Maggie Castle

Last updated
Maggie Castle
Born (1983-08-07) August 7, 1983 (age 41)
Montreal, Quebec
NationalityCanadian
Occupation Actress
Years active1990–present
Family Aimée Castle (sister)

Maggie Castle (born August 7, 1983) is a Canadian actress [1] [2] best known for her role as Jenny Kolinsky in cult horror comedy series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil . [3] She was also the little girl, Amy Kramer, that battles the evil ventriloquist's dummy Slappy in the Goosebumps television series and voiced Molly MacDonald in the animated series Arthur . [4] She's appeared in various other series such as Vampire High , The Grid and Beach Girls . Film roles include Weirdsville , Hank and Mike , The Time Traveler's Wife and Tumbledown .

Contents

Early life

Maggie Castle was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. [5] She studied radio and television production at Ryerson University. [6] Castle's older sister is actress Aimée Castle, both appeared in Big Wolf on Campus .

Career

Film

Castle made her film debut as a child actor in a small role in Vincent and Me (1990) (original title Vincent et moi).

Castle had a role in The 1997 thriller The Jackal , as the terrified child Maggie held at gun point by the film's titular assassin (Bruce Willis) in his climatic subway showdown with Declan Mulqueen (Richard Gere). [7]

Released in 2006 was comedy drama The House with Castle playing Cindy, a member of a group of outcasts & misfits squatting in an old house. Directed by David Krae, shot in Toronto and Hamilton. [8] [9]

Weirdsville (2007) has Castle playing Treena, a member of a satanic cult that menaces the stoner protagonists of the dark comedy drama. [10] Her and Greg Bryk's devil worshiping characters were noted as a standouts among the supporting cast in reviews. [11] [12] Supernatural slasher Dead Mary (2007), Castle plays Lily the younger girlfriend of one of a group of former college friends that reunite to spend a weekend at a lakeside cabin. When some of the party unintentionally summon the spirit of a witch by reciting her name three times in front of a mirror, possession and terror ensue. [13] In the comedy horror film The Mad (2007) Castle plays Amy Hunt who's traveling with her father on a road trip when they encounter locals poisoned by tainted beef that causes an outbreak of zombie like symptoms in those infected. [14]

2008's surreal comedy Hank and Mike followed the struggles of two Easter Bunnies after they are fired from their jobs, one of whom (Mike played by Paolo Mancini) has a crush on their co-worker Lena played by Castle. Though Mike is socially awkward and his fumbling attempts at a relationship with Lena are initially disastrous. [15]

2009's romantic science fiction drama The Time Traveler's Wife Castle played Alicia Abshire the sister of Clare Abshire (played by Rachel McAdams).

After a successful Indiegogo campaign [16] an animated feature film Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the End (2017) was created with Castle and her fellow cast-mates all returning to provide the voices. [17] The animated feature provides a sort of third season the series never got and an ending to the cliffhanger it had gone out on. [18]

Television

In the Goosebumps season one episode "Night of the Living Dummy II" (1996) she plays Amy Kramer, a young girl gifted a ventriloquist's dummy by her father. [19] The doll, called Slappy, turns out to have a life of its own with evil intent and initial pranks escalate into it terrorising Amy and her family. [20]

From 1997 to 2018 Castle provided the voice for tough, cut-off jean jacket wearing fourth grader Molly MacDonald on children's animated series Arthur .

2010 would see Castle in the role she is best known for, that of tough high schooler Jenny Kolinsky who, together with her three friends, fights supernatural evil in the cult horror comedy series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil . [21] Castle was initially hesitant to audition for the role of Jenny Kolinsky when the series was casting because she was reluctant to play a high schooler while being in her twenties at the time, her initial indifference at the audition actually helped as it fit Jenny's character. [22] Castle would return the next year when the show was renewed for a second season. [23] [24] In Disney Channel's romantic comedy Starstruck (2010) Castle plays Sara Olson, an obsessed fan of a teen pop idol Christopher Wilde (Sterling Knight), who drags her uninterested little sister Jessica Olson (Danielle Campbell) along to gatecrash a performance by him. This leads the younger sister and pop idol to cross paths and spend time with each other, eventually falling in love. [25] [26]

