{{short description|American actress}} {{For|the netball player|Amy Steel (netball)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Amy Steel | alt = | image = | caption = | birthname = <!-- Valid citation required for full name for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) --> | othername = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|5|3}} | birth_place = U.S. | known_for = {{hlist|Friday the 13th Part 2|The Powers of Matthew Star|Guiding Light|April Fool's Day|Walk Like a Man}} | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1980–2004, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2021–present | spouse = | children = 2 | website = }}
'''Amy Steel''' (born May 3, 1960)<ref>{{cite web|work=AllMovie|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/amy-steel-p67802|title=Amy Steel|access-date=March 31, 2020}}</ref> is an American actress. Steel is best known for her final girl roles as Ginny in ''Friday the 13th Part 2'' (1981) and Kit in ''April Fool's Day'' (1986), both horror films.
She made her acting debut in the comedy film ''Fat Chance'' (1981). Besides her roles in ''Friday the 13th Part 2'' and ''April Fool's Day'', she notably appeared in the science fiction television series ''The Powers of Matthew Star'' (1982–83), the television film ''First Steps'' (1985), and the comedy film ''Walk Like a Man'' (1987). After a slew of television guest appearances, Steel stepped away from acting and launched a career as a therapist.
== Career == === Film === Steel made her film debut in Manuel Summers little-seen comedy film ''Fat Chance'' (1981).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Keneas |first1=Alex |title=Fat characters, thin comedy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81954411/newsday/ |access-date=July 22, 2021 |work=Newsday |date=November 27, 1982}}</ref> The film revolves around the characters Michael and Mary, both of whom are overweight and communicate through letters, sending each other photographs of people claiming to be themselves—Mary’s picture she sends is of Allison (portrayed by Steel in a supporting role), the granddaughter of her employer.<ref name="Fat Chance">{{cite web |last1=Maslin |first1=Janet |title='FAT CHANCE,' COMEDY OF NEAR MISSES |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/24/movies/fat-chance-comedy-of-near-misses.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=March 30, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260330064818/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/24/movies/fat-chance-comedy-of-near-misses.html |archive-date=March 30, 2026 |date=November 24, 1984}}</ref> Steel had her breakthrough role in Steve Miner’s slasher film ''Friday the 13th Part 2'' (1981) as aspiring child psychologist Ginny Field. Steel had two days of shooting in the daytime and the rest at night.<ref name="Friday" /> The shoot was exhausting for her to the point of her stating: "I hope I never have to do another horror film the rest of my life."<ref name="Friday">{{cite news |title=Celebrity |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81524706/the-palm-beach-post/ |access-date=July 22, 2021 |work=The Palm Beach Post |date=June 13, 1981 |page=26}}</ref> In a review for ''IGN'', film critic Eric Goldman wrote: "The lead character, Ginny (the likable Amy Steel), is one of the most appealing in the entire series."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldman |first1=Eric |title=Friday the 13th Part 2 DVD Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/31/friday-the-13th-part-2-dvd-review |website=IGN |access-date=March 30, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260330072047/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/31/friday-the-13th-part-2-dvd-review |archive-date=March 30, 2026 |date=December 25, 2018}}</ref> The film was a box office success, grossing $21,722,776 worldwide (equivalent to $88,375,752 in 2026).<ref>{{cite web |title=Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Friday-the-13th-Part-2?mobile-app=true&theme=dark%2F1000#summary |website=The Numbers |publisher=The Numbers |access-date=March 30, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260330065344/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Friday-the-13th-Part-2?mobile-app=true&theme=dark%2F1000#summary |archive-date=March 30, 2026}}</ref> For the sequel, ''Friday the 13th Part III'' (1982), Miner envisioned making Ginny the series protagonist; having spent a lot of time developing variant Ginny-centric storylines such as one placing her in a psychiatric hospital to another taking place on a college campus where she actively goes on a pursuit to find Jason after he kills her roommate.