How ‘Ice Castles’ and ‘Watcher in the Woods’ Star Lynn-Holly Johnson Learned to Fly From Christopher Reeve (Exclusive)
Lynn-Holly Johnson started her career at age 5 and found quite a unique path to her leading roles in Ice Castles and The Watcher in the Woods, as well as meeting up with Superman star Christopher Reeve. Johnson started her career as an athlete — a competitive figure skating — before jumping into acting. In 1974 she won the silver medal at the novice level in the U.S. Figure Skating Championship, and then she left competitive skating and joined the more theatrical side in Ice Capades.
Those experiences helped land her first big film role in 1978’s Ice Castles, where she starred opposite teen heartthrob Robby Benson. The film was an epic tearjerker (spoiler: she goes partially blind in a tragic skating accident) and was a romantic hit at the box office (along with the film’s theme song from Melissa Manchester, “Through the Eyes of Love”). Since, Johnson has been seen in over 100 TV commercials and scored lead roles in 1980’s The Watcher in the Woods, 1981’s For Your Eyes Only and 1984’s Where the Boys Are. Johnson chatted with ReMIND Magazine about working with Bette Davis on Disney’s The Watcher in the Woods, her memories of Robby Benson and learning to fly from Christopher Reeve.
Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for EON Productions & Prime Video
When it came to Ice Castles was there any offscreen romance with your costar?
©Columbia/Everett Collection
Robby is a good guy, I didn’t realize that it was such a big deal working with him. I did it over 100 commercials from the age of 5 on – but never a movie. I had done a lot of industrial films as a kid and Ice Castles was my first studio picture. Robby just watched out for me and helped me along and made sure all was good. That was a great experience.
How was it working with Bette Davis in Disney’s The Watcher in the Woods?
© Buena Vista/Everett Collection
I certainly knew who Bette Davis was and with my background being a competitive figure skater since I was 5 years old, all I knew was to train hard. Just keep working hard and Miss Davis really liked me for that reason.
Nobody on the set thought, ‘Oh, my gosh, there’s Bette Davis – I’m walking right past her.’ It never occurred to anybody because everybody was just working. There was only one time she lost a little patience with the crew and reprimanded the assistant director. I think everybody was on their toes because they anticipated she could blow but it never happened, except that one time and that was just for about 30 seconds. In fact, in some of the interviews she [Davis] was doing while we were shooting, she said I was the most solid and serious hard worker that she’s ever worked with. Over the years, people have said it must have been really something working with her. But at the time, it was just the focus of doing a good job. Since then, a decade later, I really realized it was cool that I worked with her. Wish I had sat down with her and chatted about life … but I never did.
How was it filming at Pinewood Studios [where you eventually met Christopher Reeve]?
I’m so thrilled to have worked at Pinewood Studios. I didn’t know at the time, but there is a load of film history there. I was there filming the Watcher’s ending, where I’m supposed to fly. At the same time Christopher Reeve was filming Superman at Pinewood. Christopher and I both chatted a lot in the dining room and hung out a bit. We even went to a premiere together. Christopher said to me, ‘OK, let’s get you on my set and we’re going to show you how to fly.’ So, Christopher, his stuntman, his stunt coordinator and the Watcher’s stunt coordinator – all just hung out on the Superman set and they taught me how to fly. There I was flying – next to Superman. I didn’t realize at the time how special that was – looking back – that was a cool moment.
How amazing that Christopher Reeve taught you how to fly!
Warner Bros./Everett Collection
I know right! It’s just such a shame we lost him – it’s heartbreaking. When I was promoting Watcher, my manager was good friends with Christopher Reeve and so a couple of times we would go to New York for promotions, we stayed overnight at Christopher Reeves’ brownstone in Manhattan. I can’t believe he’s gone. That documentary about his life [Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story] is so beautiful.
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