In the 2013 made for TV disaster movie Blast Vegas (AKA Destruction: Las Vegas [27] ) Castle played Olive who, together with Nelson (Frankie Muniz), find themselves fighting an ancient curse that's threatening to engulf Las Vegas in a destructive sandstorm. [28]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990 Vincent and Me Crystal Tetley Jo's Sister
1993 Because Why [29] Jackie
1995 Kids of the Round Table Jenny
1996 How the Toys Saved Christmas Polly (English version, voice)Animated film
1997 The Jackal Maggie
1998 Nico the Unicorn Susie
1999 Babel Amanda
2002Edgar and JaneJane [30] Short film
2002 Arthur: It's Only Rock 'n' Roll Molly MacDonald (voice)Animated film
2003Fast Food HighMaya
2005 The Perfect Man Wichita Girl
2006 The Woods Tracy
2006The HouseCindy
2007 Weirdsville Treena
2007 Dead Mary Lily
2007 The Mad Amy Hunt
2007 I'm Not There Another Girl
2008 Hank and Mike Lena
2009 The Time Traveler's Wife Alicia Abshire
2010 Flying Lessons Shelly
2015 Tumbledown Shannon [31]
2017 Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: The End of the End Jenny Kolinsky (voice)Animated film
2017 Stronger Mom at Fenway
2017 Professor Marston and the Wonder Women Dorothy Roubicek
2018 Super Troopers 2 Cassandra Anne Gacek
2018 American Woman Brett's Wife [32]
2023Sole SuspectAbby O'NeillShort film, also Director and co-writer [33]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992 Heritage Minutes Girl [34] Season 2, episode 7: "Saguenay Fire"
1994Tales of the Wild (Original title Aventures dans le Grand Nord)Episode: "L'honneur des grandes neiges"
1994 Million Dollar Babies Therese Dionne, 10 yrs.TV mini series, 2 episodes
1996 Goosebumps Amy KramerSeason 1, episode 10: "Night of the Living Dummy II"
1997–2018 Arthur Molly MacDonald Animated TV series, 27 episodes
1998 The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo JosieSeason 4, episode 4: "The Itchy Shorts Mystery"
2000 Are You Afraid of the Dark? SandraSeason 7, episode 4: "The Tale of the Stone Maiden"
2000 Big Wolf on Campus ToriSeason 2, episode 7: "Fear and Loathing in Pleasantville"
2000Jackie Bouvier Kennedy OnassisCaroline Kennedy, ages 15 & 16TV movie
2001 Vampire High SamanthaSeason 1, episode 2: "There's a New Vampire in Town"
2003 Starhunter Taryn OrfordSeason 2, episode 3: "Bio Crime"
2004 The Grid CathyTV mini series, 5 episodes
2005 Beach Girls Young StevieTV mini series, 6 episodes
2006Flirting with DangerJane HeatonTV movie
2006Between Truth and LiesEmily ParkerTV movie
2010 StarStruck Sara OlsonTV movie
2010–2012 Todd and the Book of Pure Evil Jenny Kolinsky
2013 Blast Vegas AKA Destruction: Las VegasOliveTV movie
2015 Saving Hope RuthSeason 3, episode 14: "Trading Places"
2015Broad SquadAngelaTV movie

Awards and nominations

Castle together with her fellow lead cast members of Todd and the Book of Pure Evil were nominated [35] for Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series for the highly rated [36] musical episode "The Phantom of Crowley High" at the 2011 Gemini Awards, which they went on to win. [37] [38]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. L. Stine</span> American writer and producer (born 1943)

Robert Lawrence Stine, known by his pen name R.L. Stine, is an American novelist. He is the writer of Goosebumps, a horror fiction novel series which has sold over 400 million copies globally in 35 languages, becoming the second-best-selling book series in history. The series spawned a media franchise including two television series, a video game series, a comic series, and two feature films. Stine has been referred to as the "Stephen King of children's literature".

<i>Goosebumps</i> Series of childrens horror novels by R. L. Stine

Goosebumps is a series of children's horror novels written by American author R. L. Stine. The protagonists in these stories are teens or pre-teens who find themselves in frightening circumstances, often involving the supernatural, the paranormal or the occult. Between 1992 and 1997, sixty-two books were published under the Goosebumps umbrella title. R. L. Stine also wrote various spin-off series, including, Goosebumps Series 2000, Give Yourself Goosebumps, Tales to Give You Goosebumps, Goosebumps Triple Header, Goosebumps HorrorLand, Goosebumps Most Wanted and Goosebumps SlappyWorld. Additionally, there was a series called Goosebumps Gold that was never released.

