Desiree Gould Explained

Desiree Gould
Birth Name:Desiree Joan Gould[1]
Birth Date:March 27, 1945
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Death Date:[2]
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1979 - 2014 (acting)
1992 - 2021 (real estate)
Notable Works:Sleepaway Camp (1983)

Desiree Joan Gould (March 27, 1945 – May 24, 2021) was an American actress. She was known for her role as Aunt Martha in the 1983 slasher film Sleepaway Camp.[3] [4] [5]

Early life

Desiree Gould was born on March 27, 1945,[6] in New York City. She was the daughter of a Jewish mother and a Russian-Italian father.[7] When she was five years old, she took singing and tap-dancing classes, later having vocal training with Harry Garland, Roger Leonard, Herb Greene, developing a mezzo-soprano vocal range for musical theater, while she later took lessons in Ballet at the New York Conservatory of Dance, with Pat Doukodovsky, and, the Ballet Academy East, with Don Paradise.[8] This led to her desire to choose acting as a career path, which did not immediately occur, and she spent over twenty years between several different jobs, before deciding to take acting classes,[9] training with the Gene Feist Theatre Foundation, Barbara Loden Actor's Workshop, Paul Mann Actor's Workshop, Warren Robinson, HB Studio, and, Boston Center for the Arts.

Career

Acting

In the beginning of her acting career, she appeared in commercials and theater productions, and received her first on-screen role at the age of 33, appearing in the 1979 television film You Can't Go Home Again, starring Lee Grant, and based on the 1940 novel of the same name by Thomas Wolfe.[10] She was introduced to casting director Mary Jo Slater, who cast Gould in brief guest roles in television soap operas including One Life to Live, The Edge of Night, and Love of Life.

She is most recognized for her role as Aunt Martha in the 1983 cult classic slasher horror Sleepaway Camp, in which she plays the eccentric aunt of character Angela (Felissa Rose), and mother of Ricky (Jonathan Tiersten).[11] Gould received the part when she was with the agency Marje Fields Talent in Manhattan, and her agent, Dorothy Scott, urged her to audition for the role. She appeared in just two scenes in the film. Gould was contacted in November 2000 to participate in an interview with Sleepawaycampfilms.com,[12] followed by an appearance at the "Sleepaway Camp Reunion" convention in April 2001,[13] as well as a 2008 documentary Return to Sleepaway Camp: Behind the Scenes,[14] and the 2014 documentary At the Waterfront After the Social: The Legacy of Sleepaway Camp.

Despite the success of Sleepaway Camp, Gould decided to refrain from acting for several years in order to become a real estate agent, before making an official return in 2006, when she was cast in Under Surveillance (also known as Dark Chamber), which featured her Sleepaway Camp co-star Felissa Rose.[15] Her more recent credits include a short film titled Caesar and Otto meet Dracula's Lawyer (2010),[16] [17] a guest appearance on the television series Joe Zaso's Cafe Himbo (2011),[18] and, a role in the anthology film Tales of Poe (2014).[19]

She performed in a number of films including The Switch, Morning Glory, Going the Distance, and, Arthur, and the television series, Law & Order, Damages, and, Mercy.

In the past, she has served as a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).[20]

Real estate

Gould went on to a successful career in real estate for Douglas Elliman in 1992, while still appearing on films in between her real estate career. She left the firm in 2012.[21] Gould worked for Halstead Property real estate from 2013 up until her death. She was licensed to sell property in New York and Florida, and served as a member of The Real Estate Board of New York and The Long Island Board of Realtors.

Death

Gould died on May 24, 2021, at the age of 76. The cause of death was not disclosed.[22] [23] [24]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleclass=unsortable Notesclass=unsortable
1983Sleepaway CampAunt Martha ThomasAlso known as Nightmare Vacation[25]
2006Under SurveillanceNorma Besler Also known as Dark Chamber
2010Caesar and Otto Meet Dracula's LawyerDeborahShort film[26]
2014Tales of PoeNurse MalliardSegment: "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Television

