In 2021, she played Mrs. Healy in the horror film Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman.

Personal life

Franklin married Ray DeLaurentis, an animation writer for shows such as The Fairly OddParents, in 1989. They reside in Westlake Village, California.[6] Their son Nick is a musician, while their daughter Olivia is a comedian and actress best known as one half of the absurdist comedy double act Syd & Olivia.[7][8]

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1982 Amityville II: The Possession Patricia Montelli
The Last American Virgin Karen
1984 Second Time Lucky Eve
1985 Better Off Dead Monique Junet
1986 TerrorVision Suzy Putterman
1989 How I Got Into College Sharon Browne
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure Princess Joanna
2006 Punchcard Player Sweetheart
2008 The Adventures of Lass Mum / Gramma Short film
2009 The Adventures of Lass 2: The Sweet Potato Rush Mum / Gramma
2010 The Adventures of Lass 3: Going to America Mum / Old Lass
2011 Humanized Computer
2012 My Better Half Viola Young
2013 Lovechild Jenny Meyers
Royal Effups Earless of Incestia
2018 The Amityville Murders Louise DeFeo
2019 Wally Got Wasted Emma
2021 Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman Mrs. Healy
Clay Zombies D.J.St. VC Skatewell

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Bay City Blues background extra 2 episodes
Summer Girl Cinni TV movie
Deadly Lessons Stefanie Aggiston
1985 The Insiders background extra 1 episode
Finder Of Lost Loves Emily Bennetts 1 episode
1986 Dallas: The Early Years Amanda Lewis Ewing, Jock's 1st Wife TV movie
1987 Charles In Charge Anna Grudov 1 episode
Matlock Nancy Lamont 1 episode
1988 Freddy's Nightmares Jessica 1 episode
1989 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Paula / Paulette 1 episode
1990 Encyclopedia Brown background extra 1 episode
1991 Murder, She Wrote Phyllis Grant 1 episode
1999 Providence Diane Cavalero 1 episode
2000 Family Law TV Announcer 1 episode
2010 Toon Wolf Network President 1 episode
2013 Parole Officers Marge TV movie

References

  1. ^ a b Amico, Paul (June 19, 2017). "CSUN Helps Provide New Direction for '80s Cult Film Actress". CSUN Today. California State University, Northridge. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  2. ^ Diane Franklin: The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French Exchange Babe of the 80s. Diane Franklin Publishing. August 2, 2012. ISBN 978-0615641362.
  3. ^ "Diane Franklin: The Excellent Curls of the Last American, French-Exchange Babe of the 80s|Paperback".
  4. ^ Diane Franklin: The Excellent Curls of the Last American, French-Exchange Babe of the 80s (Diane Franklin Book) (Volume 2). Diane Franklin Publishing. February 8, 2017. ISBN 978-1507704943.
  5. ^ Sykes, Steve (October 19, 2020). "Interview: Actress Diane Franklin Talks Her Career and New Reboot The Amityville Murders". NPR Illinois. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  6. ^ Paul, Arielle (March 23, 2019). "My favorite room; Wait, that's Duke's chair; Animals and kids have taken over this actress' sunny yellow space". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  7. ^ "Olivia Bio // Socials".
  8. ^ "Olivia DeLaurentis (@ocdelaurentis) • Instagram photos and videos".