Once a prominent figure in the 1970s horror film scene and formerly married to actor Dennis Quaid, this actress first captured audiences with her role as Norma Watson in Brian De Palma’s iconic thriller, “Carrie,” released in 1976.
She went on to make her mark as Lynda van der Klok in John Carpenter’s classic “Halloween,” and portrayed Riff Randell in Allan Arkush’s energetic “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School.”
Her talent wasn’t confined to horror, as she shared the screen with Goldie Hawn in the 1980 comedy “Private Benjamin” and teamed up with Bill Murray in the 1981 film “Stripes.”
Despite her success, the 5-foot-8-inch actress chose to step away from the limelight early in her career and has since remained largely out of the public eye.
Now, at 75, she recently made a rare appearance in Los Angeles. Do you recognize this legendary figure of the silver screen?
And now the 75-year-old has been seen on rare outing in Los Angeles. Can you guess who this silver screen veteran is?
She is a 1970s scream queen and the ex-wife of actor Dennis Quaid
The star made her film debut in 1976 as Norma Watson in Brian De Palma’s Carrie before portraying Lynda van der Klok in John Carpenter’s Halloween and Riff Randell in Allan Arkush’s Rock ‘n’ Roll High School
She is P. J. Soles.
The actress wore a navy blue down vest over a red cherry themed gray sweatshirt with red slacks while getting into her white Saturn sedan. She was carrying a water bottle and had a brown purse on her arm.
The movie veteran had her blonde hair down with clips holding the sides back, adding red-framed prescription glasses while wearing little makeup.
The star was born Pamela Jayne Hardon in Frankfurt, Germany, to an American mother from New Jersey and a Dutch father from Rotterdam.
Her father’s job forced them to move often and far: she resided in Morocco and Venezuela, and then in Belgium.
Soles went to college in New York and Washington DC. When she visited the Actors Studio in New York City, she wanted to become a thespian.
While in New York City she picked up commercials and modeling. Then she moved to Los Angeles in 1975 for acting work.
Her first movie role was her biggest: she played Norma Watson in 1976’s horror classic Carrie. She starred alongside Sissy Spacek, Nancy Allen, John Travolta, Amy Irving and Piper Laurie.
The director Brian De Palma at first gave her one line but he liked her so much he wrote more for her to say.
The movie favorite also worked with Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin in 1980. The 5ft8in actress ditched fame early on, however, and has not looked back. And now the 75-year-old has been seen on rare outing in Los Angeles . Can you guess who this silver screen veteran is?
She worked with Travolta again in the popular television film The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.
Next came Our Winning Season in 1978 where she met Dennis Quaid.
They married in 1978 and then they costarred in the hit film from 1979, Breaking Away.
She played Lynda van der Klok in the classic horror film Halloween (1978) and then Riff Randell in the comedy film Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979).
In 1980, Soles portrayed Private Wanda Winter in the comedy film Private Benjamin. Then she was Stella Hansen opposite Bill Murray in the comedy film Stripes in 1981.
Soles starred with Jessica Lange in the film Sweet Dreams in 1985.
In 1999, Soles was cast in the dark comedy film Jawbreaker with Rebecca Gayheart and Rose McGowan.
She is veteran actress P. J. Soles, seen here in the 1970s
In 1978’s Halloween, PJ Soles plays Lynda Van Der Klok, the fun-loving high schooler who becomes one of Michael Myers’ victims
From left, Nancy Kyes as ‘Annie Brackett’, Soles as ‘Lynda van der Klok’ and Jamie Lee Curtis as ‘Laurie Strode’ in Halloween
The actress, right, with costar Bill Murray in Stripes in 1981
She later married to actor Dennis Quaid, whom she met on the set of the film Our Winning Season, from 1978 until their divorce in early 1983
Soles and Quaid played lovers in 1978’s Our Winning Season
Soles played Riff Randell in the 1979 comedy Rock ‘n’ Roll High School
The same year she divorced Quaid in 1983, Soles went on to marry Skip Holm, though the couple later divorced; (Holm and Soles in 1987)
In 2005, came the Rob Zombie movie The Devil’s Rejects then she was in The Butterfly Room in 2012.
Soles was cast in a speaking cameo role as a teacher in the sequel, 2018’s Halloween.
The star has been married three times over 30 years.
She married J. Steven Soles in 1973 but they divorced in 1975. After that she wed Quaid but they divorced in early 1983.
He went on to marry Meg Ryan.
She next married Skip Holm and in 1983 they had a son named Sky and in 1988 a daughter named Ashley. Holm and Soles divorced in 1998.
