| Sean Young | |
| Birth Name: | Mary Sean Young |
| Birth Date: | November 20, 1959 |
| Birth Place: | Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Yearsactive: | 1980–present |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Spouse: | |
| Children: | 2 |
Mary Sean Young Lujan (born November 20, 1959)[1] is an American actress. She is known for starring in science-fiction and comedy films throughout the 1980s and 1990s, although she has performed in many genres.
Young's first successful film was the comedy Stripes (1981). She rose to prominence for her roles in Blade Runner, Young Doctors in Love (both 1982), Dune (1984), No Way Out, Wall Street (both 1987), Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me (1992) and (1994). Since the 2000s, she has predominantly appeared in independent projects, with the exception of The Young and the Restless (2010–2011) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017).
Young was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the daughter of Donald Young Jr., a television producer and journalist, and Lee Guthrie (Mary Lee Kane), a screenwriter, public-relations executive, and journalist.[2] [3]
She was a student at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. She also attended the School of American Ballet in New York City.[4]
Young began her film career in Jane Austen in Manhattan (1980), followed by a role in the film Stripes (1981). She then played the female lead, Rachael, alongside Harrison Ford in the classic science-fiction film Blade Runner (1982). On television, Young played the female lead opposite Lenny Von Dohlen in Under the Biltmore Clock (1986), based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's story "Myra Meets His Family". The following year, she had a small role in the film Wall Street (1987) as the wife of Michael Douglas's character, Gordon Gekko. Her role was originally intended to be larger, but was significantly reduced due to clashes with Oliver Stone.[5]
One of Young's most prominent roles was as the lover of a ruthless Washington, DC, politician (Gene Hackman) in No Way Out (also 1987), alongside Kevin Costner. Her other credits include Dune (1984) (playing Paul Atreides's love interest Chani), (1985), and Fatal Instinct (1993). Young appeared in The Boost (1988) with James Woods. She was next cast as Vicki Vale in Tim Burton's film Batman (1989), but during rehearsals, she broke her arm after falling off a horse and was replaced by Kim Basinger.
In 1991, she was awarded the Worst Actress and the Worst Supporting Actress Razzies for her roles in A Kiss Before Dying.[6] She played the main antagonist in the comedy (1994). She also played Helen Hyde in the comedy Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde (1995).
Young was considered for the role of Selina Kyle / Catwoman in the 1992 film Batman Returns. Young reportedly visited the Warner Bros. lot in a homemade Catwoman costume for an impromptu audition with director Tim Burton, who allegedly hid under his desk while actor Michael Keaton and producer Mark Canton briefly met with her. She also showcased her costume on Entertainment Tonight and pitched it on The Joan Rivers Show. Warner Bros. ultimately decided that Young did not align with their vision for Catwoman.[7] [8] [9] [10]
During most of the 1990s, Young resided in Sedona, Arizona, and her career cooled. She reprised her role as Rachael in the Blade Runner video game released in 1997. Young has appeared in independent films, including roles in Poor White Trash (2000), Mockingbird Don't Sing (2001), and Sugar & Spice (also 2001). She spent four months in Russia filming the miniseries Yesenin (2005), in which she portrayed dancer Isadora Duncan.
In 2008, Young competed in the television program Gone Country 2, which included a competition in a celebrity demolition derby at the Henry County Fairgrounds in Paris, Tennessee. Young went on to win the celebrity derby heat and then went on to compete against 21 professional demolition derby drivers. Young finished in fourth place. In 2010, she was cast on the first season of the ABC series Skating with the Stars as a celebrity contestant, who skated with professional skater Denis Petukhov,[11] [12] but she was the first celebrity to be eliminated.Young appeared on The Young and the Restless in June 2010 as Canadian barmaid Meggie McClain, alongside good friend Eric Braeden.[13] [14] She returned to the show on July 14 in a recurring role, which lasted through February 2011.[15]
In October 2011, Young appeared on Late Show with David Letterman.[16] During the interview, she described how she was now looking for movie work after raising her two sons, and produced a short video clip promoting her job search, which Letterman played. She was subsequently cast in a film about Nikola Tesla, titled Fragments From Olympus: The Vision of Nikola Tesla (still in development as of August, 2023).
