Playboy just announced that nude photo spreads will soon be excised from the pages of the magazine, beginning next year. Sexy photos have been the magazine’s bread and butter ever since its launch back in 1953, and the surprising news reflects just how much the times have changed.
In reaction to the announcement, many have been sharing thoughts on their personal favorite Playmates who graced the pages of the iconic magazine over the years, and we’ve decided to get in on the fun by looking back at all the centerfolds who broke through into the horror world.
While we mourn the end of an era, here are 10 Playboy Playmates who starred in horror films!
ANGELA DORIAN – ROSEMARY’S BABY
Angela Dorian (aka Victoria Vetri) was on top of the world back in 1968, a year that saw her being named Playboy’s Playmate of the Year – after being featured as Playmate of the Month the previous year. Also in 1968, she briefly appeared as Terry Gionoffrio in horror classic Rosemary’s Baby – a character killed off rather quickly. She went on to appear in a handful of other movies, including When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth and Invasion of the Bee Girls.
SUSAN DENBERG – FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN
The fourth film in the Frankenstein series put out by legendary British production company Hammer Films, 1967’s Frankenstein Created Woman starred Peter Cushing as Baron Victor Frankenstein, alongside Miss August 1966, Susan Denberg. In the film, Denberg plays Christina, a disfigured woman who becomes the doctor’s latest test subject after she commits suicide – she’s brought back to life, and her lover’s vengeful, murderous soul is placed inside her body.
MARY AND MADELEINE COLLINSON – TWINS OF EVIL
Mary and Madeleine Collinson made Playboy history when they became the magazine’s very first identical twins to be named Playmates, jointly appearing together as Miss October in 1970. The following year, they both starred alongside Peter Cushing in Hammer’s Twins of Evil as the title characters – Madeleine played Freida Gellhorn, who becomes a blood-sucking vampire, while her sister played the innocent Maria Gellhorn. It ended up being the last film the twins ever appeared in.
ROSANNE KATON AND MONIQUE ST. PIERRE – MOTEL HELL
Not one, but two Playboy centerfolds appeared in the 1980 horror-comedy Motel Hell. Rosanne Katon, crowned Miss September 1978, played Suzi, while 1979 Playmate of the Year, Monique St. Pierre, was cast as Debbie. The two appear in a scene together as friends who encounter a very strange roadblock while driving, which turns out to be a clever trap set by Farmer Vincent. When she attempts to clear the roadblock, Suzi is captured by the sadistic madman, and Debbie drives off.
HEIDI SORENSON – FRIGHT NIGHT
Just a few years after gracing the pages of Playboy as Miss July 1981, Heidi Sorenson was cast as Cheryl Lane in Tom Holland’s vampire classic Fright Night, a prostitute whom Charley Brewster has a brief encounter with as she’s literally delivered to Jerry Dandrige’s doorstep. Later in the film, Charley catches a news report that reveals the hooker has been sucked dry by the villainous vampire. It’s interesting to note that Lane, though a minor character, appeared in the 1988 video game adaptation.
PIA REYES – RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 3
Filipino model and actress Pia Reyes became a household face when she was crowned Playboy’s Miss November in 1988, and throughout the 1990s she landed a handful of roles in films like On Deadly Ground and Indecent Behavior 3 – she also appeared on an episode of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” as a Playmate. In 1993, Reyes starred in the Return of the Living Dead franchise’s third installment, playing an ill-fated member of a Mexican gang name Alicia, the girlfriend of Santos.
ERIKA ELENIAK AND JULIE MCCULLOUGH – THE BLOB (1988)
Horror movie remakes don’t get much better than 1988’s The Blob, directed by Chuck Russell and starring Kevin Dillon. A little fun fact about the practical effects extravaganza is that two Playboy Playmates were featured in minor roles; Erika Eleniak, Miss July 1989, played Vicki De Soto, and Julie McCullough, Miss February 1986, played Susie. Eleniak went on to star in Bordello of Blood and Dracula 2000, while McCullough recently made an appearance in Sharknado.
DONNA D’ERRICO – CANDYMAN 3: DAY OF THE DEAD
Perhaps most known for her role as Donna Marco on “Baywatch,” Donna D’Errico first rose to popularity when she was crowned Playboy’s Miss September in 1995. She appeared in a handful of movies and TV shows after being featured in the magazine, and in 1999 she played the protagonist in direct-to-video horror sequel Candyman 3: Day of the Dead. She played art gallery owner Caroline McKeever, who becomes the new target of Candyman’s vengeful rage.
JENNY MCCARTHY – SCREAM 3
Jenny McCarthy’s career blew up in the wake of appearing as the October Playmate of the Month in 1993, and her star rose even higher when she was named Playmate of the Year in 1994. She was all over screens both big and small throughout the 1990s and straight into the present day, and in 2000 she starred in Wes Craven’s Scream 3. McCarthy played Sarah Darling in the sequel, an actress who portrays Candy Brooks in the fictional Stab 3. She later appeared in Scary Movie 3.
JACLYN SWEDBERG – MUCK
The most recent Playboy centerfold to appear in a horror film was 2012 Playmate of the Year Jaclyn Swedberg, who was cast as Terra in this year’s gory slasher film Muck. Swedberg’s involvement was a huge part of the movie’s marketing campaign, and the model let it all hang out in the T&A-loaded throwback. Muck was Swedberg’s feature film debut, and the young actress is set to reprise the role in upcoming film Muck: Feast of Saint Patrick – which will be a prequel to the franchise-starter.