Jill Schoelen

Jill Schoelen (born March 21, 1963) is an American actress. 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.

Career 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. Schoelen and Penn worked together again on stage, starring opposite each other in David Rabe’s Hurlyburly (1988/1989), 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.

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

Filmography

Films YearFilm 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 Mr. Christmas Heather Matthew Bellamy

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