Mary Woronov | |
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Born | Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. | December 8, 1943
Other names | Mary Whitehead |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1966–present |
Spouses | Theodore Gershuny (m. 1970;div. 1973)Fred Whitehead (m. 1976,divorced) |
Mary Woronov (born December 8, 1943) [1] [2] is an American actress, writer, 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 and on stage at Lincoln Center and off-Broadway productions as well as numerous times 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 playing a married couple.
Woronov was born December 8, 1943, in the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, [lower-alpha 1] while it was temporarily operating as the Ream General Hospital during World War II. [5] Woronov was born premature and doctors initially did not believe she would survive infancy. [4] At a young age, she relocated with her mother to Brooklyn Heights in New York City, where her mother married Victor D. Woronov, a Jewish cancer surgeon in 1949; they settled as a family and her stepfather legally adopted her. [1] [6] She has one younger half-brother, Victor, who was born on her eighth birthday. [1]
Woronov studied art and sculpting at Cornell University, where she met and befriended artist Gerard Malanga in 1963. [2] [7]
Through her friendship with Gerard Malanga, Woronov became involved with Andy Warhol's art studio, The Factory, in New York City. She appeared in numerous films for Warhol, becoming a Warhol superstar in the 1960s. [7] She danced with Exploding Plastic Inevitable , Warhol's multimedia presentation of The Velvet Underground, and played Hanoi Hannah in Chelsea Girls , the 1966 experimental underground film directed by 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. [Warhol] put me in his Screen Tests and I spent my nights at Max's Kansas City. ... I was the strong girl at the Factory." [8] Further reflecting on her working relationship with Warhol, she commented in 2018: "I have a very dark side, I can’t help it, but to me that period was wine and roses. It was darkness with pinpoints of light. My connection with Warhol was sort of like Lancelot’s connection to King Arthur". [7]
Between 1970 and 1972, Woronov starred in several films by her then-husband, Theodore Gershuny: Kemek (1970) Sugar Cookies (1973); and the slasher film Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972).
In 1973, Woronov was cast as understudy to Julie Newmar in the role of Susan in the Broadway production of David Rabe's play Boom Boom Room . Newmar was fired during rehearsals and Woronov took over the role, [9] eventually earning a Theatre World Award for her performance. The production played November 8 - December 9, 1973, at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater. [10]
Woronov's had a leading role in the Roger Corman-produced cult film Death Race 2000 (1975), followed by the Corman-produced Hollywood Boulevard (1976), directed by Alan Arkush and Joe Dante. [11]
Woronov relocated from New York to Los Angeles in 1979, [2] appearing in Rock 'n' Roll High School the same year. Her breakthrough role came in Paul Bartel's black comedy Eating Raoul (1982), in which she portrayed the wife of a Los Angeles want-to-be-restaurant owner (also played by Bartel), both of whom resort to robbing and murdering swingers to support their business ambitions.
She subsequently had roles in numerous films including Blood Theatre (1984), Night of the Comet (1984), Chopping Mall and Nomads (1986). She became a fan of the Los Angeles punk music scene, and made an appearance with actor Jack Nance in the Suicidal Tendencies music video "Institutionalized" (1983); the two portrayed the protagonist's parents in the video. [12] She later reprised this character in the band's music video for the song "Possessed To Skate" (1987).
Subsequent film roles include in Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989), Dick Tracy (1990), and Where Sleeping Dogs Lie (1991). On television, Woronov made guest appearances on numerous series in the 1980s, such as Logan's Run, 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 .
In 1991, Woronov reprised her role from Rock 'n' Roll High School in the sequel Rock 'n' Roll High School Forever . In 1995, she had a supporting role in the independent comedy film Glory Daze .
