Biography for
Betsy Palmer More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

1 November 1926, East Chicago, Indiana, USA

Birth Name

Patricia Betsy Hrunek

Height

5' 7" (1.70 m)

Mini Biography

Betsy Palmer is probably best known for playing Jason Voorhees' mother in Friday the 13th (1980), but her career as an actress began many years before. Palmer was encouraged to play a young female officer co-starring with Jack Lemmon in Mister Roberts (1955) and in another war film the same year The Long Gray Line (1955). Throughout the late fifties, Palmer was recognized as a news reporter on "The Today Show on NBC" then became largely involved in television; from then on she remained in made for TV films and notable guest appearances, and then appearing in the 1980 hit horror film, Friday the 13th (1980), but continued on with television. Her film The Fear: Resurrection (1999) didn't make much impact. Palmer today often spends her time at her home in Indiana. She apparently was offered the role of Jason Voorhees' mother in Jason X (2001) year, but turned it down and said to use her original footage from Friday the 13th (1980).

IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous

Spouse

Dr. Vincent J. Marandino

(8 May 1954 - 1971) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

Daughter, Missy, who was born in the autumn of 1962. Betsy's husband was a practicing pediatrician.

Was asked to reprise her role of Mrs. Pamela Voorhees in Freddy vs. Jason (2003) but turned it down due to the low salary offered. The role went to Paula Shaw.

Stated that she never would have played the role of Mrs. Pamela Voorhees in Friday the 13th (1980) if it weren't for the fact that she was in desperate need of a new car. In fact after she read the script she called the film, "A piece of shit!"

2006 Best Actress Winner: Terror Film Festival for "Penny Dreadful".

The first name of her daughter, Missy, was Melissa.

Was once a chauffeur for the actress Maidie Christian.

Betsy was once a professional secretary.

Lived with James Dean for eight months.

She was nominated for a 1974 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Guest Artist for her performance in William Inge's play, "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs," at the Ivanhoe Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

Salary

Friday the 13th (1980)

$10,000 ($1,000/day)

Where Are They Now

(July 2003) Spending time between her home in New York City and Sedona, Arizona.

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