The Babes of Horror

For me, Barbara Steele stands above all other horror starlets. In Bava's "Black Sunday," her piercing eyes stare into your very soul. Steele is a true scream queen and has appeared in numerous horror films, many of them classics, like "Pit and the Pendulum," "Piranha," David Cronenberg's "Shivers," "The Horrible Dr. Hitchcock," "Nightmare Castle," "The Ghost," "Castle of Blood," "She-Beast," "The Long Hair of Death," "Terror-Creatures from the Grave," "Curse of the Crimson Alter," "The Silent Scream," "The Boneyard Collection," and "The Butterfly Room," in addition to a reoccurring part on "Dark Shadows."

Played the beautiful pig-tailed daughter in "Das Golem," one of the first woman to be seen in the classic "The Monster's Touch" pose.

One of the great starlets of the silent era, Mary Philbin was the first Universal Studios scream queen, appearing alongside genre icons Lon Chaney and Conrad Veidt in "Phantom of the Opera," "The Man Who Laughs," and "The Last Performance."

Numerous horror credits, from the early silent classic "The Unknown," to hag-horror trend setter "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" to the classic William Castle schlock fest "Straight Jacket." Always glamorous, Crawford shined even in flicks like "Berserk" "I Saw What You Did," and "Trog."

Classic actress of Hollywood's Golden Age who is best known to horror fans for her incredibly sexy turn as Ivy, the object of Mr. Hyde's lust, in the 1931 classic "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Her other genre credits include "Savage Intruder" and an episode of "The Outer Limits."

With her beautiful blonde hair and wide, expressive eyes, Marian Marsh made an impression as Trilby in the 1931 version of "Svengali." She later reteamed with John Barrymore the same year for a similarly themed horror-thriller, "The Mad Genius." Later on, she appeared with Boris Karloff in "The Black Room" as well as a number of mysteries and comedies.

The love of King Kong's life and the world's first true scream queen, Fay Wray was and always shall be a classic. Other notable horror credits include "The Most Dangerous Game," "Doctor X," "The Vampire Bat," the underrated "Mystery at the Wax Museum," and "Black Moon."

Otherwise known as Lota the Panther Woman from incendiary 1932 classic "Island of Lost Souls." Burke was exotic, innocent, and implacably sexy in that film. Other credits include "Murders in the Zoo."

Baclanova was a simmering seductress as the wicked Cleopatra in still disturbing to this day classic "Freaks." Other horror credits include the 1923 silent melodrama "The Man Who Laughs."

Another exotic, unforgettable face of early horror, eccentric Zita Johann was spell-binding in "The Mummy" as a woman who spawned a love that last a thousand years. The only other horror credit in her brief career is "Raiders of the Living Dead."

The Bride of Frankenstein herself! The most iconic female character in all of horror! Other genre credits include the original 1971 version of "Willard," "Arnold," and "Terror at the Wax Museum."

First coming to horror fan's attention as the woman who tempted the beast in 1941's "The Wolf Man," Ankers would go on to become a studio player in many Universal horror films of the 1940s, such as "Hold That Ghost," "The Ghost of Frankenstein," "Captive Wild Woman," "Son of Dracula," "The Mad Ghoul," "Weird Woman," "Jungle Woman," "Pearls of Death," "The Pearl of Death," "The Frozen Ghost," and "The Invisible Man's Revenge."

Holden has the distinction of being the first lesbian vampire on-screen in the 1936 sequel, "Dracula's Daughter." She had an absolutely captivating face.

Femme fatale of classic cinema, Universal tried to spin her role in the Sherlock Holmes film "The Spider Woman" into a stand-alone franchise with "The Spider Woman Strikes Back." She did her time in other genre films like 1939 version of "The Cat and the Canary," 1941's "The Black Cat," "The Invisible Man Returns," "The Climax," hag horror entry "Savage Intruder," and later TV work like "The Cat Creature" and an episode of "Night Gallery" before ending her career with a 1983 thriller "Echoes."

An association with Universal Studios led this striking beauty to roles in "Black Friday," "The Invisible Woman," "Man-Made Monster," "The Mad Doctor of Market Street," and two "Green Hornet" serials. Later, she appeared in "The Mad Monster" and "Mighty Joe Young."

Unforgettable in 1942's "Cat People," "The Devil and Daniel Webster," and the excellent sequel "Curse of the Cat People," from 1944.

The blonde alternative to Simon Simone's exoticism in "Cat People" and "Curse of the Cat People," Miss Randolph also appeared in "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein."

