Betsy Palmer (born Patricia Betsy Hrunek; November 1, 1926 – May 29, 2015) was an American actress, known as a regular supporting film and Broadway actress and television guest star, as a panelist on the game show I've Got a Secret, and later for playing Jason Voorhees' mother, Pamela Voorhees, in the slasher film Friday the 13th (1980).
Palmer famously took on the role of Pamela Voorhees because the salary of $10,000, $1000 a day for 10 days work on location at a Boy Scout camp in New Jersey, was exactly what she needed to buy a new car, after the previous one broke down. She would later recount in an interview that her initial reaction to the experience was: "What a piece of shit! Nobody is ever going to see this thing." Despite her distaste for the film, she reluctantly consented to a cameo appearance in Friday the 13th Part 2. She ultimately came to accept and celebrate her participation in the franchise, eventually commenting "I was dumb, Friday the 13th is an excellent film." Palmer was asked to reprise her role as Mrs. Voorhees in Freddy vs. Jason in 2003 and initially agreed to return, but ultimately turned down the role after being offered a low salary.
Films with pages on TV Tropes:
- Mister Roberts (1955) as Lt. Ann Girard
- Friday the 13th (1980) as Pamela Voorhees
- Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
TV series with pages on TV Tropes:
- I've Got a Secret (1955–1967) as Herself
- Playhouse 90 (1958, episodes "No Time at All" and "The Time of Your Life") as Emmy Verdon / Kitty Duval
- The Love Boat (1982, episode "Isaac Gets Physical/She Brought Her Mother Along/Cold Feet") as Millicent Holton
- T.J. Hooker (1983, episode "Vengeance Is Mine") as Anne Armstrong
- Murder, She Wrote (1985, 1989; episodes "Sticks and Stones" and "Something Borrowed, Someone Blue") as Lila Norris / Valerie
- Charles in Charge (1987, episode "The Egg and Us") as Gloria
- Newhart (1987, episode "Me and My Gayle") as Gayle Crowley
- Out of This World (1987–1988, episodes "Uh, Oh... Here Comes Mother" and "AKA: Dad") as Donna's Mom
- Knots Landing (1989–1990) as Virginia Bullock
- Columbo (1991, episode "Death Hits the Jackpot") as Martha Lamarr
- Just Shoot Me! (1998, episode "The Walk") as Rhonda
