Kathleen Turner Turns 70, Where is She Now + Best to Worst Roles
Kathleen Turner is often named as having one of the sexiest roles in film history in Body Heat and starred in a string of movie hits after in the ’80s, including Romancing the Stone, Peggy Sue Got Married and Prizzi’s Honor. She provided the sultry voice of Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Turner also had a distinguished stage career, turning in top performances in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? She has served as chairperson of Planned Parenthood, is a big supporter of the American Red Cross, and volunteers at Amnesty International and Citymeals On Wheels. Having been more low key these days with acting as she has health problems with rheumatoid arthritis, the New York City native occasionally teaches acting, and just celebrated the 30th anniversary of Serial Mom with her pal Jon Waters. We salute her on her 70th birthday on June 19 with some of her best, and worst films according to IMDB ratings.
Roger Rabbit is an up-and-coming toon star who learns that he is the prime suspect in a sensationalized murder case. Playing alongside Roger are the great detective Eddie Valiant, whom Roger enlists to clear him of the crime, and the largest collection of animated personalities ever presented in one film, including Jessica Rabbit who Turner voices and Baby Herman. Stars Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy and Stubby Kaye.
7.7
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Body Heat
In director Lawrence Kasdan’s steamy film noir, a sultry young wife seduces a naive small-town lawyer and convinces him to kill her rich husband. Also stars William Hurt, Richard Crenna and Ted Danson.
7.4
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Alongside Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito, she shines in this frothy and fast-paced tale of adventure and attraction set in South America. Turner plays a Manhattan romance novelist who journeys to Colombia on a mission to free her kidnapped sister. There she meets Douglas’ character, a soldier of fortune with a stubborn streak. The two form an uneasy partnership as they search for the demanded ransom — an enormous heart-shaped gem. This classic just celebrated its 40th anniversary and while the sequel Jewel of the Nile wasn’t as memorable it was still enough to keep us fans of the Joan Wilder book club.
6.9
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Serial Mom
Commemorate Mom’s special day with counter-culture director John Waters’ tribute to maternal instinct. Playing the role of the perfect suburban mother who takes her family and her family values dead seriously, bumping off anyone who might offend either. She’s an excellent housekeeper but a messy murderess, and soon the police come calling. Look for cameos by Waters’ favorites Traci Lords, Ricki Lake and Patricia Hearst.
6.8
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After 17 years of marriage, Barbara and Oliver Rose have had enough. Neither wants to leave their beautiful home, so they begin a fierce, all-out battle to rid themselves of one another. Also stars Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito.
6.8
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Prizzi’s Honor
Charley and Irene are hired killers who fall in love — only to find out they’ve each been contracted to kill the other. Nominated for eight Academy Awards. Also stars Jack Nicholson, Robert Loggia and Anjelica Huston.
6.7
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After she faints at her 25-year high-school reunion, Peggy Sue awakes as the teenage version of herself with a chance to rewrite her past, including an unhappy marriage to her high-school sweetheart. Also stars Nicolas Cage.
6.4
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Steve Martin cowrote this tale of world-famous surgeon Michael Hfuhruhurr, who is trapped in a loveless marriage to the scheming woman (Kathleen Turner) whose life he saved with “cranial screw-top brain entry,” a technique of his own invention. The good doctor finds true love with the brain of another woman who seems to have everything he wants — except a body. Sissy Spacek goes uncredited as the voice of the brain.
6.4
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A Simple Wish
Anabel Greening’s widowed father, a singer-actor who supports the family by driving a hansom cab in Central Park, is about to audition for the lead role in a big Broadway musical; if he doesn’t get the part, he is moving the family to Nebraska. When Anabel wishes for a fairy godmother to help, what she ends up with is unexpected — a guy named Murray whose wish-fulfilling abilities leave a lot to be desired. Making matters worse is the evil Claudia, an excommunicated fairy godmother gone bad who seeks total domination of the field. It is now up to Murray and Anabel to restore the world to a place where a simple wish can come true. Also stars Martin Short, Mara Wilson, Francis Capra and Robert Pastorelli.
5.3
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Baby Geniuses
An unscrupulous child psychiatrist plans to tap into the incredible brainpower of infants and toddlers to gain personal wealth and power, but a 2-year-old baby who escapes from her secret lab threatens to blow the whistle on her project. Also stars Christopher Lloyd, Kim Cattrall, Peter MacNicol, Dom DeLuise, Kyle Howard and Ruby Dee.
2.6
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What is your favorite role of hers?