Exotic looking actress originated the role of Paula the Ape Woman, one of the more minor Universal Monsters, in the mid-1940s. Aside from "Captive Wild Woman" and "Jungle Woman," Accquanetta also appeared in "Dead Man's Eyes" and 1951's "Lost Continent."

Best known as Zira from the "Planet of the Apes" franchise, Hunter appeared in a number of classic horror films, like "The Seventh Victim," "Dark August," beloved TV shocker "Bad Ronald," and eighties horrors "The Kindred" and "Two Evil Eyes."

Gorgeous as the daughter of Frankenstein in "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man." Massey also appeared in the pulpy "Invisible Agent."

Look at that profile picture! Definitive horror babe material right there. Hughes appeared in two late period Universal sci-fi/horror films, "It Came From Outer Space" and "Cult of the Cobra." She later showed up in the TV movie, "The Spell."

Universal player in the forties who made an impression on classic horror fans with her girl-next-door smile and long legs. Her horror credits include "Black Friday," 1941's "The Black Cat," "The Strange Case of Doctor Rx," "Weird Woman," "Murder in the Blue Room," "House of Frankenstein," "The Ghost Goes Wild," and "Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome."

Clad in a skin-tight white swimsuit, Julie Adams swam into the hearts of horror fans worldwide in one of my favorite films, 1954's "Creature from the Black Lagoon." A mainstay of westerns, Adams' other horror credits include "Psychic Killer" and an episode of "Kolchak: The Night Stalker."

Signoret played one of the best horror victims of all time in the French New Wave classic "Diabolique." She also appeared in 1947's "Fantomas" and the 1967 thriller "Games."

The shapely Faith Domergue is probably best remembered as the space-suit bound damsel in distress from "This Island Earth." She also appeared in other minor genre classics like "Cult of the Cobra," "It Came from Beneath the Sea," "The Atomic Brain," "So Evil, My Sister," and "House of the Seven Corpses."

Beverly Garland, a stunning blonde beauty in her day, has two claims to fame. She appeared on hundreds of TV shows through the sixties, seventies, and onward. More pressingly to this list, she also appeared in many cult drive-in monster movies in the fifties like "The Neanderthal Man," "It Conquered the World," "Curucu, Beast of the Amazon," "Not of This Earth," "The Alligator People," an episode of "Thriller," "Stark Fear," "Twice-Told Tales," and "The Mad Room."

Best known as the pure, beautiful love interest in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," the elegant Wynter's only other genre credit is an appearance on a 1965 episode of "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour."

Laffan is well remembered for the skin tight space suit she wore as the titular villain in "Devil Girl from Mars."

Dark-haired fifties pin-up icon that appeared in a trilogy of giant monster B-movies: "Tarantula," "The Giant Claw, and "The Black Scorpion."

The first of many Hammer beauties, Hazel Court first impressed horror fans as the good girl love interest in "Curse of Frankenstein." She also appeared in "Ghost Ship," "Devil Girl from Mars," "The Man Who Could Cheat Death," "Doctor Blood's Coffin," "Masque of the Red Death," "Premature Burial," and "The Raven." Her last role was an uncredited bit part in "Omen III: The Final Conflict."

"The Hideous Sun Demon" is a pretty goofy flick but Nan Peterson's low cut neckline is excellent in it. Peterson also appeared in a couple episodes of the original "Twilight Zone."

A bombshell of the 1950s, Cummins was glamorous in "Curse of the Demon."

A frequent player in B-movies of the late 1950s and early 1960s, such as "The Undead," "Zombies of Mora Tau," "The Unearthly," "The Disembodied," "The Hypnotic Eye," and "The Crawling Hand." Hayes is no doubt most famous for the title role in camp classic "Attack of the 50 ft. Woman." The poster of her straddling a highway overpass is an iconic horror pin-up image.

Best known as one of the few reoccurring Bond girls, Eunice was lovely in 1958's "The Revenge of Frankenstein."

The first of many beautiful Hammer vampires, from "Horror of Dracula."

The lovely Barbara Shelley is best known for her work with Hammer, starring in "The Camp on Blood Island," "The Shadow of the Cat," "The Gorgon," "Dracula: Prince of Darkness," and "Rasputin: The Mad Monk," and "Quatermass and the Pit" for the studio. She was also in "Village of the Damned," "Cat Girl," and "Blood of the Vampire."

Her shower scene in "Psycho" changed horror forever. Leigh also appeared in "Night of the Lepus," "The Fog," and "Halloween H20."

Incredibly sexy as the unfortunate model in "A Bucket of Blood." Her only other horror credit is "The Atomic Brain" from 1963.

