Linda Kerridge

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Linda Kerridge
Linda Kerridge 1982.jpg
Kerridge in 1982
Born (1954-11-18) 18 November 1954 (age 70)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active1974–1988
Spouse
(m. 19891992)

Linda Kerridge (born 18 November 1954) is an Australian former actress and model. She rose to fame for her impersonations of actress Marilyn Monroe. Her resemblance to the actress led to her casting in the horror film Fade to Black (1980), in which she played a Monroe-lookalike character.

Contents

Early life

Kerridge was born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, [1] and raised alongside her brother in Riverina on her parents' 5,000-acre (2,000 ha) sheep, cattle, and wheat farm. [2] [3] At age nineteen, she began working as a model in Hong Kong and the Philippines before moving to Paris. [3] She subsequently settled in London, where she lived for two years [4] studying art and continuing to work as a model. [5]

Career

After moving to Los Angeles, Kerridge was discovered by producers George G. Braunstein and Ron Hamady, who encountered her as she was walking on La Cienega Boulevard and noticed her striking resemblance to Marilyn Monroe. [6] They offered her a part in Fade to Black (1980), a psychological horror film in which she starred as a Monroe-lookalike character opposite Dennis Christopher. She posed as Monroe for a Playboy photoshoot in their December 1980 issue. [7] Kerridge likened her foray into acting as "falling into it by accident."

Kerridge's likeness to Monroe led to rampant interest from photographers and filmmakers who wanted to photograph and cast Kerridge as lookalike characters. [6] She would appear as a Monroe double once more in Urs Egger's Go West, Young Man (1980).

In 1983, Kerridge had a supporting role in the drama Strangers Kiss , followed by a lead role in the comedy Surf II (1984). The same year, she appeared in Paul Morrissey's crime-drama Mixed Blood , a film about Brazilian drug dealers in Manhattan's Lower East Side. [8] She later appeared in the sci-fi horror film Vicious Lips (1986), followed by a lead role in the thriller Down Twisted (1987). Kerridge's last film role was a supporting part in the comedy Alien from L.A. (1988).

Personal life

Kerridge was married to actor Corey Parker from 1989 until 1992. They have one child. [6]

In a 2016 interview, Kerridge said that she lived in the Blue Mountains region of Australia. [6]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980 Fade to Black Marilyn O'Connor
1980Go West, Young ManMonroe Double
1983 Strangers Kiss Shirley
1984 Surf II Sparkle
1984 Mixed Blood Cheryl
1986Vicious Lips Wynzi Krodo
1987 Down Twisted Soames
1988 Alien from L.A. Roeyis Freki / Auntie Pearl

References

  1. "Clone for Marilyn". The Sydney Morning Herald . 14 June 1981. p. 15 via Newspapers.com.
  2. Wiles, Jo (2 November 1978). "The Monroe mould". The Age via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 Kleiner, Dick (7 December 1980). "Marilyn Monroe look-alike believes in reincarnation". Abilene Reporter-News . p. 5-E via Newspapers.com.
  4. Mann, Roderick (14 October 1980). "Some Like It Marilynish". Los Angeles Times . p. 6 via Newspapers.com.
  5. Keady, Patrick (11 March 1981). "Linda Kerridge anxious to break from Monroe image". Tampa Bay Times . p. 62 via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "An Intimate Portrait of Linda Kerridge". Immortal Marilyn. 20 March 2016. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  7. "Linda Kerridge on Playboy". Playboy. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  8. Bleiller 2001, p. 382.

Bibliography