In October 2013, Young played the role of Dr. Lucien in , a fan project to create a pilot for a new Star Trek series (released in August 2015) where several former Star Trek actors appeared, including Tim Russ (who also directed the pilot) and Walter Koenig. In June 2013, Young performed in a benefit skating event at the Ice Theater of New York,[17] competing in a Celebrity Skating competition against YouTube personality Michael Buckley, and US Olympic Fencing silver medalist Tim Morehouse.
Young reprised her 1982 role of Rachael for Blade Runner 2049 (2017), portraying both the original (using archival footage from the first film) and a brand new cloned version of the character. This was achieved through the use of another actress as a body double. Sean Young was also credited in the new film as acting coach to Loren Peta, the actress portraying her character.[18]
In 1990, Young married Robert Lujan, an actor and composer, with whom she has two sons.[19] The couple divorced in 2002, but remarried in 2011.
In January 2008, Young checked herself into rehabilitation for alcohol abuse.[20] A later stay in rehab occurred in 2011, which was depicted on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, as were Lujan's visits to her.[21] [22]
In October 2017, Young joined the growing number of women to have alleged that producer Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed, sexually intimidated, or sexually assaulted them.[23]
In 1989, actor James Woods sued Young for allegedly harassing him and his then-fiancée. Young denied the allegations, and claimed Woods filed the lawsuit out of spite after she declined his romantic advances. The suit was settled out of court in 1989, and Young was awarded $227,000 (equivalent to $ today) to cover her legal costs.[24]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Jane Austen in Manhattan | Ariadne Charlton | ||
| 1981 | Stripes | Louise Cooper | ||
| 1982 | Blade Runner | |||
| Young Doctors in Love | Dr. Stephanie Brody | |||
| 1984 | Dune | |||
| 1985 | Susan Matthews-Loomis | |||
| 1987 | No Way Out | Susan Atwell | ||
| Wall Street | Kate Gekko | |||
| 1988 | The Boost | Linda Brown | ||
| 1989 | Cousins | Tish Kozinski | ||
| 1990 | Fire Birds | Billie Lee Guthrie | ||
| 1991 | A Kiss Before Dying | Dorothy / Ellen Carlsson | ||
| 1992 | Forever | Mary Miles Minter | ||
| Love Crimes | Dana Greenway | |||
| Once Upon a Crime | Phoebe | |||
| Blue Ice | Stacy Mansdorf | |||
| Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me | Twinkle | |||
| 1993 | Even Cowgirls Get the Blues | Marie Barth | ||
| Fatal Instinct | Lola Cain | |||
| 1994 | Bolt | Patty Deerheart | Direct-to-video | |
| Lt. Lois Einhorn / Ray Finkle | ||||
| 1995 | Mirage | Jennifer Gale | ||
| Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde | Helen Hyde | |||
| 1996 | The Proprietor | Virginia Kelly / Sally | ||
| 1997 | Exception to the Rule | Angela Bayer | ||
| The Invader | Annie Neilsen | |||
| Men | Stella James | |||
| The Dog of Flanders | Sister Alois | Voice English dub | ||
| 1998 | Out of Control | Lena | ||
| 1999 | Motel Blue | Lana Hawking | ||
| 2000 | Poor White Trash | Linda Bronco | ||
| The Amati Girls | Christine | |||