YearTitleRoleclass=unsortable Notesclass=unsortable
1979You Can't Go Home AgainHookerTelevision film
UnknownOne Life to LiveNurseSoap opera
UnknownThe Edge of NightAngelicaSoap opera
UnknownAll My ChildrenWedding Party GuestSoap opera
UnknownLove of LifeMargoSoap opera
2011Joe Zaso's Cafe HimboHerself1 episode[27]

Stage

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Desiree Gould. Verifythem.com. 19 August 2019.
  2. Web site: [R.I.P.] 'Sleepaway Camp' Actress Desiree Gould Has Passed Away]. Squires. John. May 25, 2021. Bloody Disgusting. May 25, 2021.
  3. Web site: DVDanger: Robert Hiltzik on 'Sleepaway Camp'. Whittaker. Richard. May 31, 2014. The Austin Chronicle. May 25, 2021.
  4. Web site: Sleepaway Camp Blu-ray Review. Goldman. Eric. November 24, 2018. IGN. May 25, 2021.
  5. Web site: The New Sleepaway Camp and How to Love Problematic Things. Rouner. Jef. August 31, 2016. Houston Press. May 25, 2021.
  6. Desiree Gould, 76 . Classic Images . September 2021 . 553 . 43.
  7. Web site: indiemacuser. 2021-05-25. Actress Desiree Gould (Sleepaway Camp) passes away. 2022-01-17. Indie Mac User. en.
  8. Web site: Desiree Gould. Cni.castingnetworks.com. 5 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142621/https://cni.castingnetworks.com/talent/profile/77381?rs=1&crypt=diagnimephhohdjjcljpdomlhkpjmgfeghhdfjnjbhinpe. June 12, 2018.
  9. Gould, Desiree (Interviewee). August 23, 2008. A conversation with Desiree Gould. June 5, 2018. Fourth Horizon Cinema on YouTube.
  10. Web site: You Can't Go Home Again. tcm.com. November 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506165251/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/482492/you-cant-go-home-again/#overview. May 6, 2021.
  11. Web site: Hough. Q.V.. Know the Cast: 'Sleepaway Camp'. vaguevisages.com. July 16, 2021. November 26, 2022.
  12. Web site: Interview With Desiree Gould (2000 & 2001). Sleepawaycampfilms.com. 6 June 2018.
  13. Web site: Sleepaway Camp Reunion. Returntosleepawaycamp.com. June 5, 2018.
  14. Web site: Sleepaway Camp Behind the Scenes. Returntosleepawaycamp.com. 5 June 2018.
  15. Web site: Dark Chamber. Us.davecampfield.com. June 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20190211024329/http://us.davecampfield.com/. February 11, 2019.
  16. Web site: Caesar and Otto meet Dracula's Lawyer. Blu-ray.com. June 5, 2018.
  17. Web site: Caesar & Otto Meet Dracula's Lawyer. YouTube. May 4, 2016. June 5, 2018.
  18. Web site: Joe Zaso's Cafe Himbo with Desiree Gould. YouTube. January 1, 2012. June 5, 2018.
  19. Web site: Tales of Poe - Finishing Funds for Poe's anthology. Kickstarter.com. June 5, 2018.
  20. Web site: Agent Profile Desiree Gould. Halstead.com. June 6, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20130806001744/https://www.halstead.com/real-estate-agent/desiree-gould. August 6, 2013.
  21. Web site: Desiree Gould. LinkedIn. June 5, 2018.
  22. Web site: Dick. Jeremy. Desiree Gould Dies, Sleepaway Camp Star Was 76. movie web.com. May 25, 2021. September 17, 2021.
  23. Web site: Hamman. Cody. R.I.P.: Sleepaway Camp's Desiree Gould has passed away at 76. joblo.com. May 25, 2021. September 17, 2021.
  24. Web site: Sprague. Mike. RIP: SLEEPAWAY CAMP Star Desiree Gould Has Died at 76. deadcentral.com. May 26, 2021. September 17, 2021.
  25. Book: Lentz, Harris M.. 2001. Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits, Vol. 2: Filmography. 2nd. 1527. 978-0786409518.
  26. Web site: Caesar & Otto Meet Dracula's Lawyer Short Horror. YouTube. May 4, 2016. June 9, 2022.
  27. Web site: Joe Zaso's Cafe Himbo with Desiree Gould. YouTube. January 1, 2012. June 9, 2022.