<i>Monster House</i> (film) 2006 American film by Gil Kenan

Monster House is a 2006 American animated supernatural horror comedy film directed by Gil Kenan in his directorial debut, from a screenplay written by Pamela Pettler and the writing team of Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab. The plot revolves around a neighborhood being terrorized by a sentient haunted house during Halloween. The film features the voices of Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner, Spencer Locke, Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kevin James, Nick Cannon, Jason Lee, Fred Willard, Jon Heder, Catherine O'Hara, and Kathleen Turner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melanie Leishman</span> Canadian actress (born 1989)

Melanie Leishman is a Canadian actress. She is best known for portraying bespectacled Hannah B. Williams, one of the main characters on the cult horror/comedy television series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil. Before that, she had a recurring role on Darcy's Wild Life as Kathi Giraldi and comedy series House Party (2008) as desperate to be popular Mandy. Other TV credits include Being Erica, Republic of Doyle and Murdoch Mysteries. She has also voiced several animated roles in series such as Detentionaire, Grojband and the Total Drama Island reboot where she voices Emma. Film roles include musical/slasher Stage Fright (2014) as Liz Silver, comedy-drama The Exchange (2021) as Diane and Christmas romantic-comedy Single All the Way (2021) as Ashleigh.

Alexander Charles Albert House is a Canadian actor best known for his Gemini Award winning role in the television series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Leavins</span> Canadian actor, playwright, author (born 1968)

Chris Leavins is a Canadian actor and writer based in Los Angeles. Known for playing Atticus Murphy, Jr. the malevolent school guidance counselor on cult TV series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil. He has appeared in a number of successful Canadian television shows, been nominated for two Gemini Awards and shared in a Gemini Award for Ensemble Performance win. He also created and hosted satirical internet show, Cute With Chris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slappy the Dummy</span> Villain in the Goosebumps book series

Slappy the Dummy is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the Goosebumps children's series by R. L. Stine. He is the main antagonist of the Night of the Living Dummy saga and one of the series' most popular villains, as well as its mascot. He is also the main antagonist of the franchise's film adaptation and its sequel, described by their interpretation of Stine as having a "serious Napoleonic complex" in the former. He comes alive when the words, "Karru Marri Odonna Loma Molonu Karrano," which roughly translates to "You and I are one now" and can be found on a sheet of paper in the coat pocket of Slappy's jacket, are read aloud. After being brought to life, Slappy will try to make the person who did so serve him as a slave, to the point of framing them for his evil deeds.

<i>Dead Mary</i> 2007 Canada/United States film

Dead Mary is a 2007 supernatural slasher film from 235 Films starring Dominique Swain as Kim, about friends who gather at a cabin for a weekend and inadvertently summon an evil witch by reciting her name three times in front of a mirror as part of a game.

Goosebumps HorrorLand is a horror novella series by R.L. Stine, a spin-off of his popular Goosebumps books. There was an almost ten-year gap between the publication of the initial installment in the Goosebumps Horrorland.

<i>Goosebumps</i> (film) 2015 American film by Rob Letterman

Goosebumps is a 2015 American horror comedy film directed by Rob Letterman and written by Darren Lemke, based on R. L. Stine's children's horror book series of the same name. The film stars Jack Black as a fictionalized version of Stine, who teams up with his neighbor and his teenage daughter, to save their hometown after all the monsters from the Goosebumps franchise escape from his works, wreaking havoc in the real world. It also stars Amy Ryan, Ryan Lee and Jillian Bell in supporting roles.

<i>Todd and the Book of Pure Evil</i> 2010 Canadian TV series or program

Todd and the Book of Pure Evil was a Canadian black comedy horror television series that follows a group of high school students who confront the effects of a demonic book. The series premiered on Space on September 29, 2010, with two back-to-back episodes. The series was created for television by Craig David Wallace, Charles Picco, and Anthony Leo.

Annick Obonsawin is a First Nations Abenaki Canadian actress.

Goosebumps video games are a series of action-adventure games based on Goosebumps book series.

<i>Tumbledown</i> (2015 film) 2015 American film

Tumbledown is a 2015 American romantic comedy film directed by Sean Mewshaw, written by Desiree Van Til, and starring Rebecca Hall, Jason Sudeikis, Dianna Agron and Joe Manganiello. It was released on February 5, 2016 by Starz Digital.

<i>Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween</i> 2018 film by Ari Sandel

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is a 2018 American horror comedy film directed by Ari Sandel and written by Rob Lieber from a story by Lieber and Darren Lemke. A stand-alone sequel to 2015's Goosebumps, it is based on the children's horror book series of the same name by R. L. Stine. The new cast consists of Wendi McLendon-Covey, Madison Iseman, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Caleel Harris, Chris Parnell, and Ken Jeong. The plot follows two young boys who accidentally release the monsters from the Goosebumps franchise in their town after opening an unpublished Goosebumps manuscript titled Haunted Halloween, causing a wave of destruction on Halloween night.

Goosebumps SlappyWorld is a series of Goosebumps books by author R. L. Stine.

<i>Goosebumps</i> (2023 TV series) 2023 American television series

Goosebumps is an American supernatural horror television series developed by Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller for Disney+ and Hulu. It is based on the book series by R. L. Stine. The series abandons the episodic anthology format of the 1995 original TV series to focus on a serialized-anthology style of storytelling instead, changing storylines from season to season instead of episode to episode while still featuring some of the existing Goosebumps monsters and items episodically.