Vampira originated the sexy female horror hosts archetype in the 1950s before starring in the best-worst movie ever, "Plan 9 from Outer Space."

Glamorous and sexy in "La Dolca Vita," Furneaux melted horror fans' hearts in Hammer's remake of "The Mummy." Another woman worth coming back from the dead for. She also appeared in Polanski's "Repulsion."

Another important actress to the "Psycho" legacy, Miles also appeared in the film's underrated 1983 sequel.

Voluptuous British pin-up model who had a brief but infamous part in Michael Powell's incredible "Peeping Tom."

Fragile and stunning in "Eyes Without a Face," Scob also appeared in "The Brotherhood of the Wolf."

Another "Peeping Tom" actresses. Michael Powell had a weakness for red heads and so do I. Brenda's gorgeous red hair looks beautiful in Powell's vivid technicolor.

First came to horror fan's attention in "Scream of Fear," Strasberg also appeared in "The Manitou" and "Bloody Birthday," not to mention numerous episodes of horror TV like "Night Gallery," "Tales from the Dark Side," "Tales of the Unexpected," "The Sixth Sense," and "The Invaders."

It's hard to describe my appreciation for Yvonne Romain without sounding like a perv. Needless to say, Ms. Romain is one of my favorite Hammer beauties and could sport a low-cut dress like no one else, most impressively in "Curse of the Werewolf." Romain also appeared in "Night Creatures (AKA Captain Clegg)," "Corridors of Blood," "Circus of Fear," and "Devil Doll."

Unforgettable in "The Innocents."

Chilly and mesmerizing as the main character in "Carnival of Souls," Hilligoss also appeared in "The Curse of the Living Corpse."

Jones solidified the fantasy of the eerie, dark haired horror maiden as Mortica Addams on "The Addams Family." Jones also appeared on "Batman" and "Kolchak: The Night Stalker." Feature credits of interest include the original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and Tobe Hooper's "Eaten Alive."

You're either a Mortica or a Lily. De Carlo was stunning as a pin-up model and in "The Ten Commandments" before establishing herself as a horror legend for her role as the mother on camp classic sitcom "The Munsters." Horror feature roles include "American Gothic," "The Silent Scream," "Cellar Dweller," and "Satan's Cheerleaders."

By the time she starred in horror films like "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?," "The Nanny," "Burnt Offerings," "The Watcher in the Woods," and "Wicked Stepmother," you'd be hard press to call Bette Davis a babe. But she was an iconic beauty in the 30s and 40s.

Stunning in Mario Bava's erotic ghost story "The Whip and the Body," Lavi also appeared in "The Return of Dr. Mabuse" and 1963's "The Demon."

Graceful, fragile, but gorgeous in "The Haunting." Other genre credits include "How Awful About Alan," Sam Raimi's "Crimewave," and "The Dark Half."

If Julie Harris wasn't your style in "The Haunting," how about Claire Bloom as the more intense Theo? Bloom also appeared in the original "Clash of the Titans" as the goddess Hera.

She only had a bit part in Hammer's "The Evil of Frankenstein" and an uncredited role in "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed" but she was memorable in the former... Mostly because of the low-cut nightgown she wore.

Another one of Hitchcock's beauties, Hedren was menaced by feathered furries in "The Birds." Other genre films include "Pacific Heights," "The Boneyard Collection" and TV movies like "The Darkling" and the dubious "Birds II: Land's End."

Though quite lovely in her days, as evident in 1963's "These Are the Damned," Viveca Lindfors didn't become a reliable horror presence until she was an older woman, as in "A Bell from Hell," "The Hand," "Creepshow," "Silent Madness," television series "Frankenstein's Aunt," and "The Exorcist III."

Striking Karin Dor, aside from being a Bond girl, appeared regularly in the Krimi mystery/horror thrillers of 1960s Germany. Such as "The Invisible Dr. Mabuse," "The Carpet of Horror," "The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle," "Room 13," "The Face of Fu Manchu," "The Sinister Monk," "The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism," and "Dark Echoes."

I could list almost the entire cast of Bava's "Blood and Black Lace." The film is filled with beautiful women. Chief among them is Eva Bartok.

The original Bond girl, Andress appeared in Hammer's "She" and Italian cannibal flick "The Mountain of the Cannibal God."

Credited as Lea Krugher, Lander was another beautiful victim in "Blood and Black Lace." She later appeared in another Bava film, the intense crime flick "Rabid Dogs.

