Sandra Cassel
Encyclopedia
Sandra Cassel is an American actress. She acted in a number of low-budget soft-core and exploitation films between the early to mid 70's. Her most memorable role was in the 1972 film The Last House on the Left
. Sandra walked away from acting and is now a drama teacher and children's television writer and producer in Portland, Oregon
.
. She graduated from the Neighborhood Playhouse
in New York City
where she studied acting under Sanford Meisner
. Later, she briefly attended Carnegie-Mellon University.
brutal and controversial 1972 film The Last House on the Left
, about two teenage girls, Mari Collingwood (played by Cassel) and Phyllis Stone (Lucy Grantham
) who are kidnapped and brutally raped by a gang of psychotic convicts who recently escaped from prison. Another film that Cassel is known for is Teenage Hitch-hikers.
The Last House on the Left (1972 film)
The Last House on the Left is a 1972 horror film written and directed by Wes Craven and produced by Sean S. Cunningham.The story is inspired by the 1960 Swedish film The Virgin Spring, directed by Ingmar Bergman, which in turn is based on the 13th century Swedish ballad "Töres döttrar i Wänge"...
. Sandra walked away from acting and is now a drama teacher and children's television writer and producer in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
Early life
Sandra Cassel was born Sandra Peabody on 15 June 1952 in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. She graduated from the Neighborhood Playhouse
Neighborhood Playhouse
The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre is an actor training school at 340 East 54th Street in New York City, generally associated with the Meisner technique of Sanford Meisner.-History:...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where she studied acting under Sanford Meisner
Sanford Meisner
Sanford Meisner , also known as Sandy, was an American actor and acting teacher who developed a form of Method acting that is now known as the Meisner technique....
. Later, she briefly attended Carnegie-Mellon University.
Career
Throughout the early 70's, Cassel starred in a few soft-core and exploitation films which were mainly low-budget. She starred in Wes Craven'sWes Craven
Wesley Earl "Wes" Craven is an American actor, film director, writer, producer, perhaps best known as the director of many horror films, particularly slasher films, including the famed A Nightmare on Elm Street and Wes Craven's New Nightmare, featuring the iconic Freddy Krueger character, the...
brutal and controversial 1972 film The Last House on the Left
The Last House on the Left (1972 film)
The Last House on the Left is a 1972 horror film written and directed by Wes Craven and produced by Sean S. Cunningham.The story is inspired by the 1960 Swedish film The Virgin Spring, directed by Ingmar Bergman, which in turn is based on the 13th century Swedish ballad "Töres döttrar i Wänge"...
, about two teenage girls, Mari Collingwood (played by Cassel) and Phyllis Stone (Lucy Grantham
Lucy Grantham
-Career:She is best known for her role as Phyllis Stone in the controversial film The Last House on the Left, which is the only film credit to her name. In 2002, Grantham appeared in the documentary It's Only a Movie: The Making of Last House on the Left to mark the films 30th Anniversary, through...
) who are kidnapped and brutally raped by a gang of psychotic convicts who recently escaped from prison. Another film that Cassel is known for is Teenage Hitch-hikers.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | The Model Hunters | June | (credited as Lydia Cassell) |
| 1971 | Love-In '72 | other title - Love-in 1973 | |
| 1972 | The Last House on the Left The Last House on the Left (1972 film) The Last House on the Left is a 1972 horror film written and directed by Wes Craven and produced by Sean S. Cunningham.The story is inspired by the 1960 Swedish film The Virgin Spring, directed by Ingmar Bergman, which in turn is based on the 13th century Swedish ballad "Töres döttrar i Wänge"... |
Mari Collingwood | (credited as Sandra Cassell) other titles - Last House on the Left, Grim Company |
| 1972 | Voices of Desire | Anna Reed | (credited as Liyda Cassell) |
| 1973 | Filthiest Show in Town | Olga | (credited as Sandra Cassell) other titles - The Filthiest Show in Town, The Naughtiest Show in Town, The Sexiest Show in Town, Wickedest Show in Town |
| 1974 | Legacy of Satan | Cult Extra | |
| 1975 | Teenage Hitch-hikers | Bird | |
| 1975 | Video Vixens | - | Miscellaneous Crew - Script Continuity |
| 1976 | Massage Parlor Hookers | ||
| 2003 | Celluoid Crime of the Century | - | Archive Footage |
| 2005 | Ban the Sadist Videos! | - | Archive Footage |
| 2006 | Ban the Sadist Videos! Part 2 | - | Archive Footage |
| 2006 | Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film | - | Archive Footage |
| 2008 | Adam | - | Special Thanks (thanks only) |
| 2008 | Campus Daze | - | Special Thanks (thanks only) |
| 2008 | I Would Rather | - | Special Thanks (thanks only) |
| 2009 | Snap | - | Special Thanks (thanks only) |
External links
- Sandra Cassel at Rotten Tomatoes