Bill Turnbull is a Canadian actor best known for his role of Curtis Weaver in the cult horror-comedy television series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil. Other notable TV roles include live-action/animated sitcom The Stanley Dynamic as Doop, comedy-drama Being Erica as Dave, and as Trevor in satirical superhero series The Boys. Film appearances include True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet (2008), The Vow (2012), Cottage Country (2013), and Fatman (2020).

References

  1. Maggie Castle's bio at www.northernstars.ca, Archived via web.archive.org
  2. Maggie Castle at www.rottentomatoes.com
  3. "Dealing with the devil" by Randall King at www.winnipegfreepress.com
  4. Maggie Castle voice acting credits at www.behindthevoiceactors.com
  5. "Prom Queens" by Brenlee Coates, Sandbox magazine Summer 2010 issue, page 18
  6. "Canada's newest scream queen has braved zombies opposite Billy Zane and demonic possession alongside Dominique Swain" The city: [toronto edition]. (2007, Feb 27). National Post , Retrieved from ProQuest   330713699
  7. "Montreal metro action doesn’t save The Jackal" by Alex Rose at cultmtl.com
  8. The House synopsis & credits at www.avclub.com
  9. "Features - This old house" at playbackonline.ca
  10. "Slamdance unveils lineup" by Dave McNary at variety.com
  11. Weirdsville review by Joe Leydon at variety.com
  12. Weirdsville review by Stephen Farber at www.hollywoodreporter.com
  13. Dead Mary DVD Review by Eric Strauss at horrordna.com
  14. Mad, The (DVD) review by Johnny Butane at www.dreadcentral.com
  15. Hank and Mike review by Robert Koehler at variety.com
  16. "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil raises Indiegogo funds for animated movie" by Debra Yeo at www.thestar.com
  17. "Todd And The Book Of Pure Evil: The End Of The End Review – A Heavy Metal Massacre In Cartoon" by Matt Donato at www.dreadcentral.com
  18. "Why You Should Watch ‘Todd and the Book of Pure Evil’!" by Luiz H. C. at bloody-disgusting.com
  19. Goosebumps: episode 10: Night of the Living Dummy II synopsis & credits at www.radiotimes.com
  20. "Viewer Beware, You’re in for a Scare: Looking Back at the Goosebumps Television Series (1995-1998)" by Cody Noble at diaboliquemagazine.com
  21. "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil in production for Space" by Diane Wild at www.tv-eh.com
  22. "Retrospective Part Two: TODD & THE BOOK OF PURE EVIL" by Derek Anderson at dailydead.com (Originally appeared in the January 2015 issue of DEADLY Magazine)
  23. "Todd & The Book of Pure Evil season 2 in production" by Diane Wild at www.tv-eh.com
  24. "FEARnet Confirms a Second Season of Todd & the Book of Pure Evil" by Steve Barton at www.dreadcentral.com
  25. Starstruck review by Andrew Pragasam at thespinningimage.co.uk
  26. "On set with...the girls of StarStruck" by Patricia McNamara at www.girlslife.com
  27. "Destruction: Las Vegas Renamed Blast Vegas; Will Air on Syfy in July" by Steve Barton at www.dreadcentral.com
  28. "Look for Malcolm in the Middle of Destruction: Las Vegas" by Steve Barton at www.dreadcentral.com
  29. "Because why? answer is obvious; young montrealer Arto Paragamian redefines family in first feature" by John Griffin at The Gazette (Jan 29, 1994) Retrieved from ProQuest   432554671
  30. Edgar and Jane synopsis & credits at www.radiotimes.com
  31. Tumbledown review by Sheila O'Malley at www.rogerebert.com
  32. "Fierce Miller center stage in 'Woman'" by Chuck Koplinski, News Gazette (1 Aug, 2019) Retrieved from ProQuest   2268792741
  33. "LA’s Micheaux Film Festival Locks 2024 Edition With Projects Featuring Viola Davis, Michael Ealy, Morris Chestnut & Michael Gandolfini" by Zac Ntim at deadline.com
  34. Heritage Minutes "Saguenay Fire" at www.historicacanada.ca
  35. "Gemini nominations announced: Flashpoint leads, once again, and controversial Kennedys miniseries gets some nods" by Mishki Vaccaro at torontolife.com
  36. "10 Best “Todd and the Book of Pure Evil” Episodes!" by Matt Donato at bloody-disgusting.com
  37. "Todd and the Book of Pure Evil proves a screaming hit" by Bill Brioux at www.thestar.com
  38. "Awards database" www.academy.ca via web.archive.org