Cult Horror Legend, Dead at 83, Fans Remember Her Iconic Roles

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Camilla Carr, known for her roles in cult horror films, has died at the age of 83. Her son, Caley O’Dwyer, reported to The Hollywood Reporter that she passed away Wednesday in El Paso, Texas, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease and a broken hip. Carr will be remembered for her brave and unforgettable performances.

Born in Memphis, Texas, actress Carr became well-known in the 1970s for her work in cult horror films. She frequently collaborated with director S.F. Brownrigg on low-budget, yet impactful, movies like Don’t Look in the Basement (1973), Poor White Trash Part II (1974), and Keep My Grave Open (1977).

She played convincingly terrifying characters in these movies, including a dangerous mental patient and a woman struggling with a deadly dual personality.

Carroll O’Connor’s wife, Nancy, also appeared on television, notably in a 1987 episode of Designing Women called They’re Killing All the Right People. The episode caused discussion due to its bold conversation about AIDS. Her character famously said, “As far as I’m concerned, this disease has one thing going for it: It’s killing all the right people.” Her son later acknowledged the character was controversial but praised her performance as contributing to an important cause. The episode earned series creator Linda Bloodworth Thomason an Emmy nomination and was written following the death of Thomason’s own mother from AIDS.

Throughout her long career, she worked in movies, television, and theater. She was in the 1976 film Logan’s Run and played a recurring character on the 1988 TV series Falcon Crest. She also made guest appearances on popular shows like One Day at a Time and Another World. On stage, she notably played Maxine in a 1991 production of The Night of the Iguana at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Later in her career, in 2015, she appeared in Don’t Look in the Basement 2, a film directed by Anthony Brownrigg, the son of the original director, S.F. Brownrigg.

Besides her acting work, Carr also wrote for television and penned a humorous novel called Topsy Turvy Dingo Dog in 1989. The book follows a former B-movie star as she revisits her hometown for a high school reunion. She was married to Edward Anhalt, an Oscar-winning screenwriter, from 1968 to 1976 – one of five marriages for him. Early in her career, she met and worked with actor Hugh Feagin while performing in Dallas, and they both appeared in films like A Bullet for Pretty Boy (1970).

Although Camilla Carr led a more private life as she aged, she remains a significant figure in cult horror films, and her daring acting is still celebrated by fans today.

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2026-02-08 12:14