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Iconic 80s Actress/Author/Acting Teacher & Coach
Diane Franklin is an iconic 80s actress. She began her professional career in 1970 at the age of ten, starting with modeling, commercials, soap opera and theater. In 1981 she landed her first screen role as dream girl “Karen” in the teen sex comedy, THE LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN, afterwhich she was cast as Patricia Montelli, in the 1982 AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION. She then starred in movies for television, SUMMERGIRL and DEADLY LESSONS and guest-starred on the TV series, CHARLES IN CHARGE, MURDER SHE WROTE and FREDDY’S NIGHTMARES.
In 1985, Diane played her most beloved role “Monique Junot,” a spirited French-exchange student, in the cult-comedy BETTER OFF DEAD, and continued to work in film with TERRORVISION (1987) and HOW I GOT INTO COLLEGE. But Diane’s best-known 80s role is that of the original medieval babe, Princess Elizabeth, in the time-travel film, BILL & TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE (1989).
After taking a break from acting to raise her family, Diane returned to the big screen to play mother, Louise Defeo. in AMITYVILLE MURDERS and perform a cameo in TED BUNDY: AMERICAN BOOGEYMAN, with her daughter, Olivia DeLaurentis in the role of Carole DaRonch.
Other film roles include WAKING NIGHTMARE and HIGH HOLIDAY with Tom Arnold, Jennifer Tilly, and the late, Cloris Leachman.
Diane has written three autobiographies and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, writer, Ray DeLaurentis. Her daughter Olivia DeLaurentis is an actor, comedian and writer, (PIVOTING/ SYD & OLIVIA/ APOCOLYPSE GOALS/) and her son Nick DeLaurentis is a musician and composer, (GOOD BOY on Spotify.)
