Amy Steel

Amy Steel (born May 3, 1960) is an American actress and therapist. Steel is best known for her final girl roles as Ginny in Friday the 13th Part 2 and Kit in April Fool's Day (1986), both horror films.

She made her acting debut in the comedy film Fat Chance (1981). Besides her roles in Friday the 13th Part 2 and April Fool's Day, she notably appeared in the science fiction television series The Powers of Matthew Star (1982–83), the television film First Steps (1985), and the comedy film Walk Like a Man (1987). After a slew of television guest appearances, Steel stepped away from acting and launched a career as a therapist.

Career Film Steel made her film debut in Manuel Summers little-seen comedy film Fat Chance (1981). The film revolves around the characters Michael and Mary, both of whom are overweight and communicate through letters, sending each other photographs of people claiming to be themselves—Mary’s picture she sends is of Allison (portrayed by Steel in a supporting role), the granddaughter of her employer. Steel had her breakthrough role in Steve Miner’s slasher film Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) as aspiring child psychologist Ginny Field. Steel had two days of shooting in the daytime and the rest at night. In a review for IGN, film critic Eric Goldman wrote: "The lead character, Ginny (the likable Amy Steel), is one of the most appealing in the entire series." The film was a box office success, grossing $21,722,776 worldwide (equivalent to $88,375,752 in 2026). For the sequel, Friday the 13th Part III (1982), Miner envisioned making Ginny the series protagonist; having spent a lot of time developing variant Ginny-centric storylines such as one placing her in a psychiatric hospital to another taking place on a college campus where she actively goes on a pursuit to find Jason after he kills her roommate. Steel turned down a sequel offer because her agent was pushing her for higher-budget roles, and she was exhausted from the second film. In retrospect, Steel has stated she regrets not doing the film as she likes the way Ginny was written.

Steel's next feature role was Kit in Fred Walton's hybrid black comedy mystery film April Fool's Day (1986) which she described as a different shooting experience compared to Friday. Steel portrayed Penny, an environmental scientist, in Melvin Frank's comedy film Walk Like a Man (1987), starring alongside Howie Mandel and Christopher Lloyd. The film grossed $460k ($1 million inflated). In a review for Reel Film Reviews, David Nusair, who gave the film itself a negative review, highlighted Steel’s performance: "scream queen Steel is effective as Bobo's love interest."

In 2014, Steel made her first acting appearance in 11 years in the anthology horror film Tales of Poe. She starred alongside Adrienne King and Caroline Williams. In 2021, Steel appeared as Dr. Ginny Field in the medium-length horror film Jason Rising: A Friday the 13th Fan Film — in a voice role cameo.

Television Steel began her career with guest roles on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light alongside fellow Friday the 13th star Kevin Bacon, as Trudy Wilson from 1980 to 1981, and as Peggy Warner on All My Children in 1980. In 1982, Steel had guest roles on the television series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982) as Allison Freleng, Family Ties (1982) as Stephanie Brooks (Michael J. Fox's character's first sexual encounter), CHiPs as Kelly Monahan, The A-Team (1983) as Kathy Ludlam, before being cast as Pam Elliott in the sci-fi series The Powers of Matthew Star alongside Peter Barton, who went on to appear in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. The series lasted until 1983. She was subsequently cast in the television films Women of San Quentin (1983) as Liz Larson and First Steps (1985) as Nan Davis. From 1983 to 1984, Steel portrayed Sharon on the short lived television series For Love and Honor.

In 1985, she had a guest appearance in Stir Crazy as Lisa Grant. The following year, Steel was cast in the television thriller film The Red Spider. In 1987, and again in 1989, Steel a guest roles in Jake and the Fatman. Steel later had a small role as a neighbor in David Greene’s ABC thriller film Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1991), a television remake of the 1962 film of the same name. The same year, she guest starred on China Beach and Walter & Emily. In 1992, Steel was cast in the television film Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo. The same year, she was cast in the horror film Play Nice.

In 1994, Steel guest starred on Viper, Home Improvement and Diagnosis: Murder before being cast in the television films Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice and The Innocent. In 1995, she was cast in the television series The Commish and the television film Damaged and Deceived. In 1996, she guest starred on American Gothic and Chicago Hope. The following year, she portrayed Dr. Liz Michaels in an episode of Millennium. In 1999, Steel was cast in the films Valerie Flake and Tycus. The following year, she portrayed Commander Samantha Woodling in a guest appearance on JAG.

In 2003, Steel was cast as Claire Goodman Isenberg in the television film A Time to Remember. After this role, Steel took an extensive break from acting and became a psychotherapist.

Personal life During the filming of the 1985 television film First Steps, Steel developed a friendship with Nan Davis. In an interview, Steel said: "We have a good relationship, we don't fret if we don't talk for a month. The filming ended last May, and we've seen each other two or three times since then. We get on the phone and it's as if we've not been out of touch at all."

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1981 Fat Chance Alison 1981 Friday the 13th Part 2 Ginny Field 1983 Exposed Party Guest Cameo 1986 April Fool's Day Kit Graham 1987 Walk Like a Man Penny 2014 Tales of Poe Mother of Dreams / Poetic Narrator 2021 Jason Rising: A Friday the 13th Fan Film Dr. Ginny Field Voice role

Television Year Title Role Notes 1980 All My Children Peggy Warner Recurring role 1980–1981 Guiding Light Trudy Wilson Recurring role 1982 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Allison Frelang 1 episode 1982–1983 The Powers of Matthew Star Pam Elliott Main role 1982 Family Ties Stephanie Brooks 1 episode 1983 CHiPs Kelly Monahan 1 episode 1983 The A-Team Kathy Ludlam 1 episode 1983 Women of San Quentin Liz Larson Television film 1983–1984 For Love and Honor Sharon 12 episodes 1985 Stir Crazy Lisa Grant 1 episode 1985 First Steps Nan Davis Television film 1987–1989 Jake and the Fatman Samantha Shay / Mia Delaine 2 episodes 1987 Home Fires Cathy Ash Television film 1987 The Red Spider Kate O'Day Television film 1990 Father Dowling Mysteries Murphy 1 episode 1990 Quantum Leap Maggie Spontini 1 episode 1991 China Beach Maria Koloski 1 episode 1991 Walter & Emily Ginny 1 episode 1991 What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Connie Trotter Television film 1992 Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo Roxanne Shields Television film 1993 Space Rangers Sarah Boon 1 episode 1993 Time Trax Laura Darrow 1 episode 1994 Viper Lisa Hinkle 1 episode 1994 Home Improvement Eve 1 episode 1994 Diagnosis: Murder Jenny Morley 1 episode 1994 Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice Dr. Gail Baker Television film 1994 The Innocent Molly Television film 1995 The Commish Rhonda Shonick 1 episode 1995 Abandoned and Deceived Television film 1996 American Gothic Christie 1 episode 1996 Chicago Hope Lisa Erickson 1 episode 1997 Millennium Dr. Liz Michaels Episode: "A Single Blade of Grass" 2000 JAG Commander Samantha Woodling Edisode: "Promises" 2003 A Time to Remember Claire Goodman Isenberg Television film 2009 His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th Herself Television documentary