She later had roles in the animated Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), [13] Rob Zombie's horror film The Devil's Rejects (2005), Ti West's supernatural horror film The House of the Devil (2009), and the black comedy splatter film All About Evil (2010). [14]
She appeared in Barneys New York fall 2014 advertising campaign, "L.A. Stories," shot by Bruce Weber. [8]
Woronov has worked as a painter since her relocation to California in 1979. [2] [15] She has cited painter Francis Bacon as an influence on her artwork. [15]
In February 2022, she held a retrospective exhibition, The Story of the Red Shoe, at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. [16]
In 1995, Woronov published the memoir Swimming Underground: My Years in the Warhol Factory, reflecting on her time as part of Andy Warhol's Factory. [17] She published her first novel, Snake, in 2000. [18] She subsequently published a short story collection in 2004 entitled Blind Love. [19]
Woronov married producer/director Theodore Gershuny in 1970, completing three films with him –Kemek (1970), Sugar Cookies (1973), and Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972) –before their divorce in 1973. She then married producer Fred Whitehead in 1976, later divorcing. [6] She has resided in Los Angeles, California since 1979. [2]
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 | The Beard | Jean Harlow | |
1966 | Since | John F. Kennedy | |
1967 | Four Stars | ||
1970 | Kemek | Mary Wonderly | |
1972 | Silent Night, Bloody Night | Diane Adams | |
1973 | Sugar Cookies | Camilla Stone | |
1974 | Seizure | Mikki Hughes | |
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 | The One and Only | Arlene | |
1979 | The 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 | Dr. Nicole Dunning | |
1984 | Night of the Comet | Audrey White | |
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 | The Living End | Daisy | |
1993 | Good Girls Don't | Wilamena LaRue | |
1993 | Grief | Attorney | |
1995 | Number One Fan | Wedding Coordinator | |
1995 | Glory Daze | Vicki | |
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 | The Vampire Hunters Club | Receptionist | Video short |
2001 | The 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 | The Halfway House | Sister Cecelia | |
2004 | Frog-g-g! | Doctor | |
2004 | I Pass for Human | Dr. Larraz | |
2005 | The Devil's Rejects | Abbie | |
2009 | The 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 | |
2016 | Snowbird | Today Theo | Short film |
2016 | A Flock of Birds | Ferida | Short film |
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 | Hart to Hart | Clavell | Episode: "The Dog Who Knew Too Much" |
1984 | The Princess Who Had Never Laughed | Governess | TV movie |
1985 | Challenge of a Lifetime | Mary Garritee | TV movie |
1985 | A Bunny's Tale | Miss Renfro | TV movie |
1985 | Knight Rider | Dr. Von Furst | Episode: "Knight of the Juggernaut: Part 1" Episode: "Knight of the Juggernaut: Part 2" |
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 | The 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 |
2019 | Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein | Nancy Erlich | Netflix short |
Julie Newmar is an American actress, dancer, and singer known for a variety of stage, screen, and television roles. She is also a writer, lingerie designer, and real estate mogul. She won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role as Katrin Sveg in the 1958 Broadway production of The Marriage-Go-Round, and reprised the role in the 1961 film version. In the 1960s she starred for two seasons as Catwoman in the television series Batman (1966–1967). Her other stage credits include Ziegfeld Follies in 1956, Lola in Damn Yankees! in 1961, and Irma in Irma la Douce in 1965 in regional productions.
I Shot Andy Warhol is a 1996 biographical drama film about Valerie Solanas' life and her relationship with Andy Warhol. The film marked the feature film directorial debut of Canadian director Mary Harron. The film stars Lili Taylor as Valerie, Jared Harris as Andy Warhol, and Martha Plimpton as Valerie's friend Stevie. Stephen Dorff plays Warhol superstar Candy Darling. John Cale of The Velvet Underground wrote the film's score despite protests from former band member Lou Reed. Yo La Tengo plays an anonymous band that is somewhat reminiscent of the group.
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The Factory was Andy Warhol's studio in New York City, which had four locations between 1963 and 1987. The Factory became famed for its parties in the 1960s. It was the hip hangout spot for artists, musicians, celebrities and Warhol's superstars. The original Factory was often referred to as the Silver Factory. In the studio, Warhol's workers would make silkscreens and lithographs under his direction.
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Paul Bartel was an American actor, writer and director. He was perhaps most known for his 1982 hit black comedy Eating Raoul, which he co-wrote, starred in and directed.
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Hollywood Boulevard is a 1976 American satirical exploitation film directed by Allan Arkush and Joe Dante, and starring Candice Rialson, Paul Bartel, and Mary Woronov. It follows an aspiring actress who has just arrived in Los Angeles, only to be hired by a reckless B movie film studio where she bears witness to a series of gruesome and fatal on-set accidents. The film blends elements of the comedy, thriller, and slasher film genres.
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Tally Brown was an American singer and actress who was part of the New York underground performance scene, particularly Andy Warhol's "Factory" and who appeared in or was the subject of films by Andy Warhol and Rosa von Praunheim. She was born and died in New York City.
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The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart is a 1970 American film distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) about a confused college student's experiences with sex, relationships, and drugs in late 1960s New York City. Produced by Martin Poll and directed by Leonard J. Horn, the film was based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Robert T. Westbrook, who was also an associate producer of the film. It was the film debut of Don Johnson, who appeared in the title role.
The Garrick Cinema was a 199-seat movie house at 152 Bleecker Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. Andy Warhol debuted many of his notable films in this building in the late 1960s. Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention played here nightly for 6 months in 1967.
The 55th Street Playhouse—periodically referred to as the 55th Street Cinema and Europa Theatre—was a 253-seat movie house at 154 West 55th Street, Midtown Manhattan, New York City, that opened on May 20, 1927. Many classic art and foreign-language films, including those by Jean Cocteau, Sergei Eisenstein, Federico Fellini, Abel Gance, Fritz Lang, Josef Von Sternberg and Orson Welles, were featured at the theater. Later, Andy Warhol presented many of his notable films in this building in the late 1960s. Other notable films were also shown at the theater, including Boys in the Sand (1971) and Him (1974).