Amy Steel Pulitzer is an American actress and psychologist. She began her career with guest appearances on a variety of television soap operas. Transitioning into feature films, Steel rose to prominence when she was chosen to play the role of Ginny Field in Steve Miner's slasher-horror film Friday the 13th Part 2. A commercial hit, Steel was asked by Miner to reprise her role as Ginny in the 1982 3D filmFriday the 13th Part III but declined the offer as she feared being typecast. After her involvement in the Friday the 13th franchise, she was cast as a prominent supporting character in Fred Walton's mystery filmApril Fool's Day. Subsequently, Steel had supporting roles in Melvin Frank's comedy film Walk Like a Man, David Greene's remake What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, and the Bart Mastronardi and Alan Rowe Kelly directed anthology horror filmTales of Poe. In addition to film, Steel has an extensive television career, starring on the NBCseriesThe Powers of Matthew Star, followed by guest appearances on shows such as Family Ties, The A-Team, Quantum Leap, and China Beach. In the early 2000s, she retired from acting and launched a career as a psychologist.
Career
Steel began her career with guest roles on the CBSsoap operaGuiding Light as Trudy Wilson from 1980–1981, and as Peggy Warner on All My Children in 1980. In 1981, Amy made her film debut in the comedy film Fat Chance before being cast as Ginny Field in the horror film Friday the 13th Part 2. She won the role through an audition and it went on to become one of her most recognizable performances. The film earned over $21 million at the box office. She was offered the chance to reprise the role for the third film in the long-running series, but was hesitant because she feared being typecast and was persuaded to turn it down by her agent at the time. However, she does make a brief cameo appearance on a news report shown in the film. Steel described filming the window scene in Part 2 as a stressful experience. In a March 2010 interview, she stated: In 1982, Steel had guest roles on the television series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers as Allison Freleng, Family Ties as Stephanie Brooks, CHiPs as Kelly Monahan, The A-Team as Kathy Ludlam, before being cast as Pam Elliott in the sci-fi series The Powers of Matthew Star alongside Peter Barton, who went on to appear in '. The series lasted until 1983. The same year, Steel had a cameo role as a party guest in the drama film Exposed. She was subsequently cast in the television films Women of San Quentin as Liz Larson and First Steps as Nan Davis. From 1983–1984, Steel portrayed Sharon on the short lived television series For Love and Honor. In 1985, she had a guest appearance in Stir Crazy as Lisa Grant before being cast as Kit Graham in the horror film April Fool's Day. The latter earned nearly $13 million against an estimated budget of $5 million. The following year, she portrayed Penny in the comedy film Walk Like a Man. The following year, Steel was cast in the television thriller filmThe Red Spider. In 1987, and again in 1989, Steel a guest roles in Jake and the Fatman. In 1990, Steel guest starred on Father Dowling Mysteries and Quantum Leap before being cast as Connie in the television filmWhat Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, a remake of the 1962 film of the same name. The same year, she guest starred on China Beach and Walter & Emily. In 1992, Steel was cast in the television film Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo. The same year, she was cast in the horror film Play Nice. In 1994, Steel guest starred on Viper, Home Improvement and ' before being cast in the television films Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice and The Innocent. In 1995, she was cast in the television series The Commish and the television film Damaged and Deceived. In 1996, she guest starred on American Gothic and Chicago Hope. The following year, she portrayed Dr. Liz Michaels in an episode of Millennium. In 1999, Steel was cast in the films Valerie Flake and Tycus. The following year, she portrayed Commander Samantha Woodling in a guest appearance on JAG. In 2003, Steel was cast as Claire Goodman Isenberg in the television film A Time to Remember. After this role, Steel took an extensive break from acting and became a psychotherapist. In 2009, Steel appeared as herself in the television documentary His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th. In 2013, she appeared as herself in the documentary Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th. In 2014, Steel made her first acting appearance in 11 years in the anthology horror film Tales of Poe. She starred alongside Adrienne King and Caroline Williams. Steel is set to reprise her role as Ginny in a short Friday the 13th sequel set 40 years after the original film. She is co-writing the film with King.
Personal life
During the filming of the 1985 television film First Steps, Steel developed a friendship with Nan Davis. In an interview, Steel said: In 1986 she married Peter Pulitzer. She has two daughters. She serves as a marriage and family therapist intern at InBalance in the Santa Monica Mountains in California. She also has a private practice in Calabasas, California specializing in adolescent and mid-life transitions.
