Amy Steel

Film

Steel made her film debut in Manuel Summers little-seen comedy film Fat Chance (1981). The film revolves around the characters Michael and Mary, both of whom are overweight and communicate through letters, sending each other photographs of people claiming to be themselves—Mary’s picture she sends is of Allison (portrayed by Steel in a supporting role), the granddaughter of her employer. Steel had her breakthrough role in Steve Miner’s slasher film Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) as aspiring child psychologist Ginny Field. Steel had two days of shooting in the daytime and the rest at night. The shoot was exhausting for her to the point of her stating: "I hope I never have to do another horror film the rest of my life." In a review for IGN, film critic Eric Goldman wrote: "The lead character, Ginny (the likable Amy Steel), is one of the most appealing in the entire series." The film was a box office success, grossing $21,722,776 worldwide (equivalent to $88,375,752 in 2026). For the sequel, Friday the 13th Part III (1982), Miner envisioned making Ginny the series protagonist; having spent a lot of time developing variant Ginny-centric storylines such as one placing her in a psychiatric hospital to another taking place on a college campus where she actively goes on a pursuit to find Jason after he kills her roommate. Steel turned down a sequel offer because her agent was pushing her for higher-budget roles, and she was exhausted from the second film. In retrospect, Steel has stated she regrets not doing the film as she likes the way Ginny was written.

Steel's next feature role was Kit in Fred Walton's hybrid black comedy mystery film April Fool's Day (1986) which she described as a different shooting experience compared to Friday. Steel portrayed Penny, an environmental scientist, in Melvin Frank's comedy film Walk Like a Man (1987), starring alongside Howie Mandel and Christopher Lloyd. The film grossed $460k ($1 million inflated). In a review for Reel Film Reviews, David Nusair, who gave the film itself a negative review, highlighted Steel’s performance: "scream queen Steel is effective as Bobo's love interest."

In 1996, Steel had a guest appearance as Christie, a pregnant woman, in the CBS cult horror series American Gothic (1996) episode "Rebirth", starring opposite Sarah Paulson.

In 2014, Steel made her first acting appearance in 11 years in the anthology horror film Tales of Poe. She starred alongside Adrienne King and Caroline Williams. In 2021, Steel appeared as Dr. Ginny Field in the medium-length horror film Jason Rising: A Friday the 13th Fan Film — in a voice role cameo.

Television

Steel began her career with guest roles on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light alongside fellow Friday the 13th star Kevin Bacon, as Trudy Wilson from 1980 to 1981, and as Peggy Warner on All My Children in 1980. In 1982, Steel had guest roles on the television series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982) as Allison Freleng, Family Ties (1982) as Stephanie Brooks (Michael J. Fox's character's first sexual encounter), CHiPs as Kelly Monahan, The A-Team (1983) as Kathy Ludlam, before being cast as Pam Elliott in the sci-fi series The Powers of Matthew Star alongside Peter Barton, who went on to appear in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. The series lasted until 1983. She was subsequently cast in the television films Women of San Quentin (1983) as Liz Larson and First Steps (1985) as Nan Davis. From 1983 to 1984, Steel portrayed Sharon on the short lived television series For Love and Honor.

In 1985, she had a guest appearance in Stir Crazy as Lisa Grant. The following year, Steel was cast in the television thriller film The Red Spider. In 1987, and again in 1989, Steel a guest roles in Jake and the Fatman. Steel later had a small role as a neighbor in David Greene’s ABC thriller film Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1991), a television remake of the 1962 film of the same name. The same year, she guest starred on China Beach and Walter & Emily. In 1992, Steel was cast in the television film Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo. The same year, she was cast in the horror film Play Nice.

In 1994, Steel guest starred on Viper, Home Improvement and Diagnosis: Murder before being cast in the television films Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice and The Innocent. In 1995, she was cast in the television series The Commish and the television film Damaged and Deceived. In 1996, she guest starred on American Gothic and Chicago Hope. The following year, she portrayed Dr. Liz Michaels in an episode of Millennium. In 1999, Steel was cast in the films Valerie Flake and Tycus. The following year, she portrayed Commander Samantha Woodling in a guest appearance on JAG.

In 2003, Steel was cast as Claire Goodman Isenberg in the television film A Time to Remember. After this role, Steel took an extensive break from acting and became a psychotherapist.

Film

Television