Nancy Anne Allen (born June 24, 1950) is a Golden Globe-nominated American actress and cancer activist.
She came to prominence for her performances in several films directed by Brian De Palma in the 1970s and early 1980s and in the horror business she is best known for her roles in the films Carrie (1976), and Dressed to Kill (1980).
Biography[]
Nancy Anne Allen was born in the Bronx borough of New York City on June 24, 1950 and is the youngest of three children of Eugene and Florence Allen. Her father was a police lieutenant in New York. Allen was raised on 196th Street in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx.
Nancy Allen began a dancing career at first as a child. Then she switched to an acting and modelling career as a child and from the mid-1970s appeared in small film roles.
A pivotal supporting role in the horror movie Carrie (1976) brought her recognition and, after marrying the director Brian De Palma, she appeared in several of his following films, including in the horror film Dressed to Kill (1980).
She also appeared in several science fiction movies. However she still continued appearing in horror movies like Poltergeist III (1988).
Horror filmography[]
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | Forced Entry | Hitchhiker | |
1976 | Carrie | Chris Hargensen | |
1980 | Dressed to Kill | Liz Blake | |
1981 | Blow Out | Sally Bedina | |
1988 | Poltergeist III | Patricia Wilson-Gardner | |
1999 | Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return | Rachel Colby | Direct-to-video |