Karen Black was born back on 1 July 1939. She’d be 86 today if it weren’t for the fact that she died back in 2013 after a few years fighting cancer.

I find her interesting because she effectively had two careers. She was very successful in mainstream films — even being nominated for an Oscar and winning two Golden Globes. But she also appeared in a lot of psychotronic films. But really, she just seems to have enjoyed working a lot. In that way, she had a career similar to Mark Hamill in showing a love of acting more than stardom.

Although considered a sex symbol in her prime, I find her rather odd-looking. But I think that worked to her advantage as an actor. It allowed her to play a wide variety of roles.

I always enjoy seeing Black in films, even when they are (as they often were) weak, like Killer Fish. But I will remember her for two films. The first (and lesser) is Tobe Hooper’s excellent remake of Invaders From Mars. She’s wonderful as the kind school nurse although frankly the casting of her son in the lead role was a mistake.

My favorite Karen Black film is Dan Curtis’ amazing made-for-TV Trilogy of Terror. I saw it when it premiered. I was just 11 years old and it was thrilling. But mostly, people only remember the last story, “Amelia.” That’s the one with the little Aboriginal doll with menacing teeth. It chases her all over her apartment.

But the other two stories are also quite good. The first is my favorite, “Julie.” It is about a mousey English professor who is blackmailed into a sexual relationship with her student. The second is “Millicent and Therese.” It is good in that it allows Black to play very different twins. However, it’s kind of tired now, given the idea has been overused.

So celebrate Karen Black’s birthday by watching Trilogy of Terror — for free!

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Image clipped from Trilogy of Terror by Fair Use.