What Ever Happened to Diane Franklin?

Whenever I hear the song “Open Arms” by Journey, I think of Diane Franklin.

In the film LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN, that song plays at a crucial point of the film. She says two words (that I won’t give away for fear of spoiling the film), right as the music swells, that I think of whenever I hear the song. It shows the way that a movie can change the way you think of a song.

Diana Franklin was one of the more popular 80’s actresses. While she may not have become a household name, she appeared in several still classic films. And yet, by the end of the decade, she had essentially disappeared from acting.

She started doing commercials, and then made her film debut it THE LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN.

And what a debut it was. Diane played Karen, the object of affection of the lead character, Gary. Only, she starts dating his best friend.

It is difficult to call it a great film. There are parts that are just terrible by even teen comedy standards.

Yet, there are other parts that are among the greatest of any film.


VIRGIN has one of the greatest soundtracks of any 80’s film. It is filled with hit songs by U2, the Police, the Cars, REO Speedwagon, Journey, Lionel Ritchie, and many more. Songs that you still hear on the radio today. And, is uses them so well you have the feeling that the songs were picked first and they wrote the film around them. The film plays like a collection of music videos acted out.

And then there is the ending. I won’t give it away, but it has one of the single most depressing endings you are likely to see. It really has to be seen to be believed. I’ve often wondered if the ending triggered any suicides in the audience, it is that hard to watch. Yet, it is also probably a realistic ending. But then, as the credits roll, and you are in disbelief that the film just ended that way, there is a reprise of the theme song “Teen Angel Eyes” by Tommy Tutone (available for a free download at the band’s website) and all is right with the world.

The film still is popular today because of these elements, and was recently reissued on DVD.

Diane would go on to star in AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION. One of the uglier films of the decade, there was a whole subplot with her and her brother that I won’t remind you of.


She made a few TV films, and TV episodes, before starring in 1984’s SECOND TIME LUCKY. While it is available on DVD, LUCKY is one of her more forgotten films. She plays several characters (including Eve in the Garden of Eden, the element of the film that the filmmakers sold the film by).


In 1985, she made the film that is probably still today her most loved. Still one of the funniest, most original films of the decade. A little film called BETTER OFF DEAD. Diane played Monique, the French foreign exchange student, who was staying with John Cusack’s neighbor Ricky, and being forced to communicate in the international language of love.

Man, I loved this movie. And how could you not? Who doesn't still quote the "I want my two dollars!" line?

There were several TV episodes that followed (CHARLES IN CHARGE, MATLOCK), a pretty awful film called TERRORVISION, and a small role in yet another cult classic BILL AND TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE (although, I’m not part of that cult).


I am a part of the cult who loved her final theatrical film, BETTER OFF DEAD director Savage Steve Holland’s HOW I GOT INTO COLLEGE. Maybe because it came out in 1989 as I was going through the college application process. Diane had a very small role as the lead characters stepmother.

There were a few roles after that, episodes of MURDER SHE WROTE, PROVIDENCE (the last time I saw her), and FAMILY LAW.

But, then she retired.

So, what happened to her?

Unlike many other stories, it looks like she did have a happy ending.

According to her “official fan site” (that hasn’t been updated in a few years), she is happily married and raising her kids. She is happy with her life.

On the site, she speculates how she was one of the finalists for a role in AMADEUS and wonders what would have happened to her career if she got the part. In all honesty, I think BETTER OFF DEAD was a better choice. John Cusack is one of the big stars of today, and Tom Hulce is, well, a candidate for a future What Ever Happened to column. Not that it wasn’t a great film, but I think BETTER OF DEAD is watched more today than AMADEUS.

Also on her site, there is a recent photo of her.


She still looks great.

The IMDB lists a 2006 independent film that she had a role in. I never heard of it, and it doesn’t look like it is on DVD, but it looks like she may be getting back into the industry.

That is a great thing to read.