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Fangoria|date=August 1982|issue=22|title=Behind the Scream: Friday the 13th Part III|author=Martin, Bob|pages=34-37}}</ref><ref name="Part 3">{{cite web |last1=Hamman |first1=Cody |title=Amy Steel describes the original pitch for Friday the 13th Part III |url=https://www.joblo.com/amy-steel-describes-the-original-pitch-for-friday-the-13th-part-iii/ |website=JoBlo.com |access-date=March 30, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260330071310/https://www.joblo.com/amy-steel-describes-the-original-pitch-for-friday-the-13th-part-iii/ |archive-date=March 30, 2026 |date=August 5, 2021}}</ref> Steel turned down a sequel offer because her agent was pushing her for higher-budget roles, and she was exhausted from the second film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-line-up.com/friday-the-13th-part-2-amy-steel-interview/|title=The Girl That Got Away from Jason: An Interview with Amy Steel from Friday the 13th Part 2|date=January 13, 2017}}</ref> In retrospect, Steel has stated she regrets not doing the film as she likes the way Ginny was written.<ref name="Part 3"></ref>
Steel's next feature role was Kit in Fred Walton's hybrid black comedy mystery film ''April Fool's Day'' (1986) which she described as a different shooting experience compared to ''Friday''. Steel portrayed Penny, an environmental scientist, in Melvin Frank's comedy film ''Walk Like a Man'' (1987), starring alongside Howie Mandel and Christopher Lloyd.<ref>{{cite news |last= Eldridge | first= John |title='Walk Like a Man' dogs it as a comedy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81631247/the-miami-news/ |access-date=July 22, 2021 |work=The Miami News |date=June 1, 1987 |page=17}}</ref> The film grossed $460k ($1 million inflated).<ref>{{cite web |title=Walk Like a Man (1987) |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Walk-Like-a-Man#tab=summary |website=The Numbers |access-date=July 22, 2021}}</ref> In a review for ''Reel Film Reviews'', David Nusair, who gave the film itself a negative review, highlighted Steel’s performance: "scream queen Steel is effective as Bobo's love interest."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nusair |first1=David |title=The Films of Melvin Frank |url=https://reelfilm.com/mfrank.htm |website=Reel Film Reviews |access-date=March 28, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906054121/http://reelfilm.com/mfrank.htm |archive-date=September 6, 2018 |date=July 31, 2018}}</ref> {{quote box|align=right|width=25em|quote=I think it would be really cool to come back as Ginny again. The funny thing is that I've never been asked since ''Part 3''. But I think it's time to see Ginny again in a ''Friday the 13th'' movie. She has some unfinished business.|source=—Steel on the possibility of returning to the ''Friday the 13th'' series<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/16108/dread-central-s-final-girls-amy-steel/|title=Dread Central's Final Girls: Amy Steel|work=Dread Central |location=US |date=March 5, 2010}}</ref>}}
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. 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.<ref name="rising">{{cite web|url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/jason-rising-a-friday-the-13th-fan-film--6%23/|title=Jason Rising – A Friday the 13th Fan Film|publisher=Indiegogo|access-date=August 28, 2021|archive-date=August 28, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210828094023/https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/jason-rising-a-friday-the-13th-fan-film--6%23/|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>
=== Television === Steel began her career with guest roles on the CBS soap opera ''Guiding Light'' alongside fellow Friday the 13th star Kevin Bacon, as Trudy Wilson from 1980 to 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 (Michael J. Fox's character's first sexual encounter), ''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 to 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''. Steel later had a small role as a neighbor in David Greene’s ABC thriller film ''Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?'' (1991), a television remake of the 1962 film of the same name.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Freitag-Fey |first1=Paul |title=[TV THROWBACK] BEFORE ‘FEUD’: ‘WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?’ (1991) |url=https://dailygrindhouse.com/thewire/tv-throwback-feud-whatever-happened-baby-jane-1991/ |website=Daily Grindhouse |access-date=March 30, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260330083626/https://dailygrindhouse.com/thewire/tv-throwback-feud-whatever-happened-baby-jane-1991/ |archive-date=March 30, 2026 |date=March 17, 2017}}</ref> 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.
