Linnea Quigley was born in Davenport, Iowa, on May 27, 1958, to Dorothy and Heath Quigley. Her mother was a housewife and her father a chiropractor and psychiatrist. After moving with her family to Los Angeles in the late 1970s, the short, blond, petite-sized Linnea began getting work in B-movies, starting with small parts in such films as Stone Cold Dead (1979) and Wheeler (1975). She really garnered attention in The Return of the Living Dead (1985), which has become a cult classic and helped make her the current “Queen of the Bs”. Her reign was supreme in the late 1980s with such films as Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama (1988), Night of the Demons (1988) and Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (1988).
Linnea married special effects wizard Steve Johnson in 1990, but, unfortunately, the marriage lasted only a couple of years. In 2001, Linnea moved to Florida to be closer to her parents who settled there after her father retired from his career and because she wanted a change of scenery. She currently resides in south Florida with her collection of pets (she is a devoted animal rights supporter). Along with films, she still appears at conventions around the world. She has written two books about her life in the B-movie industry, “Bio & Chainsaw,” in 1992 and “I’m Screaming as Fast as I Can” in 1995. After 25 years and more than 70 films, Linnea Quigley is still “Queen of the Bs”.Has contributed to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) campaigns. She is well-known for working on PETA’s “Lettuce Ladies” campaign, where people educate others about vegetarian lifestyles while wearing only lettuce. She even had a poster made to promote this animal rights campaign.
Was once in a band called “The Skirts,” an all-girl band.
Appears at horror conventions several times a year to meet her fans.
Long-time friends with fellow B-movie actresses Brinke Stevens and Michelle Bauer, whom she has worked with for years.
Has been friends with frequent co-star Don Calfa since they both appeared in The Return of the Living Dead (1985). They reunited once again in 2003’s Corpses Are Forever (2003) (V).
Her first major foray into acting was a toothpaste commercial.
In the early 90s, she wanted to become a police officer with the LAPD. She passed the written test but decided to continue acting instead.
Starred in three horror films where something evil was unwittingly released upon a group of people: The Return of the Living Dead (1985), Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama (1988), and Night of the Demons (1988).
Said her worst experience with special FX makeup was during The Return of the Living Dead (1985), in which she had to endure several experimental makeup tests and wear a “featureless Barbie-doll prosthetic” over her crotch because a producer felt that full-frontal nudity was too shocking.
Interviewed in the book “Invasion of the B-Girls” by Jewel Shepard.
Ranked #9 on Maxim’s “Hottest Women of Horror Movies” list.
Wears a size 4 1/2 shoe.
Attended Bettendorf High School in Bettendorf, Iowa.
Known as “Barb” to her friends growing up in Iowa.
Before she started her acting career, she worked at a Jack LaLanne Health Spa.
