Laurene Landon
Encyclopedia
Laurene Landon is a film
and television
actress. Laurene first began appearing in movies in the late 1970s. She is best known for playing the role of Molly in ...All the Marbles. She is half Irish and half Polish and describes herself as being "Bi-Polish".
, Ontario
, Canada
and moved to California
with her parents at the age of four. As a young woman she entered California State University
and began training in their police academy
program, but decided that law enforcement was not for her when she came to the realization that she may someday have to use a gun. So she decided to try her hand at acting and began her career as an extra in films.
in that same year.
She gained a small role in 1981's Full Moon High
, her first of many collaborations with director Larry Cohen
. Landon had spent part of her early career as a model and in 1980 was a runner-up in the Miss Black Velvet pageant in Las Vegas
, Nevada
.
While there, a casting director told her to go see another casting director in Los Angeles (Rueben Cannon), regarding a feature film called ...All the Marbles. As she found modeling boring and was unable to sit still for hours at a time, she took his suggestion. She starred as Molly in ...All the Marbles, a film starring Peter Falk
that had an alternate title, The California Dolls. She described this as her most satisfying role. She was chosen as one of the final four women for the role and was required to undergo rigorous training at a professional wrestling school. Even though she broke her foot during the last match of the tryouts, she and Vicki Frederick won their parts over 2,000 other young actresses trying out, including one young actress named Kathleen Turner
. The successful film was the last directing effort by Robert Aldrich
(whom she famously referred to as Robert Altman
upon meeting him for the first time).
Landon went on to play Velda, right-hand woman to private eye Mike Hammer
, in the 1982 film I, the Jury
. She appeared as a stewardess in Airplane II: The Sequel
. She is also known for appearing in B-movies such as Hundra, Yellow Hair and the Fortress of Gold and Maniac Cop
.
in a raucous comedy named Strap-Off which was scheduled to be filmed in the latter part of 2008.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
actress. Laurene first began appearing in movies in the late 1970s. She is best known for playing the role of Molly in ...All the Marbles. She is half Irish and half Polish and describes herself as being "Bi-Polish".
Early life
Landon was born in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with her parents at the age of four. As a young woman she entered California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
and began training in their police academy
Police academy
A police academy is a training school for new police recruits, also known as a law enforcement academy.-Australia:Larger police departments usually run their own academies. States often run a centralised academy for training of personnel of law enforcement agencies within the state.Police...
program, but decided that law enforcement was not for her when she came to the realization that she may someday have to use a gun. So she decided to try her hand at acting and began her career as an extra in films.
Acting career
Landon began acting in a bit part in 1979's Bitter Heritage, also released as Naked in My Grave. She was cast as a featured skater in Roller BoogieRoller Boogie
Roller Boogie is a United Artists film starring Linda Blair and introducing Jim Bray The film also stars Beverly Garland, Mark Goddard, and Kimberly Beck, and is directed by Mark L...
in that same year.
She gained a small role in 1981's Full Moon High
Full Moon High
Full Moon High is a 1981 horror comedy film written and directed by Larry Cohen. It involves a high school werewolf that tries to keep his secret. He also ignores his girlfriend's sexual advances because it's "his time of the month".-Plot summary:...
, her first of many collaborations with director Larry Cohen
Larry Cohen
Lawrence G. "Larry" Cohen is an American film producer, director, and screenwriter. He is best known as a B-Movie auteur of horror and science fiction films - often containing a police procedural element - during 1970s and 1980s...
. Landon had spent part of her early career as a model and in 1980 was a runner-up in the Miss Black Velvet pageant in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
While there, a casting director told her to go see another casting director in Los Angeles (Rueben Cannon), regarding a feature film called ...All the Marbles. As she found modeling boring and was unable to sit still for hours at a time, she took his suggestion. She starred as Molly in ...All the Marbles, a film starring Peter Falk
Peter Falk
Peter Michael Falk was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo...
that had an alternate title, The California Dolls. She described this as her most satisfying role. She was chosen as one of the final four women for the role and was required to undergo rigorous training at a professional wrestling school. Even though she broke her foot during the last match of the tryouts, she and Vicki Frederick won their parts over 2,000 other young actresses trying out, including one young actress named Kathleen Turner
Kathleen Turner
Mary Kathleen Turner is an American actress. She came to fame during the 1980s, after roles in the Hollywood films Body Heat, Peggy Sue Got Married, Romancing the Stone, The War of the Roses, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Prizzi's Honor...
. The successful film was the last directing effort by Robert Aldrich
Robert Aldrich
Robert Aldrich was an American film director, writer and producer, notable for such films as Kiss Me Deadly , The Big Knife , What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? , Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte , The Flight of the Phoenix , The Dirty Dozen , and The Longest Yard .-Biography:Robert...
(whom she famously referred to as Robert Altman
Robert Altman
Robert Bernard Altman was an American film director and screenwriter known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. In 2006, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his body of work with an Academy Honorary Award.His films MASH , McCabe and...
upon meeting him for the first time).