== 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."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1985/03/17/amy-steelfirst-steps-a-film-that-meant-something-to-me-by-michael-e-hill/403c0123-fc08-4bea-b158-4401ac668c86/|title=AMY STEEL'First Steps,' a Film That 'Meant Something to Me' BY MICHAEL E. HILL|last=Hill|first=Michael|date=March 17, 1985|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 26, 2017}}</ref>
== Filmography ==
=== Film === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1981 || ''Fat Chance'' || Alison || |- | 1981 || ''Friday the 13th Part 2'' || Ginny Field || |- | 1983 || ''Exposed'' || Party Guest || Cameo{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} |- | 1986 || ''April Fool's Day'' || Kit Graham || <ref name=highlights>{{cite book |last1=Collum |first1=Jason Paul |title=Assault of the Killer B's |date=January 27, 2015 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-8041-8 |page=86}}</ref> |- | 1987 || ''Walk Like a Man'' || Penny || <ref name=highlights /> |- | 1992 || ''Play Nice'' || Nancy || |- | 1999 || ''Valerie Flake'' || Denise || |- | 1999 || ''Tycus'' || Little Girl's Mother || Direct-to-video film<ref name=highlights /> |- | 2013 || ''Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th'' || Herself || Documentary film<ref name="Amy Steel">{{Cite web |title=Amy Steel |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/amy-steel/credits/3030010137/ |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref> |- | 2014 || ''Tales of Poe'' || Mother of Dreams / Poetic Narrator || |- | 2021 || ''Jason Rising: A Friday the 13th Fan Film'' || Dr. Ginny Field || Voice role<ref name="rising" /> |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1980 || ''All My Children'' || Peggy Warner || Recurring role |- | 1980–1981 || ''Guiding Light'' || Trudy Wilson || Recurring role |- | 1982 || ''Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'' || Allison Frelang || 1 episode |- | 1982–1983 || ''The Powers of Matthew Star'' || Pam Elliott || Main role |- | 1982 || ''Family Ties'' || Stephanie Brooks || 1 episode |- | 1983 || ''CHiPs'' || Kelly Monahan || 1 episode |- | 1983 || ''The A-Team'' || Kathy Ludlam || 1 episode |- | 1983 || ''Women of San Quentin'' || Liz Larson || Television film |- | 1983–1984 || ''For Love and Honor'' || Sharon || 12 episodes |- | 1985 || ''Stir Crazy'' || Lisa Grant || 1 episode |- | 1985 || ''First Steps'' || Nan Davis || Television film |- | 1987–1989 || ''Jake and the Fatman'' || Samantha Shay / Mia Delaine || 2 episodes |- | 1987 || ''Home Fires'' || Cathy Ash || Television film |- | 1987 || ''The Red Spider'' || Kate O'Day || Television film |- | 1990 || ''Father Dowling Mysteries'' || Murphy || 1 episode |- | 1990 || ''Quantum Leap'' || Maggie Spontini || 1 episode |- | 1991 || ''China Beach'' || Maria Koloski || 1 episode |- | 1991 || ''Walter & Emily'' || Ginny || 1 episode |- | 1991 || ''What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'' || Connie Trotter || Television film |- | 1992 || ''Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo'' || Roxanne Shields || Television film |- | 1993 || ''Space Rangers'' || Sarah Boon || 1 episode |- | 1993 || ''Time Trax'' || Laura Darrow || 1 episode |- | 1994 || ''Viper'' || Lisa Hinkle || 1 episode |- | 1994 || ''Home Improvement'' || Eve || 1 episode<ref name=highlights /> |- | 1994 || ''Diagnosis: Murder'' || Jenny Morley || 1 episode |- | 1994 || ''Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice'' || Dr. Gail Baker || Television film |- | 1994 || ''The Innocent'' || Molly || Television film |- | 1995 || ''The Commish'' || Rhonda Shonick || 1 episode |- | 1995 || ''Abandoned and Deceived'' || {{TableTBA|N/A}} || Television film |- | 1996 || ''American Gothic'' || Christie || 1 episode |- | 1996 || ''Chicago Hope'' || Lisa Erickson || 1 episode<ref name=highlights /> |- | 1997 || ''Millennium'' || Dr. Liz Michaels || Episode: "A Single Blade of Grass" |- | 2000 || ''JAG'' || Commander Samantha Woodling || 1 episode<ref name=highlights /> |- | 2003 || ''A Time to Remember'' || Claire Goodman Isenberg || Television film |- | 2009 || ''His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th'' || Herself || Television documentary<ref name="Amy Steel"/> |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|0824386}} * {{twitter|1amysteel}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Steel, Amy}} Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:American film actresses Category:American soap opera actresses Category:American television actresses Category:21st-century American women