The Night Stalker (1972) gave Carol Lynley a chance to broaden her acting horizons
Lynley admitted that her role in the film was "pretty far" from characters she had previously played.
The 1972 made-for-television film The Night Stalker wasn’t just a new twist on a traditional genre; it was an interesting opportunity for actors to branch out in their careers.
Prior to 1972, Carol Lynley was an actor who was known for playing ingénues who had taken a turn down a dark path. The actor had starred in films like Return to Peyton Place (1961) and The Cardinal (1963). While these films had earned Lynley fame and wealth, starring in The Night Stalker was the chance that she had been waiting for to take on a new sort of role. Lynley starred in the film as Gail Foster, a girlfriend close to protagonist Carl Kolchak as he investigates a series of Las Vegas murders.
“I play a Las Vegas showgirl,” said Lynley of her character during an interview with the Anaheim Bulletin. “Not a hussy, but a girl who has been through the wringer and knows what life is all about. That’s pretty far from the kind of role I’ve been associated with.”
Lynley credited fellow actor Ann-Margret for opening the door to new opportunities.
“That kind of part is not for me anymore,” said the actor. “Ann-Margret’s performances in Carnal Knowledge (1971) have given actresses like me a phenomenal boost. She proved that an actress who has been typed for a certain kind of part can be brilliant.”
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