Actress Nancy Allen, recognized for her pivotal roles in classic horror and science fiction films, was seen in Los Angeles on her 76th birthday. The Bronx-born performer, who married acclaimed director Brian De Palma, has largely stepped away from Hollywood in recent years to focus on activism.
Allen's career break came in 1976 with her role as the cruel gym leader Christine Hargensen in Brian De Palma's adaptation of Stephen King's novel "Carrie." The film, co-starring Sissy Spacek and John Travolta, became a critical and commercial success, establishing Allen in Hollywood. She later appeared in "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" (1978) and Spielberg's "1941" (1979).
Following her marriage to De Palma in 1979, Allen starred in several of his films, including "Home Movies," "Dressed to Kill" (1980), and "Blow Out" (1981). Her performance in "Dressed to Kill" earned her a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year. "Blow Out," a critical success now considered a De Palma highlight, reunited her with John Travolta but was a box office disappointment.
Allen achieved renewed popularity in 1987 with her role as Officer Anne Lewis in Paul Verhoeven's science fiction action film "RoboCop." She reprised her role in the sequels "RoboCop 2" (1990) and "RoboCop 3" (1993).
After a period of less prominent roles, Allen took on her last significant film part in Steven Soderbergh's 1998 film "Out of Sight." In 2008, following her divorce from her third husband, Randy Bailey, she shifted her focus to advocacy work. Inspired by her late friend, actress Wendie Jo Sperber, Allen became executive director of the weSPARK Cancer Support Center in 2010. She has dedicated her life to supporting cancer patients and their families through the organization.