Honor Blackman cemented her place in cinema history when she became Pussy Galore. An early horror credit was 1948's "Daughter of Darkness" but much later she'd appear in "Jason and the Argonauts," "To the Devil a Daughter," 1978's "The Cat and the Canary," "Tale of the Mummy," "Cockneys vs. Zombies," and episodes of "Suspense" and "Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible."

Okay, last one from "Blood and Black Lace." Dantes is spellbinding as the strikingly beautiful Tao-Li. If you'll allow me to sound creepy for a little bit, her death scene is the sexiest scene in the whole movie. She has few other credits.

An iconic beauty of the French New Wave, Deneuve starred in the amazing "Repulsion" as well as the highly erotic 1983 vampire film "The Hunger."

I'm really pushing the definition of "Babes of Horror" with this one. Not the babe part, that's indisputable. Welch had a profound influence on many a young men in Hammer's "One Million Years BC" and "Fantastic Voyage," neither of which are really horror movies.

She wore a very tight space suit in "Planet of the Vampires."

As alien double agent Namikawa in my favorite Godzilla movie, "Invasion of Astro-Monster", the lovely Kumi Mizuno made an impression in a tight space suit and black wig. Mizuno was a regular in Toho's monster movies, appearing in "Gorath," "Matango" "Frankenstein Conquers the World," "War of the Gargantuas," as a scantily clad island girl in "Godzilla Versus the Sea Monster," "The Killing Bottle," "Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla," and "Godzilla: Final Wars."

Now and always Catwoman, the iconic Miss Newmar has dabbled in horror: An episode of 1976's "Monster Squad," parody "Hysterical," "Evils of the Night," "Deep Space," and both of the "Oblivion" films.

Highly seductive in William Castle's farcical remake of "The Old Dark House." She later appeared in the horror spoof "Carry On Screaming."

Aside from slipping into Newmar's Catwoman suit, and arguably wearing it better, the lovely Miss Meriwether has also appeared in "The 4D Man," TV Movie "Cruise into Terror," also taking over Lily Munster on "The Munsters Today," and recent parody "Silent but Deadly."

Attractive star of many Hammer horror films, including "Dracula: Prince of Darkness," "Rasputin: The Mad Monk," "The Gorgon," and "Quatermass and the Pit." Before any of that, she appeared in the original "Village of the Damned."

It's a sad, well-known fact that Sharon Tate's promising career was cut short by real life horror. She was beautiful in "The Fearless Vampire Killers."

Though her career was short lived, Denberg was stunning as the title character in 1967's "Frankenstein Created Woman." She had another famous title role as one of Mudd's Women on an episode of "Star Trek."

Ethereal Mia Farrow maybe isn't exactly a babe, though she is beautiful. But her horror cred is undeniable. Chief among her genre credits are "Rosemary's Baby" of course, but also "See No Evil," "The Haunting of Julia," and the remake of "The Omen." She was also married to Frank Sinatra and Woody Allen which was probably horrifying for very different reasons.

Another Hammer beauty, Carlson appears in "Dracula Has Risen from His Grave," memorably in the controversial "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed," and "The Horror of Frankenstein," as well as other non-Hammer horrors like "Old Drac," "The Ghoul" with Peter Cushing, and 1995's "Freakshow."

Iconic but catatonic as Barbara in "Night of the Living Dead," O'Dea has become a regular on the horror convention circuit in recent years.

Another actress who's career was sadly cut short, Jill Banner was a spider babe in "Spider Baby," Jack Hill's fabulously odd cult classic.

Oh, Ingrid Pitt. I don't think any buxom beauty was associated with the bawdy, bloody horror films of Hammer late period as much as you. Always amazingly easy on the eyes and sadly no longer with us. Credits include "The Vampire Lovers," "Countess Dracula," "The Wicker Man," "The House That Dripped Blood," "Transmutations," "The Sound of Horror," and her final film with Hammer, 2008's web serial "Beyond the Rave."

If Raquel Welch was the bikini wearing cave-babe of the 1960s, then Playboy centerfold Victoria Vetri was the same for the 1970s, though in my opinion she's the hotter of the two. Aside from "When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth," she also appears in "Invasion of the Bee Girls" and in a small role in "Rosemary's Baby."

Though her most notable role is as the object of Dracula's lust in "Taste the Blood of Dracula," Linda Hayden's horror work is other British genre fare outside of Hammer. Such as "The Blood on Satan's Claws," "Night Watch," "Old Drac," "Madhouse," "Expose," "The Boys from Brazil," and "Stalker."

Her most notorious role is as the unfortunate wife in "A Clockwork Orange" but Adrienne Corri had been floating around British horror since 1954's "Devil Girl from Mars!" Her other credits include "Corridors of Blood," "The Tell-Tale Heart," "A Study of Terror," "Journey Into Darkness," "Moon Zero Two," "Vampire Circus," and "Madhouse."

