Kimberly Beck, one of the few actresses in the Friday the 13th franchise who was just as famous before and after the movie was released. Kimberly was born in January of 1956 in the state of California. She has stated that she began acting at the very young age of two! For years she booked bit parts and uncredited roles in film and television titled before she landed a recurring role as Samantha on “General Hospital” in 1963. For years she stayed mostly on television, with guest appearances on “The Munsters” in 1965, “Peyton’s Place” in 1966, “I Dream of Jeannie” in 1966, and “The Brady Bunch” in 1973. However, once it was time for her to transition to the world of cinema, she took it by storm! Kimberly’s credits include a bit part in the Golden Globe Nominated Yours, Mine and Ours with Lucille Ball in 1968, her first horror AND lead role in Massacre at Central High (1976), a lead role in Zuma Beach (1978) with Suzanne Somers, and a lead in Roller Boogie (1979) with Linda Blair.
After being featured in an episode of “Webster” in 1983, Beck successfully booked the role of Trish in Friday the 13th Part 4: The Final Chapter. When a group of friends rent a lake-house near Camp Crystal Lake in 1984, Trish is the daughter of the homeowners. Her car breaks down midway through the movie, presumably stranding her and sentencing her to death. However, this was an oversight and Trish avoided most of the blood shed until she finally arrives home to find the place deserted. After two near fatal encounters with Jason Voorhees, Trish is rescued by her brother Tommy and they are the lone survivors of the brutal bloodbath.
Now as a full-fledged lead actress and horror star, Beck gained a recurring role on the iconic soap opera “Dynasty” from 1986-1987; in between shoots she also appeared in an episode of “LA Law” in 1987. Bouncing back and forth between mediums – television star, and horror star – Beck booked two horror films: Death Street USA in 1988 and Playroom in 1989. After several more years of surprisingly lackluster gigs, she played a secretary in the Oscar Winning feature Independence Day (1996).
So, where is Kimberly Beck now?
Her only recent credit is a voice over job on Heidi 4 Paws in 2009, a live action dog project. She has stated in recent interviews that she retired from acting because she had been doing it her whole life and was worn out. Instead, she started a family with Jason Clark, a producer who has worked on Stewart Little, Monster House, Red State, The Cabin in the Woods, and Ted. They have two children. Although she originally had negative opinions about her part in Friday the 13th Part 4: The Final Chapter, she has lent her commentary to several Friday the 13th inspired documentaries including Jason’s Unlucky Day: 25 Years After Friday the 13th – The Final Chapter (2009) and Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th (2013).
