Known for Acting
Jill Marie Schoelen (born March 21, 1963) is an American actress. A more unconventional husky-voiced "scream queen" heroine of the 1980s was Jill Schoelen, daughter of well-known fashion designer Dorothy Schoelen. Born and raised in Burbank, she studied at the Acting for Life Theatre in Burbank and started off on TV as a teen in the Fame-influenced TV pilot called Best of Times (1981) (TV) starring the up-and-coming Nicolas Cage and Crispin Glover. She gained in experience with a number of innocuous films geared mostly toward the young, including D.C. Cab (1983), Thunder Alley (1985) and Hot Moves (1984). The dark-eyed, black-haired pretty with the trademark bangs wouldn't find her horror niche until hooking up with Wes Craven and his TV movie Chiller (1985) (TV). From there she scored big with the cult shocker The Stepfather (1987) wherein she played the resourceful stepdaughter terrorized by the lecherous, meek-appearing Terry O'Quinn as the title monster. The sleeper hit put Jill on the map with a seemingly solid future, continuing on with The Phantom of the Opera (1989), this time keeping company opposite Freddy Krueger inhabiter Robert Englund as her deranged pursuer. But a few bumps in the road with such lowgrade fodder as Curse II: The Bite (1989), Cutting Class (1989) and Popcorn (1991) put a permanent damper on her career, despite coming back with a bit of grit in the thriller TV movie When a Stranger Calls Back (1993) (TV). Her object-of-a-stalker days behind her after filming Not Again! (1996), she settled comfortably back and raised two children with husband/musician/composer Anthony Marinelli.
Born
March 21, 1963 (age 63)
Birthplace
Burbank, California, USA
Filmography
29 films, 9 shows


Ralph's Perfekt Christmas
2025 · 1h 59m
country: United States
Ralph hatches a crazy scheme to win his family back and have his perfect family Christmas - but something is definitely a bit OFF this holiday season as things take a spiraling wrong turn.


In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994
2024 · 6h 2m
country: United States
Film icons and genre experts share observations, experiences, and analysis to help reframe, deconstruct, and re-contextualize the "lost" decade of horror: the '90s.


Stereo-Vision
2024 · 12m
country: Unknown
After her abusive Mom suffers a debilitating stroke, Alexis Barrows finds a mysterious childhood toy in her house that offers a euphoric escape with a hefty price.


Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story
2022 · 2h 10m
country: United Kingdom
Robert Englund has become one of the most revolutionary horror icons of our generation. This intimate portrait captures the man behind the Nightmare On Elm Street franchise and features interviews with Englund, Lin Shaye, Eli Roth, Tony Todd and more.


A Taboo Identity
2017 · 1h 4m
country: United States
Sociologist David W. Wahl explores the identity work involved in Kay Parker shifting from being a legend of the adult film industry to her current occupation as a metaphysical counselor.


Midnight Madness: The Making of "Popcorn"
2017 · 57m
country: United States
An extensive, all-encompassing documentary that covers all aspects of the production including the more troubled aspects like the exiting of original director Alan Ormsby and the original lead Amy O'Neill who was replaced by then up and coming scream queen Jill Schoelen.


Behind the Mask: The Making of The Phantom of the Opera
2015 · 38m
country: United States
Behind the scenes feature for 'The Phantom of the Opera' (1989). Included on the Shout! Factory blu-ray.


Not Again!
1996 · 1h 31m
country: United States
Angie, a befuddled young woman, cannot seem to end a hectic day, when she's confronted by her ex, Jamie. Whisked about town on a whirlwind date, Jamie falls for Angie again, but she resists. Unfortunately, her roommate, Rita, does not and falls for Jamie anyway. It all explodes at a party attended by all and with the additions of ex girls and guys everywhere.


There Goes My Baby
1994 · 1h 39m
country: United States
It's the summer of 1965, and the members of the graduating class of upscale Westwood High are eager to reinvent themselves. Valedictorian Mary Beth wants to attend a liberal university. Surfer bum Stick plans to enlist to fight in Vietnam. Calvin lives in the poor Watts section of Los Angeles, which is slowly erupting in violence. As the summer nights grow long, they'll all be forced to make decisions that will affect the rest of their lives.


Triumph Over Disaster: The Hurricane Andrew Story
1993 · 1h 30m
country: United States
Relationship problems between a father and son are intensified by Hurricane Andrew.


When a Stranger Calls Back
1993 · 1h 34m
country: Canada
Jill Johnson, now a crisis center counselor, reunites with retired detective John Clifford to hunt a killer stalking a coed.


