Although Kim Darby never really disappeared from film for any signifcant length of time, to the casual filmgoer, it would appear that she made the film True Grit with John Wayne in 1969 (portraying a 14-year old at the age of 21), and then disappeared until 1985 when she starred as John Cusack’s mother in Better Off Dead. She was making films and TV appearances in the interim, just nothing I’ve ever heard of. Ten years later she’d show up yet again in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.
I of course was most interested in her role in True Grit and thus chose to purchase a photo of her and John Wayne when I got the opportunity to meet her at the Hollywood Show on Saturday, February 12, 2011. As I was handing over my money, some guy came up and started chattering with her and interrupting our encounter. I almost let him have it, but I’m glad I didn’t – as I later realized it that the strange, talkative fellow was Jeff Conaway.
Kim Darby herself was quite an odd bird, extremely quiet and with the worst signature since Daniel Stern and Robbie Rist. However, she was kind enough to pose for a picture with me after signing my photo and adding the name of the film to her ‘inscription’. At least you can read that.
Celebrities of the Winter 2011 Hollywood Show will continue…
All I can say is that I’m just glad to finally read a new posting on this site.
Peter
January 13th, 2012
Kim Darby appeared in one of the best made-for-tv horror/suspense films of all time: 1973’s “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark”, costarring with Jim Hutton, and directed by John Newland (previously of “Alcoa Presents One Step Beyond” fame).
Bill
January 13th, 2012