Brinke Stevens

Last updated

Brinke Stevens
Born
Charlene Elizabeth Brinkman

(1954-09-20) September 20, 1954 (age 70)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • screenwriter
Years active1972–present
Height163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1980;div. 1981)​
Website brinke.com
Signature
BrinkeStevensSignature.png

Brinke Stevens (born Charlene Elizabeth Brinkman, September 20, 1954) is an American actress. A native of San Diego, Stevens initially pursued a career as a marine biologist prior to becoming an actress, earning an undergraduate degree in biology from San Diego State University before studying marine biology at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Unable to find employment in the field of biology, Stevens began modeling in Los Angeles in 1980, and she worked as a film extra.

Contents

Her first major film role was in the slasher film The Slumber Party Massacre (1982). She went on to appear in a number of horror films, including Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama (1988), Nightmare Sisters (1988), Grandmother's House (1988), and Mommy (1995).

In addition to acting, Stevens has co-written several films, including the comedy horror feature Teenage Exorcist (1991).

Biography

Early life and education

Stevens was born Charlene Elizabeth Brinkman on September 20, 1954 [1] in San Diego to Charles Brinkman II, and Lorraine Brinkman, an aircraft riveter. [2] She is of German and Mongolian descent. [2] Stevens was raised in Crest, California along with her brother, Kerry. [3] She graduated from Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, and was a gifted student, becoming a member of Mensa International while still in high school. [4] As a teenager, she was a fan of Star Trek , and frequently attended sci-fi-themed conventions. [4] In 1974, Stevens attended San Diego Comic-Con and won first place in the first Masquerade Ball. [5] [6] [7] [8] She remained involved in running the masquerade at Comic-Con for years after her win. [7]

She earned a B.S. degree in biology and psychology from San Diego State University before enrolling to study marine biology at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, aspiring to become a marine biologist. [4] [9] Stevens planned to pursue a PhD at the institute, but was barred from completing when it was uncovered that she had incorporated dolphins at SeaWorld as part of her studies, violating the institute's authorization that had given her clearance only to study the vision of seals. [5] Despite this, she was later granted an honorary doctorate. [5]

Modeling and film beginnings

Stevens subsequently relocated with her then-husband, comic illustrator Dave Stevens (whom she met in college) to Los Angeles in 1980, and served as a model for the character of Betty in Stevens' comic series Rocketeer . [4] [5] After the couple divorced in 1981, Brinke, unable to find employment in the field of biology, began working as a film extra for income. [4] Photographer Dan Golden saw a photograph of her in costume, and hired her for a non-speaking role in the student film Zyzak Is King (1980); he also later photographed her for the cover of the first issue of Femme Fatales (1992). [10]

While leaving a modeling agency, Stevens stopped by an office door to look at film posters on the walls. The occupant, Jacob Bressler, told her to enter and asked for her portfolio. On the basis of that, he cast her in an uncredited, non-speaking role in ...All the Marbles (1981). [11] Stevens' first speaking role was as Linda Dawn Grant in The Slumber Party Massacre (1982), a role she reprised in Cheerleader Massacre (2003). [12]

Stevens has appeared in more than 100 feature films, primarily in the genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy film. She has gained notoriety as a scream queen. [13]

In addition to acting, Stevens has co-written a number of screenplays, co-produced two documentaries, and served as an onset decorator. She co-wrote Teenage Exorcist (1991), in which she also appeared. [14]

Later work

Stevens portrayed Julie Quinn, mother of serial killer Wayne Montgomery, in the 2007 horror film Head Case . She reprised her role in the three sequels, 2009's The Ritual , 2010's Post-Mortem, and 2013's Head Cases: Serial Killers in the Delaware Valley .

Stevens is depicted in the horror novel Bad Moon Rising, the third installment of Jonathan Maberry's "Pine Deep" trilogy, alongside Jim O'Rear, Tom Savini, and Debbie Rochon, published in 2008. [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

More recently she has appeared in a 2009 documentary Pretty Bloody: The Women of Horror and appeared in the 2013 remake of Die Sister, Die! . Alongside regular co-stars Linnea Quigley, and Michelle Bauer, Stevens appeared in and was a main subject for the 2011 documentary Screaming in High Heels: The Rise & Fall of the Scream Queen Era and its 2020 follow up Screaming in High Heels: The Reunion .

