Emily Longstreth

Emily Lene Longstreth (January 5, 1967 – January 14, 2014) was an American actress and model who appeared in several film and television productions throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. She is best known for her roles in the teen romantic comedy Pretty in Pink, the Christopher Guest Hollywood satire The Big Picture (1989), and the resort comedy Private Resort (1985).

Early life and modeling career Longstreth was born in Orange County, California, to John Preston Longstreth and Helen Lenee Corn.

In 1984, she transitioned into on-camera screen work after being cast as "Suzie" in the heavy-rotation MTV music video for the rock band Y&T's single "Don't Stop Runnin". The visibility of the music video led directly to her first theatrical film auditions in Los Angeles.

Career Acting Longstreth made her feature film debut in the 1984 beach comedy Hardbodies, quickly followed by a supporting role as a dance squad member in Gimme an 'F' (1984). In 1985, she secured her first major co-starring role as Patti in the teen comedy Private Resort, playing the primary romantic interest opposite Johnny Depp.

In 1986, Longstreth appeared as Kate in the John Hughes-penned teen film Pretty in Pink. For production and privacy reasons, her character's name was altered to "Susan Delgato" in the broadcast script. She concluded 1986 by starring as Rebecca in the post-apocalyptic independent action film Wired to Kill.

Longstreth's most critically acclaimed role came in Christopher Guest's 1989 directorial debut, The Big Picture. She portrayed Susan Rawlings, the grounded and loyal girlfriend of an aspiring filmmaker played by Kevin Bacon. Her performance was noted for serving as the moral, earnest foil to the manipulative starlet character played by Teri Hatcher.

In 1990, she appeared in the television courtroom drama Too Young to Die? alongside Juliette Lewis and Brad Pitt, followed by a role in the television movie Rising Son with Matt Damon. She made her final professional screen appearance as Corina in the 1994 independent feature Confessions of a Hitman before abruptly retiring from the entertainment industry at the age of 28.

Personal life and health Following her departure from Hollywood in 1995, it was disclosed by family members that Longstreth had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia in her mid-20s, which ultimately prevented her from maintaining a professional acting schedule.

She resided briefly at the Golden Gate Lodge, a residential board-and-care facility in West Los Angeles, before relocating permanently to New York City. Due to the severe progression of her condition, she lived heavily detached from her former life, spending more than a decade residing primarily within New York municipal shelter systems.

Death Longstreth's family experienced several consecutive tragedies. Her father, John Preston Longstreth, survived most of his immediate family before passing away in Texas in April 2022.

Longstreth died quietly in New York in 2014 at the age of 47.

Film Year Title Role Notes 1984 Hardbodies Girl on Skates Debut 1984 Last Chance Dance Alicia Short film 1984 Gimme an 'F' Falcons Dance Squad Member 1985 Private Resort Patti Co-starring role 1985 American Drive-In Bobbie Ann 1986 Pretty in Pink Kate 1986 Star Crystal Sherrie Stevens 1986 Wired to Kill Rebecca Alternate title: Booby Trap 1989 The Big Picture Susan Rawlings 1994 Confessions of a Hitman Corina Final film role

Music videos Year Title Artist Role Notes 1984 "Don't Stop Runnin" Y&T Suzie