Brinke Stevens

Brinke Stevens (born Charlene Elizabeth Brinkman; September 20, 1954) is an American actress, model, and writer. 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 worked as a film extra.

Brinke Stevens
Stevens in 2011
Born
Charlene Elizabeth Brinkman

(1954-09-20) September 20, 1954
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Actress
  • model
  • writer
Years active1981–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 1980; div. 1981)
Websitebrinke.com
Signature

Her first major film role was in the slasher film The Slumber Party Massacre (1982). She would go 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, an aircraft riveter, and Lorraine Brinkman.[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, 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.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1972 Necromancy Berinka Stevens
1981 ...All the Marbles Extra Uncredited[20]
1982 The Slumber Party Massacre Linda Dawn Grant
1983 The Man Who Wasn't There Nymphette
1983 Sole Survivor Jennifer
1984 Body Double Girl #3 in Bathroom
1984 The Forgotten Ones Mistress
1985 24 Hours to Midnight Devon Grady Voice
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
1989 The Jigsaw Murders Stripper #1
1989 Transylvania Twist Berry Lou
1990 Chinatown Connection Missy
1990 Spirits Amy Goldwyn
1990 Bad Girls from Mars Myra
1991 My Lovely Monster Party Guest
1991 Shadows in the City Fortune Teller
1991 Scream Queen Hot Tub Party Herself Video
1992 Roots of Evil Candy
1991 Teenage Exorcist Diane Also writer
1992 Munchie Band Member
1993 Acting on Impulse Waitress TV movie
1995 Droid Gunner Kitten
1995 Jack-O Witch
1995 Mommy Beth
1996 Masseuse Hotel Manager as C.B. Stevens
1996 Over the Wire Jenny as C.B. Stevens
1996 Theater Dark Video Magazine Host TV movie
1996 Repligator Dr. Goodbody
1997 Mommy 2: Mommy's Day Beth Conway
1998 Illicit Dreams 2 Dianne
2000 Sideshow Madame Volosca
2000 Submerged Bar Tender Uncredited
2000 Blood on the Backlot Sabrina Morgan Short
2001 Victoria's Shadow Victoria
2001 Eyes Are Upon You Amanda
2001 Real Time: Siege at Lucas Street Market Janet
2002 The Frightening Mrs. Peterson
2002 The Bad Father Shady Short
2002 Bleed Mother
2003 Cheerleader Massacre Linda Dawn Grant
2003 Deadly Stingers Helen
2004 Something to Scream About Herself
2004 Dead Clowns Lilian - The Storyteller
2004 Tele-Zombie Wednesday Toogood
2005 October Moon Nancy
2006 Speedbag Grade School Teacher
2006 Revenge Live Mrs. Norris
2007 The Two Sisters Professor Renee Davis
2007 Head Case Julie
2007 Sigma Die! Mrs. Angleman
2008 Her Morbid Desires Brinke
2008 October Moon 2: November Son Nancy
2008 Bryan Loves You Nurse
2009 Blood Siblings Aunt Molly
2009 The Ritual Molly
2009 Demon Divas and the Lanes of Damnation Morgan/Morrigan
2009 Caesar and Otto's Summer Camp Massacre Sashi
2009 George's Intervention Judy
2009 It Came From Trafalgar Descenda Lou
2010 Post-Mortem Julie
2010 Psychosomatika Dr. Klopek
2010 Bloodstruck The Psychiatrist
2011 Screaming in High Heels: The Rise & Fall of the Scream Queen Era Herself (documentary)
2011 Shy of Normal: Tales of New Life Experiences Vinnie Judith Rosenberg
2011 The Greatest Women of Horror and Sci Fi Herself Documentary
2011 Bleed 4 Me Lady Jasmine
2011 Bloody Mary 3D Elle's Mother Voice
2011 JustUs Sheryl Black Voice, Short
2012 The Summer Of Massacre Mrs. Williams
2012 No Strings 2: Playtime in Hell Midnites Sister
2012 Caesar and Otto's Deadly Christmas Sashi
2012 Jonah Lives Zora
2013 Axeman at Cutter's Creek Sheriff Charlene Wopuzer
2013 The Trouble with Barry Brinke
2013 Die Sister, Die! Amanda Price
2013 Head Cases: Serial Killers in the Delaware Valley Julie Quinn
2013 Lizzie Borden's Revenge Abby Borden
2014 Safe Inside (film) Betsy Kane
2014 Disciples Tatiana
2014 3 Scream Queens Ellen
2015 Terror Toons 3 Pandora
2015 Caesar and Otto's Paranormal Halloween Sashi
2015 Adam K Mrs. Kraul
2015 Night of Something Strange Teacher
2015 Ripped to Shreds House Mother
2017 Death House Head Staffer

References

  1. Pitts 2002, p. 469.
  2. Collum 2015, p. 22.
  3. Collum 2015, pp. 22–23.
  4. 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. 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. 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. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0828288/

Sources

  • Collum, Jason Paul (2015). Assault of the Killer B's: Interviews with 20 Cult Film Actresses. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-48041-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Pitts, Michael R. (2002). Horror Film Stars (3rd ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-41052-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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