Age: 80
Birthplace: Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Mary Woronov (born December 8, 1943) is an American actress, published author and figurative painter. She is primarily known as a "cult star" because of her work with Andy Warhol and her roles in Roger Corman's cult films. Woronov has appeared in over 80 movies, on stage at Lincoln Center and off-Broadway productions, as well as numerous appearances in mainstream American TV series, such as Charlie's Angels and Knight Rider. She frequently co-starred with friend Paul Bartel; the pair appeared in 17 films together, often as husband-and-wife.
Woronov was born to Carol Eschholz in the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, when it served as the Ream General Hospital during World War II. Her stepfather, who adopted her, Victor D. Woronov (1907-1975), was a cancer surgeon in Brooklyn. She attended Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn Heights.
She first made headlines in the early 1960s as a Warhol superstar. She danced with Exploding Plastic Inevitable, Warhol's multimedia presentation of the Velvet Underground. She played Hanoi Hannah in Chelsea Girls, the 1966 experimental underground film directed by Andy Warhol. The film was Warhol's first major commercial success after a long line of avant-garde art films (both feature-length and short). Of this time she has said,
Of all the girls at Andy Warhol's Factory, I was the butch one. put me in his Screen Test and I spent my nights at Max's Kansas City.... I was the strong girl at the Factory.
Woronov's notable appearances include in the 1975 cult film Death Race 2000 and 1979's Rock 'n' Roll High School (and the 1991 sequel Rock 'n' Roll High School Forever), but her breakthrough role was in the 1982 cult film Eating Raoul. She has since had roles in numerous films including Blood Theatre (1984), Night of the Comet (1984), Chopping Mall and Nomads (1986), Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989), Dick Tracy (1990), Where Sleeping Dogs Lie (1991), Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003) and All About Evil (2010).
She has also made guest appearances on TV shows such as Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Charlie's Angels, Mr. Belvedere, Murder, She Wrote, Amazing Stories, St. Elsewhere, Wings, Babylon 5, Family Matters, and Highlander: The Series.
She became a fan of the L.A. punk music scene and made a cameo appearance with actors Jack Nance and John Hullette in 1983's Suicidal Tendencies' "Institutionalized" video.
She has written such books as Snake, Blind Love and Swimming Underground: My Years in the Warhol Factory. She appeared in Barneys New York fall 2014 advertising campaign, "L.A. Stories" shot by Bruce Weber.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1966 | Chelsea Girls | Hanoi Hannah | |
1966 | Hedy | Policewoman | |
1966 | Kiss the Boot | ||
1966 | Milk | Short film | |
1966 | Shower | ||
1966 | Superboy | ||
1966 | Beard, TheThe Beard | Jean Harlow | |
1966 | Since | John F. Kennedy | |
1967 | **** | ||
1970 | Kemek | Mary Wonderly | |
1973 | Sugar Cookies | Camilla Stone | |
1974 | Seizure | Mikki Hughes | |
1974 | Silent Night, Bloody Night | Diane Adams | |
1975 | Death Race 2000 | Calamity Jane | |
1975 | Cover Girl Models | Diane | |
1976 | Hollywood Boulevard | Mary McQueen | |
1976 | Jackson County Jail | Pearl | |
1976 | Cannonball | Sandy Harris | |
1976 | Hollywood Man | Julie | |
1977 | Mr. Billion | Bit Part (uncredited) | |
1977 | Bad Georgia Road | Hackett | |
1978 | One and Only, TheThe One and Only | Arlene | |
1979 | Lady in Red, TheThe Lady in Red | Woman Bankrobber | |
1979 | Rock 'n' Roll High School | Miss Togar | |
1981 | Heartbeeps | Party House Owner | |
1982 | Eating Raoul | Mary Bland | |
1982 | National Lampoon's Movie Madness | Secretary | |
1983 | Angel of H.E.A.T. | Samantha Vitesse | |
1983 | Get Crazy | Violetta | |
1984 | Blood Theatre | Miss Blackwell | |
1984 | Young Lust | ||
1984 | Night of the Comet | Audrey | |
1985 | Get Out of My Room | ||
1985 | Hellhole | Dr. Fletcher | |
1986 | Nomads | Dancing Mary | |
1986 | TerrorVision | Raquel Putterman | |
1986 | Chopping Mall | Mary Bland | |
