Amy Steel

Amy Steel Pulitzer (born Alice Amy Steel; May 3, 1960)^[1] is an American marriage and family therapist, and a former actress. She is best known for her role as Ginny Field in Steve Miner's slasher-horror film Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) and Kit in Fred Walton's mystery film April Fool's Day (1986).

In addition to film, Steel has an extensive television career, starring on the NBC series The Powers of Matthew Star (1982–83), followed by guest appearances on shows such as Family Ties (1982), The A-Team (1983), Quantum Leap (1990), and China Beach (1991).^[2] In the early 2000s, she retired from acting and launched a career as a psychologist.

She appeared in the Bart Mastronardi and Alan Rowe Kelly-directed anthology horror film Tales of Poe (2014). Her last acting credit is in 2021's Jason Rising: A Friday the 13th Fan Film.

Career[]

Film[]

Steel made her theatrical debut in Manuel Summers' comedy film Fat Chance (1981), in which she portrayed the supporting role of Allison.^[3] The same year, Steel obtained the lead role of Ginny Field in Steve Miner's slasher film Friday the 13th Part 2, a sequel to Friday the 13th (1980). She won the role through an audition, and it went on to become one of her most recognizable performances.^[4][5] Steel had two days of shooting in the daytime and the rest at night.^[6] The shoot was physically and mentally exhausting for the actress to the point of her stating: "I hope I never have to do another horror film the rest of my life."^[6] The film earned over $21 million ($71 million inflated) at the box office.^[7] Rumours began circulating shortly after its release of a potential sequel, but Steel ultimately declined to return. Steel turned down the offer due to her agent pushing her for higher-budgeted roles and being exhausted from the second film.^[8] Steel's next feature role was Kit in Fred Walton's hybrid black comedy mystery slasher film April Fool's Day (1986) which she described as a different shooting experience compared to Friday. Steel appeared as Penny in Melvin Frank's comedy Walk Like a Man (1987), opposite Howie Mandel.^[9] The film grossed $460k ($1 million inflated).^[10]

In 2021, Steel appeared as Dr. Ginny Field in the medium-length horror film Jason Rising: A Friday the 13th Fan Film — in a voice role cameo.^[12]

Television[]

Steel began her career with guest roles on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light as Trudy Wilson from 1980–1981, and as Peggy Warner on All My Children in 1980. In 1982, Steel had guest roles on the television series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982) as Allison Freleng, Family Ties (1982) as Stephanie Brooks, CHiPs as Kelly Monahan, The A-Team (1983) as Kathy Ludlam, before being cast as Pam Elliott in the sci-fi series The Powers of Matthew Star alongside Peter Barton, who went on to appear in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. The series lasted until 1983. She was subsequently cast in the television films Women of San Quentin (1983) as Liz Larson and First Steps (1985) as Nan Davis. From 1983–1984, Steel portrayed Sharon on the short lived television series For Love and Honor.

In 1985, she had a guest appearance in Stir Crazy as Lisa Grant. The following year, Steel was cast in the television thriller film The Red Spider. In 1987, and again in 1989, Steel a guest roles in Jake and the Fatman. In 1990, Steel guest starred on Father Dowling Mysteries and Quantum Leap before being cast as Connie in the television film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, a remake of the 1962 film of the same name. The same year, she guest starred on China Beach and Walter & Emily. In 1992, Steel was cast in the television film Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo. The same year, she was cast in the horror film Play Nice.

In 1994, Steel guest starred on Viper, Home Improvement and Diagnosis: Murder before being cast in the television films Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice and The Innocent. In 1995, she was cast in the television series The Commish and the television film Damaged and Deceived. In 1996, she guest starred on American Gothic and Chicago Hope. The following year, she portrayed Dr. Liz Michaels in an episode of Millennium. In 1999, Steel was cast in the films Valerie Flake and Tycus. The following year, she portrayed Commander Samantha Woodling in a guest appearance on JAG.

In 2003, Steel was cast as Claire Goodman Isenberg in the television film A Time to Remember. After this role, Steel took an extensive break from acting and became a psychotherapist. In 2014, Steel made her first acting appearance in 11 years in the anthology horror film Tales of Poe. She starred alongside Adrienne King and Caroline Williams.

Personal life[]

During the filming of the 1985 television film First Steps, Steel developed a friendship with Nan Davis. In an interview, Steel said:

"We have a good relationship, we don't fret if we don't talk for a month. The filming ended last May, and we've seen each other two or three times since then. We get on the phone and it's as if we've not been out of touch at all."^[13]

In 1986 she married Peter Pulitzer.^[14] She has two daughters. She serves as a marriage and family therapist intern at InBalance in the Santa Monica Mountains in California. She also has a private practice in Calabasas, California specializing in adolescent and mid-life transitions.^[15]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Television[]

References[]

External links[]

• Amy Steel at IMDb
• Amy Steel on Twitter