Interview with Jill Whitlow: Perky Girl-Next-Door-With-Attitude

INTERVIEW WITH JILL WHITLOW: 

THE PERKY GIRL NEXT DOOR WITH ATTITUDE

By Jerry Saravia

Jill Whitlow - That was Then, This is Now

No matter how small her screen time is, Jill Whitlow memorably stands out. Whether it is as the perplexed girl who is a bit shocked by Rocky Dennis's appearance in Peter Bogdanovich's "Mask," or the sassy boutique girl who wonders how two nerds have girlfriends in "Weird Science," her appearances stay with you and strike a chord. Of course, she has not just appeared in small roles. Jill Whitlow is synonymous with cult horror favorites such as "Twice Dead" and "Night of the Creeps" with full-bodied lead roles. Jill has also accrued a few television credits, including roles in TV shows such as "T.J. Hooker" (episode: "Two Faces of Betsy Morgan" where she played a runaway who is a prostitute by night), "Gimme a Break," "Silver Spoons," "Swamp Thing" (which lasted three seasons), "Freddy's Nightmares," and "Growing Pains."

Jill Whitlow (Center) in Peter Bogdanovich's Mask

Jill Whitlow usually played the girl-next-door, but with far more spunk and attitude. She could be vulnerable but she was also assertive and stood her ground - she was more woman than girly and probably would not fit in with the Valley Girls of 1980's cinema (I can't imagine her in any of the various Spring Break sex comedies of that era). Even in the episode of "Freddy's Nightmares" (entitled "Mother's Day") playing literally the girl-next-door, her character was a bit manipulative, egging the new neighbor to throw a party that turns into a bloody disaster. You haven't lived until you see her inspired way of flipping the bird in "Night of the Creeps." Speaking of horror roles, Jill Whitlow is considered by some as one of the first female empowered action heroines as proven with her Cynthia Cronenberg role in 1986's "Night of the Creeps" (just in front of Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor in 1984's "The Terminator").

I had the good fortune to interview Jill Whitlow and here, you will learn about her early days, how she got discovered, her thoughts on her male co-star in "Twice Dead," and whether or not she will return to the cinema screens in the possibly forthcoming "Night of the Creeps 2."

Jill Whitlow in a still from a Pepsi commercial - jillwhitlowfan.com

Jill Whitlow as Mindy in 1982's Porky's, Jill's film debut

1.) Let's start right at the beginning. What influenced you to become an actress, and how did you get the role of Mindy in "Porky's"?

Jill Whitlow: "I was hired to be in a ketchup commercial when I was 3 yrs old by an agent who saw me at the mall with my mom and it all started from there. When I was 16 I auditioned for the role of Mindy in Porky's and got it! After being on the set and working with Bob Clark I knew it was what I wanted to do!"

Winger's Hungry video

 2.) You appeared as a newlywed in the music video for Winger's "Hungry," quite a tragedy that your character dies in a horrible car wreck (even more horrifying that Winger's own fiancee died in an auto accident later on). Who decided you should play the dearly departed, or maybe you were a fan of the band?

Jill Whitlow: "I auditioned for the Winger video...I had never heard of the band before then! Great song though, eh?"

Two different Jills in 1988's Twice Dead

3.) Let's talk "Twice Dead." A curious little horror flick, though I am wondering why you have so much chemistry with actor Tom Brashanan when you are supposed to be playing his sister. Didn't it seem more like a boyfriend/girlfriend scenario to you, looking back, or maybe just on the set  ;) ?

Jill Whitlow: "Uh oh...LOL, You could tell? Yes, we were dating! I know...sick!"

Jill Whitlow as Cynthia Cronenberg in Night of the Creeps

4.) You have worked with film directors like Fred Dekker, Bob Clark, Peter Bogdanovich, John Hughes, etc. Any experience that stands out the most, aside from "Night of the Creeps,"  or one you are most fond of.

Jill Whitlow: "Fred Dekker, of course, is my favorite. John Hughes was very sweet...but Bob Clark kinda become my father. He took such good care of me and really was the reason I moved to LA. He introduced me to my first agent, flew me to LA and believed in me so much!"

Jill as Tena Tidy in an episode from Adventures Beyond Belief TV series (1988)

5.) Other brunette actresses had a tough time getting roles in the 1980's, up through the early 90's - seems like the blonde bimbo was the role for women in teen sex comedies and horror flicks, to some extent. Clearly other qualities came through beyond the girl next door in "Night of the Creeps," or your brief cameo as a boutique salesgirl in "Weird Science." Were there any roles you auditioned for that you regret not getting, or any you regretted taking on, that is symptomatic of casting agents looking for a particular type? 

Jill Whitlow: "No actually, I always did the best I could, and it is what it is, right? That's how Hollywood works."

Jill in TV's Swamp Thing episode: "Mirador's Brain" (1992) 

6.) An episode of the TV series "Swamp Thing" is listed as one of your last credits, circa 1992. I know you raised a family afterwards but was that the sole reason for leaving your career, or were you planning on coming back at some point?

Jill Whitlow: "No, I was not planning on returning. I loved being a 'mom'. And really, I am very glad I was there for my kids every moment. I never missed a thing watching them grow up and loved every minute. Now that they're at college...hmmm...you never know."

Jason Lively and Jill Whitlow in 1987's "Ghost Chase"

7.) How did 1987's "Ghost Chase" come about? And what was your working and personal relationship with Jason Lively, considering it was the second time you two worked together? 

Jill Whitlow: "About Ghost Chase...after Night of the Creeps, the director of Ghost Chase - Roland Emmerich - thought Jason and I would become the "pair of the eighties" kinda like the Breakfast Club clan...so he did not even audition us, just hired us. Many people don't really like the film cause they don't understand it. I liked it! It was a blast and great memories working in Germany. As for Jason and I? Just very good friends.

8.) Lastly, speaking of coming back, any word on "Night of the Creeps 2" (though I think your character meets an unkindly end in the theatrical version, unless we are supposed to prefer the alternate version)?

Jill Whitlow: "We have talked about it and it would be exciting. BTW...my character did not die. I blocked the little creep. They just didn't see it...LOL"

Jill Whitlow films available on DVD/BluRay/VHS: