Monday, June 18, 2012

Linda Haynes

Linda Haynes only made a handful of movies throughout the 1970's, but was a standout in all of them. Her films were gritty and her characters were often streetwise and strong. She left the business after her last film, Brubaker, with Robert Redford, and years later was discovered in Florida working as a legal secretary.

What happened? The only thing known for sure is that her small body of work is impressive and one can only wonder what kind of career she might have had if she had stuck it out.


Linda Haynes was first noticed in the movie Coffy, as a part of the infamous catfight scene which included Pam Grier, pimps, razor blades and salad. From there she took on major roles in The Nickel Ride, Rolling Thunder and the women's prison drama Human Experiments. And it was through those films that her true talent as an actress emerged.

According to an interview with her, she said she was approached by Quentin Tarantino's casting director to audition for a part in ER  that he was directing. At the time she didn't know who he was and turned down the offer. Hopefully Tarantino won't give up so easily and Linda Haynes can once again appear on the screen where she so rightfully belongs.

ADDENDUM
Steve, a reader of this blog, brought to my attention that Linda Haynes passed away on July 17, 2023. Like so many talented actors profiled here, Ms. Haynes didn't have the acting career that many of us felt she was capable of. The work she left behind, though, is memorable, and I hope others will discover her talents.

13 comments:

  1. I worked with Linda at a law firm in Florida a few years ago. What a waste of talent.

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  2. Replies
    1. Yess really man let's see a comeback!

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    2. Well, she retired from the industry after "Brubaker" in 1980 and
      moving fast forward into bigger and better things as a legal secretary between 1985 and today.

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  3. I would love to know her rationale.
    rogot0340#gmapl.com

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  4. I would love to know her rationale.
    rogot0340#gmapl.com

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  5. Read 'Louise Brooks, Frank Zappa, & Other Dreamers & Charmers' by Tom Graves. By the time she got to Hollywood, her parents had made her a child model ("I did as I was told," she said to Graves). She was okay with making still photos, but she was uncomfortable acting and temperamentally unsuited to Hollywood. Also, she was in a loveless marriage. She almost killed herself with Quaaludes and booze. When she had divorced and detoxed, she decided she had to get the hell out of acting if she were to have a life with some happiness in it.

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  6. (( When she had divorced and detoxed, she decided she had to get the hell out of acting if she were to have a life with some happiness in it. ))
    It sounds like she has intelligence, guts and character... a genuine rarity in Hollywood. She also had a phenomenal body. She was a true fuckable who exuded sex appeal. It's easy to see why men would be after those puffy nipples and want to be buried between her thighs.

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  7. I just saw on LinkedIn Linda Haynes in Bonita Springs Fl. Seeking work as a real estate agent. age 70 now Nov 4.

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  8. It was reported on August 11, 2023 that she died on July 17, 2023 in Summerville, SC. She had been living with her son since 2019. No cause of death was given.

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  9. Here is the link:

    https://everloved.com/life-of/linda-sylvander/obituary/

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