Diane Franklin (born February 11, 1962) is an American actress, producer, and model.
Early life Franklin was born in Plainview, New York. Her parents were German and Austrian immigrants. Franklin is deaf in her left ear.
Education Franklin attended New York University for one year in 1981–1982 before dropping out to become a professional actress. She continued her education thirty years later when she attended Moorpark College and then California State University, Northridge where she graduated with a degree in education in 2017.
Career Early in her acting career, Franklin appeared in TV commercials for Coca-Cola, Trident, Jell-O, and Maxwell House coffee. At the age of 17, she appeared in two episodes of As the World Turns which aired in October 1979. Her breakthrough role was as Karen in the 1982 teen drama film The Last American Virgin. That same year, she played Patricia Montelli in the horror film Amityville II: The Possession. She was given top billing in her next film, the 1984 erotic comedy film Second Time Lucky, and played French exchange student Monique Junet in the 1985 comedy film Better Off Dead.
Franklin played Princess Joanna in the 1989 comedy film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and has appeared as an extra or in guest roles in episodes of television series such as Bay City Blues, Matlock, and Family Law. She also appeared in three television films, including a role as Jock Ewing's first wife in the 1986 film Dallas: The Early Years.
In 2012, Franklin published a memoir called Diane Franklin: The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French Exchange Babe of the 80s. In 2017, she published a second memoir called Diane Franklin: The Excellent Curls of the Last American, French-Exchange Babe of the 80s. In 2018, she returned to the Amityville franchise to play Louise DeFeo in the horror-drama film The Amityville Murders In 2021, she played Mrs. Healy in the horror film Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman.
In 2023, Franklin played Danielle in Waking Nightmare, an independent horror film that was granted a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement, allowing filming to continue and the actors to promote the film. She also starred as Sinead Chambers in Pareidolia, a British horror short film.
Personal life Franklin married Ray DeLaurentis, an animation writer for shows such as The Fairly OddParents, in 1989. They reside in Westlake Village, California. Their son, Nicholas DeLaurentis is a musician, while their daughter, Olivia DeLaurentis is a comedian and actress best known as one half of the absurdist comedy double act Syd & Olivia.
Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes 1982 Amityville II: The Possession Patricia Montelli The Last American Virgin Karen 1984 Second Time Lucky Eve 1985 Better Off Dead Monique Junet 1986 TerrorVision Suzy Putterman 1989 How I Got into College Sharon Browne Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure Princess Joanna 2006 Punchcard Player Sweetheart 2008 The Adventures of Lass Mum / Gramma Short film 2009 The Adventures of Lass 2: The Sweet Potato Rush Mum / Gramma 2010 The Adventures of Lass 3: Going to America Mum / Old Lass 2011 Humanized Computer 2012 My Better Half Viola Young 2013 Lovechild Jenny Meyers Royal Effups Earless of Incestia 2018 The Amityville Murders Louise DeFeo 2019 Wally Got Wasted Emma 2021 Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman Mrs. Healy Clay Zombies D.J.St. VC Skatewell 2023 Waking Nightmare Danielle 2023 Pareidolia Sinead Chambers Short film 2023 The Dark Room Dr. Riley
Television
Year Title Role Notes1983 Bay City Blues background extra 2 episodes Summer Girl Cinni TV movie Deadly Lessons Stefanie Aggiston 1985 The Insiders background extra 1 episode Finder Of Lost Loves Emily Bennetts 1 episode 1986 Dallas: The Early Years Amanda Lewis Ewing TV movie 1987 Charles In Charge Anna Grudov 1 episode Matlock Nancy Lamont 1 episode 1988 Freddy's Nightmares Jessica 1 episode 1989 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Paula / Paulette 1 episode 1990 Encyclopedia Brown Sondra Gafney 1 episode 1991 Murder, She Wrote Phyllis Gant 1 episode 1999 Providence Diane Cavalero 1 episode 2000 Family Law TV Announcer 1 episode 2010 Toon Wolf Network President 1 episode 2013 Parole Officers Marge TV movie
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