'Ghostbusters' and 4 other classic movies to watch in honor of Jennifer Runyon's death at 65
The 'Ghostbusters' actress Jennifer Runyon, aged 65, passed away on Friday, with her death confirmed by her representative Scott Ray in a statement to USA Today on Sunday. The statement didn't mention the exact cause of death and instead referred to Runyon breathing her last after 'a long and arduous journey that ended with her surrounded by her family.' Runyon's friend Erin Murphy of 'Bewitched' fame recently posted a heartfelt tribute on her Instagram profile, in which she alleged that Runyon had been battling cancer. Murphy wrote, ''Some people you just know you'll be friends with before you even meet. She was a special lady. I'll miss you, Jenn. My thoughts are with your family and beautiful children." In honour of Runyon and to celebrate her legacy, here are our picks for the top five movies in which she acted.
1) Ghostbusters
This supernatural comedy film achieved cult status primarily for two reasons: the novelty of its plot and the unforgettable performance by Bill Murray. Directed by Ivan Reitman, 'Ghostbusters' was the first big-budget comedy to use formidable special effects at the time of its 1984 release. Runyon appeared in a small role as a student being given an ESP test by Peter Venkman. 'Ghostbusters' is available for streaming on Apple TV.
2) A Very Brady Christmas
This made-for-television holiday movie premiered on CBS in 1988 and was the second-highest-rated television film of the year. The success of the film prompted the network to reprise the Brady family in a standalone show known as 'The Bradys' in 1990. Runyon starred as Cindy Brady, the youngest daughter of Carol Brady, who was, in turn, the second wife of the pivotal character, Mike Brady, played by Robert Reed. 'A Very Brady Christmas' is available to watch on Hulu.
3) Up The Creek
Runyon played the supporting character of Heather Merriweather in this 1984 comedy film. Robert Butler directed 'Up The Creek', which also starred Dan Monahan, Tim Matheson, Sandy Helberg, and John Hillerman in prominent roles. The film was shot over several weeks around Bend, Oregon. The plot follows a group of college students who enter a challenging whitewater rafting competition against seasoned teams. Little did the group know at the time of their enlistment that they would have to compete against some of the nation's very best river-rafting teams. 'Up The Creek' is available for streaming on Prime Video.
4) To All A Goodnight
This 1980 slasher film marked the debuts of both Runyon as Nancy and the film's director, David Hess. The plot follows a group of young female finishing school students as they join their boyfriends for a Christmas party. Meanwhile, a psychotic killer dressed as Santa Claus soon catches up with them, and the result is murder and mayhem. Runyon portrayed the character of Nancy. 'To All A Goodnight' is available on Apple TV.
5) The In Crowd
The final entry in this list, released in 1988, was directed by Mark Rosenthal. It chronicled the journey of a high school student who is forced by his peers to leave his comfort zone and toils to be a dancer in a popular TV show. Runyon played the character of Vicky. 'The In Crowd' can be rented on Fandango.