Landon went on to play Velda, right-hand woman to private eye Mike Hammer
Mike Hammer
Michael "Mike" Hammer is a fictional detective created by the American author Mickey Spillane in the 1947 book I, the Jury .-Description:...
, in the 1982 film I, the Jury
I, the Jury (1982 film)
I, the Jury is a 1982 film based on the best selling detective novel of the same name by Mickey Spillane. The story was previously filmed in 3D in 1953. Larry Cohen wrote the screenplay and was first hired to direct the film, but was replaced when the film's budget was already out of control after...
. She appeared as a stewardess in Airplane II: The Sequel
Airplane II: The Sequel
Airplane II: The Sequel is an American comedy sequel to the 1980 film Airplane!. First released on December 10, 1982, the film was written and directed by Ken Finkleman and stars Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, Chad Everett, William Shatner, Rip Torn, and Sonny Bono.-Plot:In the near...
. She is also known for appearing in B-movies such as Hundra, Yellow Hair and the Fortress of Gold and Maniac Cop
Maniac Cop
Maniac Cop is a 1988 action/horror film directed by William Lustig and written by Larry Cohen. The film spawned two sequels, Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence .-Synopsis:...
.
Recent success
Off movie screens since 1990, the 5' 9" Landon returned to film acting in 2005 appearing as "Birdy" in the television movie Masters of Horror: Pick Me Up, directed by Larry Cohen, and in the films Stand Up and Knife to a Gunfight. In August 2008 she was slated to begin filming Alien Vampz, for Monolith Pictures, playing a major role as Assistant U.S. Attorney Theresa Van Helsung, of the ancient and eccentric vampire-hunting Van Helsung family. She has been offered subsequent roles in two other film projects for Monolith, including Alien Vampz 2, the sequel to the first film (2009). Sometimes credited as Laureen Landon, one of the roles in the offering from Monolith Pictures is a funny divorceeDivorcee
Divorcee, refers to a person whose marriage has ended in divorce, a legal dissolution of marriage before death by either spouse. The feminine form is "divorcée", and the masculine "divorcé". At one time the term had negative cultural and religious associations...
in a raucous comedy named Strap-Off which was scheduled to be filmed in the latter part of 2008.
Personal life
Landon is single and never married. She's still active in Hollywood and is also an award winning lyricist authoring rap music for the L.A. Metro Transit Authority video and a new song being played often on KROQ called "Captivity". She also enjoys writing screenplays in her spare time.Filmography and television
| Year | Film/TV Show | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 2009 in film The year 2009 saw the release of many films. Seven made the top 50 list of highest-grossing films, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that as of this year, their Best Picture category would consist of ten nominees, rather than five .- Highest-grossing films :Please note... |
Alien Vampz 2 | Theresa Van Helsung | Announced |
| 2008 2008 in film This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008... |
Strap-Off | Bette | Announced |
| 2008 2008 in film This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008... |
Alien Vampz | Theresa Van Helsung | Pre-production Pre-production Pre-production or In Production is the process of preparing all the elements involved in a film, play, or other performance.- In film :... |
| 2008 2008 in film This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008... |
Knife to a Gunfight | Barry | |
| 2007 2007 in film This is a list of major films released in 2007.-Top grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2007... |
Stand Up Stand Up (film) Stand Up is 2008 British film about stand up comedy written and directed by Joseph Pierce. It starred Max Alexander, Paul Putner, Laurene Landon, Godfrey, Ty Barnett and Daniel Rigby.... |
Hippie Woman | |
| 2005 | Masters of Horror : Pick Me Up | Birdy | |
| 1990 1990 in film The year 1990 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* CGI technique is expanded with motion capture for CGI characters, used in Total Recall .* The first digitally-manipulated matte painting is used, in Die Hard 2.... |
The Ambulance The Ambulance The Ambulance is a 1990 thriller film written and directed by Larry Cohen. It stars Eric Roberts, James Earl Jones, Janine Turner, Megan Gallagher, Red Buttons, and Eric Braeden as the Doctor. Kevin Hagen plays a cop in what would be his final film role... |
Patty | |
| 1990 1990 in film The year 1990 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* CGI technique is expanded with motion capture for CGI characters, used in Total Recall .* The first digitally-manipulated matte painting is used, in Die Hard 2.... |
Maniac Cop 2 Maniac Cop 2 Maniac Cop 2 is a 1990 American action horror film directed by William Lustig and written by Larry Cohen. It is the sequel to Maniac Cop and stars Robert Davi, Claudia Christian, Michael Lerner and Bruce Campbell.-Plot:... |
Teresa Mallory | |
| 1989 1989 in film -Events:* Batman is released on June 23, and goes on to gross over $410 million worldwide.* Actress Kim Basinger and her brother Mick purchase Braselton, Georgia, for $20 million... |
Wicked Stepmother Wicked Stepmother Wicked Stepmother is a 1989 American comedy film written, produced, and directed by Larry Cohen. It is best known for being the last film of Bette Davis, who withdrew from the project after filming began, citing major problems with the script and the way she was being photographed... |
Vanilla | |
| 1989 1989 in film -Events:* Batman is released on June 23, and goes on to gross over $410 million worldwide.* Actress Kim Basinger and her brother Mick purchase Braselton, Georgia, for $20 million... |
A Hollywood Story | Guest Star | |