Adventures in Spying
1992 · 1h 32m
country: United States
Two teens spot a notorious criminal who is supposed to be dead.


State Of Mind
1992 · 1h 33m
country: Netherlands
A couple falls into the clutches of a female psychopath.


Rich Girl
1991 · 1h 36m
country: United States
A rich Beverly Hills girl gets a job as a waitress, and falls in love with a rock singer.


Popcorn
1991 · 1h 31m
country: Canada
While holding a horror film festival, a group of students are stalked by a madman who may have a sinister connection to a cult leader.


The Phantom of the Opera
1989 · 1h 33m
country: United States
An aspiring opera singer finds herself transported back to Victorian-era London -- and into the arms of a reclusive, disfigured maestro determined to make her a star.


Curse II: The Bite
1989 · 1h 38m
country: Italy
After a young man is bitten on the hand by a radioactive snake, his hand changes into a lethal snake head, which attacks everyone he comes into contact with. Also, his body becomes filled with snakes. Now, he must prevent himself from hurting others.


Cutting Class
1989 · 1h 31m
country: United States
High school student Paula Carson's affections are being sought after by two of her classmates: Dwight, the "bad boy", and Brian, a disturbed young man who has just been released from a mental hospital where he was committed following the suspicious death of his father. Soon after being released, more murders start happening. Is Brian back to his old tricks, or is Dwight just trying to eliminate the competition?


The Stepfather
1987 · 1h 29m
country: United States
Seemingly mild-mannered Henry Morrison has just murdered his entire family. After adopting a new identity and skipping town, he begins building a new relationship with a widow and her teenage daughter. However, he soon begins struggling to hide his true identity and maintain a grip on reality.


Babes in Toyland
1986 · 1h 35m
country: Germany
11-year-old Lisa has no time for toys; she's too busy taking care of her siblings and cooking for her mother. During the Christmas Eve blizzard, Lisa travels to Toyland in Wizard of Oz-like fashion and arrives just in time for a wedding. Young Mary Contrary is about to marry mean, old Barnaby Barnacle, despite the fact that she loves Jack Be Nimble. Lisa tries to stop this terrible wedding and, together with her new friends, discovers that Barnaby wants to take over Toyland. Lisa, Mary, Jack, and Georgie Porgie ask the Toymaster for help, but he can't help them as long as Lisa doesn't truly believe in toys.


Shattered Spirits
1986 · 1h 33m
country: United States
When his drinking problem takes control of his life, a father tries to leave the bottle behind while putting his and his family's lives back together.


That Was Then... This Is Now
1985 · 1h 42m
country: United States
A delinquent teenager's only link to society is the attachment he feels towards an older brother-figure. When the older boy starts spending time with a new girlfriend, the teenager begins to feel even more alienated, and gets involved with drugs and the police.


Thunder Alley
1985 · 1h 51m
country: United States
A group of friends start a rock band, but as they start their rise in the music world, they get mixed up with drugs.


Chiller
1985 · 1h 40m
country: United States
A wealthy industrialist arranges for his body to be kept on ice in a high-tech cryonic chamber. When the instructions are not followed properly, he emerges from the frozen crypt as an empty, soulless creature with an appetite for destruction.


Hot Moves
1984 · 1h 25m
country: United States
Four friends, annoyed at how almost everyone else they know is having sex but them, agree to do what they can to help each other lose their virginity before the end of the summer. Most of their opportunities are foiled by their inexperience and bad planning. Michael, the most sensible boy of the foursome, really just wants to stay with his long-time girlfriend and take their relationship to an intimate level, but after putting him off for six months he grows impatient and splits up with her to seek his fortune elsewhere.


Happy Endings
1983 · 1h 40m
country: Unknown
A teenager postpones his determination to become a songwriter so that he can keep his younger brother and two sisters together as a family following the death of their parents.


D.C. Cab
1983 · 1h 40m
country: Unknown
The tale of a hapless group of cabbies and a rundown cab company owned by Harold. Albert comes to town with a dream of starting his own cab company but needs to motivate Harold's employees to want to make something out of themselves. It is only when Albert is kidnapped that the cabbies must decide whether or not they are loyal to Albert and his cause.


Great Day
1983 · 30m
country: United States
When a neighborhood is plagued by break-ins, a family looks to burglar-proof their house. Dead bolts aren't enough, so the father (Tim Conway) has to ratchet things up. Comic situations ensue.


The Best of Times
1981 · 48m
country: United States
This ABC pilot starred seven teenagers in an '80s-style laugh-in. It told the light and dark side of teenage thoughts with dancing and singing added in for color.