1987 | Kappa | Short film | |
1987 | Black Widow | Shelley | |
1988 | Mortuary Academy | Mary Purcell | |
1989 | Warlock | Channeler | |
1989 | Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills | Lisabeth Hepburn-Saravian | |
1989 | Let It Ride | Quinella | |
1990 | Dick Tracy | Welfare Person | |
1990 | Club Fed | Jezebel | |
1990 | Watchers II | Dr. Glatman | |
1991 | Buster's Bedroom | Jane | |
1991 | Rock 'n' Roll High School Forever | Doctor Vadar | |
1991 | Motorama | Kidnapping Wife | |
1991 | Where Sleeping Dogs Lie | Woman Tourist | |
1992 | Living End, TheThe Living End | Daisy | |
1993 | Good Girls Don't | Wilamena LaRue | |
1993 | Grief | Attorney | |
1995 | Number One Fan | Wedding Coordinator | |
1995 | Glory Daze | Joanie's Mom | |
1998 | Secrets of a Chambermaid | Felicity | |
1998 | Sweet Jane | Sales Lady | |
1998 | Mom, Can I Keep Her? | Dr. Klein | Video |
1999 | Zoo | Prunella | |
1999 | Invisible Mom II | Olivia | Video |
2000 | Straight Right | Dr. Wright | |
2001 | Vampire Hunters Club, TheThe Vampire Hunters Club | Receptionist | Video short |
2001 | New Women, TheThe New Women | Lisa LaStrada | |
2001 | Perfect Fit | Mom | |
2003 | Prison A-Go-Go! | Dyanne She-Bitch Slutface | |
2003 | Looney Tunes: Back in Action | Acme VP, Bad Ideas | |
2004 | Halfway House, TheThe Halfway House | Sister Cecelia | |
2004 | Frog-g-g! | Doctor | |
2004 | I Pass for Human | Dr. Larraz | |
2005 | Devil's Rejects, TheThe Devil's Rejects | Abbie | |
2009 | House of the Devil, TheThe House of the Devil | Mrs. Ulman | |
2009 | Heaven Wants Out | Kitty | |
2011 | Kitchenette: Part One | Jo | |
2012 | Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader | House Mother |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1974 | Somerset | Stephanie Dillard | TV series |
1976 | Charlie's Angels | Maxine | Episode: "Angels in Chains" |
1977 | Logan's Run | Irene Borden | Episode: "Capture" |
1979 | Taxi | Fran Strickland | Episode: "Nardo Loses Her Marbles" |
1979 | Mrs. Columbo | Kate's fellow inmate | Episode: "Off the Record" |
1980 | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Nola | Episode: "A Dream of Jennifer" |
1980 | Phyl & Mikhy | Anya | Episode: "Mikhy's Visitor" |
1984 | Princess Who Had Never Laughed, TheThe Princess Who Had Never Laughed | Governess | TV movie |
1985 | Challenge of a Lifetime | Mary Garritee | TV movie |
1985 | Bunny's Tale, AA Bunny's Tale | Miss Renfro | TV movie |
1985 | Knight Rider | Dr. Von Furst | Episode: "Knight of the Juggernaut: Part 1" |
1985 | Mr. Belvedere | Cheryl | Episode: "The Letter" |
1985 | Murder, She Wrote | Brady | Episode: "Jessica Behind Bars" |
1986 | Amazing Stories | Nurse | Episode: "Secret Cinema" |
1986 | Brothers | Sophia Santini | Episode: "The Seduction of Lou" |
1986 | St. Elsewhere | Episode: "Nothing Up My Sleeve" | |
1987 | You Again? | Dr. Quinn | Episode: "Where the Sun Don't Shine" |
1987 | Shell Game | Bean Sweeney | Episode: "The Upstairs Gardner" |
1987 | Sledge Hammer! | Jill Taylor | Episode: "The Spa Who Loved Me" |
1987 | Webster | Carol | Episode: "San Francisco: Part 2" Episode: "San Francisco: Part 3" |
1988 | Trial and Error | Officer Burdette | Episode: "Man's Best Friend" |
1988 | Monsters | Viki | Episode: "Pillow Talk" |
1992 | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | Officer Gwen | Episode: "Money Talks" |
1993 | Wings | Lydia Detmeir | Episode: "The Gift: Part 2" |
1993 | Flying Blind | Mona | 4 episodes |
1993 | Acting on Impulse | Receptionist | TV movie |
1994 | Babylon 5 | Ko D'Ath | Episode: "Born to the Purple" |
1994 | Shake, Rattle and Rock! | E. Joyce Togar | TV movie |
1994 | My So-Called Life | Dr. Linda Shields | Episode: "Pressure" |
1995 | Highlander: The Series | Rita Luce | Episode: "They Also Serve" |
1995 | Here Come the Munsters | Mrs. Dimwitty | TV movie |
1996 | Family Matters | Mrs. Ramsay | Episode: "Swine Lake" |
1996 | Munsters' Scary Little Christmas, TheThe Munsters' Scary Little Christmas | Mrs. Dimwitty | TV movie |
1999 | Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | Motel Manager | Episode: "Get Your Kicks at Motel 66" |
2000 | Who's Watching Who? | Starring | TV movie |