Ashley Laurence

For other people named Ashley Lawrence, see Ashley Lawrence (disambiguation).
Ashley Laurence

Photographed in April 2009
Born Lori Cohen
May 28, 1966
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1984present
Known for Hellraiser series
Website
www.ashleylaurence.com

Ashley Laurence, born Lori Cohen on May 28, 1966 in Los Angeles, California, is an American actress and artist. She is noted for her appearances in horror films, particularly the Hellraiser series. Ashley's acting career began at a very young age, when she was cast as the strong-willed heroine of Clive Barker's quintessential horror classic: Hellraiser (1987). The award winning actress subsequently appeared in a wide variety of roles for film and TV, including Red, Lightning Bug, ER, and national advertising campaigns for Geico, Coors Lite, AT&T.[1][2]

Life and career

1984-04: Career beginnings and Hellraiser

Laurence rose to prominence with her breakout role as Kirsty Cotton, the protagonist of Hellraiser (1987), which introduced the horror icon Pinhead. The film is about a man who finds he is given more than he bargains for when he solves the puzzle of the Lament Configuration - a doorway to hell. But his ex-lover has found a way of bringing him back, and his niece, Kirsty, finds herself bargaining with the Cenobites, whose greatest pleasure is the greatest pain. Hellraiser was met to critical acclaim and has gained a cult following. Laurence reprised her role as Kirsty in the sequel Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) which was another critical success and commercial success. The first two Hellraiser films have been regarded as horror classics.

Laurence had a cameo appearance in Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992). The only other Hellraiser entry in the series to feature Laurence is Hellraiser: Hellseeker (2002) which gained generally negative reviews upon its release. Laurence has also starred in The Lurking Fear (1994) (an adaptation of the H. P. Lovecraft story "The Lurking Fear") and Savate (1995). She was featured in the 2004 E! True Hollywood Story episode "Scream Queens". In 2004, she took a role in Lightning Bug. She plays the mother of a teenage boy who wants to become a special makeup effects artist (a fictionalized version of the director's own life). In a homage to her role in the Hellraiser films, she is seen picking up a copy of Fangoria magazine with Pinhead on the cover.[3]

2005-present: Continued acting and art

Though most of her work has been in film, during the course of her career she has appeared in episodes of television series such as Suddenly Susan, ER and Beverly Hills, 90210, and has been featured in national television commercials for Geico as well as having been the sexy Coors Light "Beerman" in one of the company's national ad campaigns. She was also featured in the Hallmark television movies Gentle Ben and Gentle Ben: Danger on the Mountain. In 2008, she appeared in the critically acclaimed film Red, based on the novel by Jack Ketchum. She also appeared in Slipknot's short film for their song Snuff, which was released in December 2009. It has been announced that Laurence will be in the upcoming film Gutter Slut (2014). Laurence has finished filming for The Green Fairy (2015). In 2014, Laurence made her voice-over debut in the video game The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Hellraiser Kirsty Cotton
1988 Hellbound: Hellraiser II Kirsty Cotton
1990 Face the Edge Jane
1992 Mikey Shawn Gilder
1992 Deuce Coupe Marie Vitelli
1992 Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth Kirsty Cotton
1994 Lurking Fear, TheThe Lurking Fear Cathryn Farrell
1994 Stranger by Night Nicole Miller Video
1995 Savate Mary Parker Video
1995 Felony Laura Bryant
1996 Real Thing, TheThe Real Thing Carla
1997 Cupid Jennifer Taylor
1998 Murder of Crows, AA Murder of Crows Janine DeVrie
1999 Warlock III: The End of Innocence Kris Miller Video
2000 Cypress Edge Brittany Trummel
2002 Hellraiser: Hellseeker Kirsty Cotton Gooden Video
2004 Lightning Bug Jenny Graves
2007 Chill Maria Video
2008 Red Mrs. McCormack
2014 Gutter Slut
2015 The Green Fairy

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1984-1985 Capitol Brenda Clegg TV series
1986 Highway to Heaven Genna Episode: "Sail Away"
1989 Monsters Jodie Episode: "The Match Game"
1989 Hunter Erica Episode: "Investment in Death"
1995 Legend Libbie Custer Episode: "Custer's Next to Last Stand"
1995 Triplecross Julia Summers TV film
1995 American Cop Gina TV film
1996 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Daniela Episode: "Protean Challenge"
1997 Suddenly Susan Pam Episode: "The Ways and Means"
1999 Beverly Hills, 90210 Ashley Reese Episode: "Fortune Cookie"
2000 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Sandy Episode: "Damsel"
2002 Gentle Ben Dakota TV film
2003 Gentle Ben 2: Danger on the Mountain Dakota TV film
2004 ER Campbell Episode: "Just a Touch"
2005 Mystery Woman: Sing Me a Murder Francine TV film

Video Games

Year Title
2014 The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

References

External links