Beautiful as a murder victim in Bava's "Hatchet for the Honeymoon" and Fulci's "House by the Cemetery."

A two time Bond girl, the astonishing Beswick has numerous horror credits, most famously "Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde," but also "Prehistoric Women," "One Million Years BC," Oliver Stone's "Seizure," "Devil Dog: The Hound from Hell," "Evil Spirits," "Trancers II," "Critters 4," and "Night of the Scarecrow."

Carmilla's soul mate in "The Vampire Lovers," the amazingly hot Madeline Smith also appeared in Hammer's "Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell."

Played a hunchback nun with a sexual obsession with Oliver Reed and a supposed demonic possession in Ken Russell's controversial "The Devils." Also appeared in a 1991 TV remake of "Whatever Happen to Baby Jane?"

German actress who appeared in many Italian monster flicks during the sixties and seventies like "The Blancheville Monster," "Nightmare Castle," "Horror Express," "Horror Rises from the Tomb," "The Mummy's Revenge," "The Dracula Saga," and "The Vampires' Night Orgy."

Bond babe, Hammer babe, Sinbad babe, Caroline Munro's physique has appeared in "Dracula 1972 AD," "Dr. Phibes Rises Again," "Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter," "At the Earth's Core," "Maniac," "The Last Horror Film," and trash-slasher classic "Slaughter High," in which the 36 year old Munro played a high school student.

British cutie smoldered in cult classic "Girly." She also appeared in "The Blood Beast Terror," "Carnage (1968)," "What Became of Jack and Jill?," and a 1973 television version of "The Portrait of Dorian Grey." She seemingly retired from acting afterwards.

Hammer babe from "Dracula 1972 AD," "And Now the Screaming Starts," "Schizo," and "The Witch's Hammer."

As far as Carmilla's go, she's no Ingrid Pitt, but Stensgaard was undeniably eye-catching in the sequel "Lust for a Vampire." She also appeared in "Scream and Scream Again" and 1972's "Burke and Hare."

A muse of the late Mario Bava, the enlightening Ms. Sommer appeared in "Baron Blood," "Lisa and the Devil," video nasty "I Miss You Hugs and Kisses," and the 1974 version of "Ten Little Indians."

Twin sisters Madeleine and Mary Collinson were the first identical siblings to be featured in Playboy Magazine. After that, they got the title roles in the final part of Hammer's Carmilla trilogy, "Twins of Evil." Both of the girls are very busty and mouthwateringly hot.

Twin sisters Madeleine and Mary Collinson were the first identical siblings to be featured in Playboy Magazine. After that, they got the title roles in the final part of Hammer's Carmilla trilogy, "Twins of Evil." Both of the girls are very busty and mouthwateringly hot.

Though best known for her role on "Dynasty" and her second career as a trashy novelist, Collins has a number of horror credits including Amicus' "Tales from the Crypt," "Tales That Witness Murder," ""Fear in the Night," and "The Empire of Ants."

I'm noticing a large crossover between Bond girls and horror babes. Virginia North is of course best known as the nefarious Dr. Phibe's fetching assistant Vulnavia in "The Abominable Dr. Phibes."

Emma Peel and Tracy Bond, legendary British hottie Rigg's appeared alongside Vincent Price in "Theatre of Blood." Further horror credits include the TV movies "The Haunting of Helen Walker" and "The Worst Witch," if that counts.

Though Harry Kumel's erotic classic "Daughters of Darkness" features several beautiful women, none of them made as strong an impression on me as boyish-in-looks-but-not-body Andrea Rau.

I've got a personal soft spot for smoky voiced Margot Kidder, despite her personal problems and up-and-down career. She was indeed a babe back in the seventies. Her horror credits include Brian DePalma's "Sisters," ""Black Christmas, ""The Amityville Horror," Rob Zombie's "Halloween II," "The Reincarnation of Peter Proud," and "The Clown at Midnight," among others. She is also, of course, the best Lois Lane ever.

The fay-like star of the dreamy "Let's Scare Jessica to Death," Lampert also appeared in "Exorcist III."

Pamela Franklin has been a horror star from the very beginning, with major roles in 1961's "The Innocents" and Hammer's "The Nanny" not long after that. By the time she appeared in 1973's "Legend of Hell House," she had bloomed into a young lady so attractive, even ghosts wanted her. Other horror credits include "And Soon the Darkness" and Bert I. Gordon's "Necromancy."