| 1988 1988 in film -Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:* Act of Piracy* Action Jackson, starring Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, Vanity, Sharon Stone* The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* Akira* Alice... |
Maniac Cop Maniac Cop Maniac Cop is a 1988 action/horror film directed by William Lustig and written by Larry Cohen. The film spawned two sequels, Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence .-Synopsis:... |
Teresa Mallory | |
| 1987 1987 in film -Events:*January 31 - The Cure for Insomnia premieres at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois, to officially become the world's longest film according to Guinness World Records.... |
It's Alive III: Island of the Alive | Sally | |
| 1986 1986 in film -Events:*April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle.*April 26 - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver.*May - Actress Heather Locklear marries Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee.... |
Armed Response | Deborah Silverstein | |
| 1986 1986 in film -Events:*April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle.*April 26 - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver.*May - Actress Heather Locklear marries Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee.... |
America 3000 America 3000 America 3000 is a 1986 post-apocalyptic science-fiction film which takes place 900 years in the future in Colorado. Mankind has been reduced to Stone Age conditions and is under the rule of Amazon-like women warriors. The film was directed by David Engelbach, and stars Chuck Wagner, Laurene Landon,... |
Vena | |
| 1985 1985 in film -Events:* 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.* The Academy Award for Best Picture was won by Out Of Africa, while the highest grossing film was Back to the Future.* Bliss wins AFI Award for best Movie... |
The Stuff The Stuff The Stuff is a 1985 American horror film written, produced, and directed by Larry Cohen and starring Michael Moriarty, Garrett Morris, Andrea Marcovicci, and Paul Sorvino. It was also the last film of noted actor Alexander Scourby.-Plot:... |
Cameo appearance in "Stuff" commercial | |
| 1984 1984 in film -Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.* Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film.... |
Yellow Hair and the Fortress of Gold | Yellow Hair | |
| 1983 1983 in film -Events:*February 11 - The Rolling Stones concert film Let's Spend the Night Together opens in New York*May 25 - Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy, is released. Like the previous films, it goes on to become the top grossing picture of... |
Hundra | Hundra | |
| 1982 1982 in film -Events:* March 26 = I Ought to Be in Pictures, starring Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret and Dinah Manoff is released. Manoff would not appear in another movie until 1987's Backfire.* June = PG-rated film E.T... |
Airplane II: The Sequel Airplane II: The Sequel Airplane II: The Sequel is an American comedy sequel to the 1980 film Airplane!. First released on December 10, 1982, the film was written and directed by Ken Finkleman and stars Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, Chad Everett, William Shatner, Rip Torn, and Sonny Bono.-Plot:In the near... |
Testa, Shuttle Stewardess | |
| 1982 1982 in film -Events:* March 26 = I Ought to Be in Pictures, starring Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret and Dinah Manoff is released. Manoff would not appear in another movie until 1987's Backfire.* June = PG-rated film E.T... |
I, the Jury I, the Jury I, The Jury is Mickey Spillane's first novel featuring private investigator Mike Hammer.-Plot summary:New York City, summer 1944. Although she runs a successful private psychiatric clinic on New York's Park Avenue, Dr. Charlotte Manning — young, beautiful, blonde, and well-to-do —... |
Velda | |
| 1981 1981 in film -Events:*January 19 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquires beleaguered concurrent United Artists. UA was humiliated by the astronomical losses on the $40,000,000 movie Heaven's Gate, a major factor in the decision of owner Transamerica to sell it.... |
...All the Marbles | Molly | aka The California Dolls |
| 1981 1981 in film -Events:*January 19 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquires beleaguered concurrent United Artists. UA was humiliated by the astronomical losses on the $40,000,000 movie Heaven's Gate, a major factor in the decision of owner Transamerica to sell it.... |
Full Moon High Full Moon High Full Moon High is a 1981 horror comedy film written and directed by Larry Cohen. It involves a high school werewolf that tries to keep his secret. He also ignores his girlfriend's sexual advances because it's "his time of the month".-Plot summary:... |
Blondie | |
| 1979 1979 in film The year 1979 in film involved some significant events.- Major events :* March 5 - Production begins on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.* May 25 - Alien, a landmark of the science fiction genre, is released.... |
Roller Boogie Roller Boogie Roller Boogie is a United Artists film starring Linda Blair and introducing Jim Bray The film also stars Beverly Garland, Mark Goddard, and Kimberly Beck, and is directed by Mark L... |
Featured Skater | |
| 1979 1979 in film The year 1979 in film involved some significant events.- Major events :* March 5 - Production begins on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.* May 25 - Alien, a landmark of the science fiction genre, is released.... |
Scoring | Marsha | |
| 1979 1979 in film The year 1979 in film involved some significant events.- Major events :* March 5 - Production begins on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.* May 25 - Alien, a landmark of the science fiction genre, is released.... |
Bitter Heritage | aka Naked in My Grave | |