Stevens narrated the 2021 Sirius XM podcast limited series, Comic-Con Begins: Origin Stories of the San Diego Comic-Con and the Rise of Modern Fandom. [20]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1972 Necromancy Berinka Stevens
1981 ...All the Marbles ExtraUncredited [21]
1982 The Slumber Party Massacre Linda Dawn Grant
1983 Private School School GirlUncredited [21]
1983 The Man Who Wasn't There Nymphette
1983 Sole Survivor Jennifer
1984 Body Double Girl #3 In Bathroom
1984The Forgotten OnesMistress
1985 24 Hours to Midnight Devon GradyVoice
1985 Ninja Turf Boss's Girlfriend
1987 Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity Shala
1988 Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama "Taffy"
1988 Nightmare Sisters Marci
1988 Grandmother's House Woman
1988 Warlords Dow's Wife
1989The Jigsaw MurdersStripper #1
1989 Transylvania Twist Berry Lou
1990 Chinatown Connection Missy
1990SpiritsAmy Goldwyn
1990 Bad Girls from Mars Myra
1991My Lovely MonsterParty Guest
1991Shadows in the CityFortune Teller
1991 Scream Queen Hot Tub Party HerselfVideo
1992Roots of EvilCandy
1991 Teenage Exorcist DianeAlso writer
1992 Munchie Band Member
1993 Acting on Impulse The WaitressTV movie
1995Droid Gunner"Kitten"
1995 Jack-O Witch
1995 Mommy Beth
1996MasseuseHotel Manageras C.B. Stevens
1996Over the WireJennyas C.B. Stevens
1996Theater Dark Video MagazineHostTV movie
1996RepligatorDr. Goodbody
1997 Mommy 2: Mommy's Day Beth Conway
1998 Illicit Dreams 2 Dianne
1999The Kid With X-Ray EyesSexy Girl
2000 Sideshow Madame Volosca
2000SubmergedThe BartenderUncredited
2000Blood on the BacklotSabrina MorganShort
2001Victoria's ShadowVictoria
2001Eyes Are Upon YouAmanda
2001Real Time: Siege at Lucas Street MarketJanet
2002The FrighteningMrs. Peterson
2002The Bad Father"Shady"Short
2002BleedMother
2003 Cheerleader Massacre Linda Dawn Grant
2003Deadly StingersHelen
2004Something to Scream AboutHerself
2004Dead ClownsLilian, The Storyteller
2004Tele-ZombieWednesday Toogood
2005 October Moon Nancy
2006SpeedbagGrade School Teacher
2006Revenge LiveMrs. Norris
2007The Two SistersProfessor Renee Davis
2007 Head Case Julie
2007Sigma Die!Mrs. Angleman
2008Her Morbid DesiresBrinke
2008October Moon 2: November SonNancy
2008 Bryan Loves You Nurse
2009Blood SiblingsAunt Molly
2009 The Ritual Molly
2009Demon Divas and the Lanes of DamnationMorgan / Morrigan
2009Caesar and Otto's Summer Camp MassacreSashi
2009 George's Intervention Judy
2009It Came From TrafalgarDescenda Lou
2010Post-MortemJulie
2010PsychosomatikaDr. Klopek
2010BloodstruckThe Psychiatrist
2011Screaming in High Heels: The Rise & Fall of the Scream Queen EraHerself (documentary)
2011Shy of Normal: Tales of New Life ExperiencesVinnie Judith Rosenberg
2011The Greatest Women of Horror and Sci FiHerselfDocumentary
2011Bleed 4 MeLady Jasmine
2011Bloody Mary 3DElle's MotherVoice
2011JustUsSheryl BlackVoice, Short
2012The Summer Of MassacreMrs. Williams
2012No Strings 2: Playtime in HellMidnites Sister
2012 Caesar and Otto's Deadly Christmas Sashi
2012Jonah LivesZora
2013Axeman at Cutter's CreekSheriff Charlene Wopuzer
2013The Trouble with BarryBrinke
2013 Die Sister, Die! Amanda Price
2013 Head Cases: Serial Killers in the Delaware Valley Julie Quinn
2013Lizzie Borden's RevengeAbby Borden
2014Safe InsideBetsy Kane
2014 Disciples Tatiana
20143 Scream QueensEllen
2015Terror Toons 3Pandora
2015 Caesar and Otto's Paranormal Halloween Sashi
2015 Adam K Mrs. Kraul
2015Night of Something StrangeTeacher
2015Ripped to ShredsHouse Mother
2017 Death House Head Staffer
2019RoboWomanEvangeline
2020 The Beast Beneath Charlene Brinkeman
2021Apex PredatorsDr. Charlene Brinkman
2024Camp TerrorMeghan Phelps

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References

  1. ↑ Pitts 2002, p. 469.
  2. 1 2 Collum 2015, p. 22.
  3. ↑ Collum 2015, pp. 22–23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Brass, Kevin (July 9, 1992). "B-Movie Queen : Brinke Stevens Knows Secret to Dying in Shower". Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Collum 2015, p. 23.
  6. ↑ Vasseur, Richard; Stevens, Brinke (March 11, 2012). "Brinke Stevens Interview". Jazma. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  7. 1 2 Bozung, Justin; Stevens, Brinke (April 28, 2012). "The Brinke Stevens Interview". The Gentleman's Blog to Midnight Cinema. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Vampirella Revealed". boomvavavoom.com. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  9. ↑ Shepard, Jewel (March 1992). "Brinke Stevens". Invasion of the B-Girls. Forestville, California: Eclipse Books. p. 136.
  10. ↑ Collum 2015, pp. 22–26.
  11. ↑ Collum 2015, p. 25.
  12. ↑ Collum 2015, pp. 25–26.
  13. ↑ "'Scream queen' Stevens highlights upcoming horror convention", Tribune-Review , Pittsburgh, March 1, 2017.
  14. ↑ Collum 2015, p. 28.
  15. ↑ BC Books Interviews Author Jonathan Maberry Archived November 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ↑ Maberry, Jonathan. Bad Moon Rising. Pinnacle Press, 2005.
  17. ↑ Horror Chronicles Features Debbie Rochon Archived February 21, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ↑ MTV Artist Focus On Tom Savini
  19. ↑ Horror Unlimited Ingrid Pitt Award – Debbie Rochon
  20. ↑ "Discover Comic-Con's legendary origin story in a new, original SiriusXM podcast". Hear & Now. June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  21. 1 2 "Brinke Stevens". IMDb .

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