| 2001 | Sugar & Spice | Mrs. Hill | ||
| Mockingbird Don't Sing | Dr. Judy Bingham | |||
| Night Class | Claire Sherwood | |||
| 2002 | Aftermath | Rachel Anderson | ||
| The House Next Door | Monica | |||
| Threat of Exposure | Dr. Daryl Sheleigh | |||
| 2004 | A Killer Within | Rebecca "Becky" Terrill | ||
| Until the Night | Cosma | |||
| In the Shadow of the Cobra | Samantha | |||
| 2005 | Ghosts Never Sleep | Rebecca | ||
| Headspace | Mother | |||
| 2006 | The Drop | Ivy | ||
| The Garden | Miss Grace Chapman | |||
| Living the Dream | Brenda | |||
| 2008 | The Man Who Came Back | Kate | ||
| Parasomnia | Madeline Volpe | |||
| Haunted Echoes | Laura | Direct-to-video | ||
| Harvest Moon | Meg | |||
| 2012 | The Black Dove | Bonnie Williams | ||
| 2013 | Jug Face | Loriss | ||
| Send No Flowers | Toni | |||
| Gingerclown | Nelly the Spiderwoman | Voice | ||
| 2014 | My Trip Back to the Dark Side | Sean Young | ||
| My Man Is a Loser | Therapist | |||
| 2015 | Bone Tomahawk | Mrs. Porter | ||
| Darling | Madame | |||
| 2016 | Confidence Game | Sylvie | ||
| 2017 | Future '38 | Mabel | ||
| Police State | ||||
| Lost Cat Corona | Roxie | |||
| In Vino | Linda | |||
| Blade Runner 2049 | Rachael / Rachael Clone | Archive footage and likeness. Acting coach to substitute actress | ||
| 2018 | Above All Things | Barbara | ||
| Escape Room | Ramona | |||
| Healed By Grace 2 | Becky Cavanaugh | |||
| Mea Culpa | Miss Sylvian | Short film | ||
| 2020 | Axcellerator | Graham | ||
| A Beautiful Distraction | Brigid | |||
| 5th Borough | Sabina | |||
| Who Wants Dessert? | Dr. Sarah Chambers | Short film | ||
| Nick and Nicky | Gloria | |||
| 2021 | Planet Dune | Chase[25] | ||
| 2022 | No Vacancy | Brandi Michaels[26] | ||
| 2023 | The Activated Man | Agnes Gabriel | ||
| 2025 | The Dummy Detective | Harriet Hubbard |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | American Playhouse | Myra Harper | Episode: "Under the Biltmore Clock" | |
| Tender is the Night | Rosemary Hoyt | 4 episodes | ||
| 1986 | Blood & Orchids | Leonore Bergman | TV movie | |
| 1992 | Sketch Artist | Rayanne Whitfield | ||
| 1994 | Witness to the Execution | Jessica Traynor | ||
| Model by Day | Mercedes | |||
| 1996 | Evil Has a Face | Gwen McGerrall | ||
| Everything to Gain | Mallory Ashton / Jordan Keswick | |||
| 1997 | Gun | Paula | Episode: "All the President's Women" | |
| 1998 | The Cowboy and the Movie Star | Sean Livingston | TV movie | |
| 2000 | Secret Cutting | Joyce Cottrell | ||
| 2002 | Third Watch | Nancy | 2 episodes | |
| 2003 | Russians in the City of Angels | Rachael Somov | 8 episodes | |
| Kingpin | Lorelei Klein | Episode: "Black Magic Woman" | ||
| Before I Say Goodbye | Nell MacDermott Cauliff | TV movie | ||
| First to Die | Joanna Wade | TV miniseries | ||
| The King and Queen of Moonlight Bay | Sandy Bateman | TV movie | ||
| Boston Public | Candy Sobell | Episode: "Chapter Sixty-Eight" | ||
| 2004 | Reno 911! | New Wiegel | Episode: "Department Investigation: Part 2" | |
| 2005 | Third Man Out | Ann Rutka | TV movie | |
| Yesenin | TV miniseries | |||
| Home for the Holidays | Martha McCarthy | TV movie | ||
| 2006 | A Job to Kill For | Jennifer Kamplan | ||
| Dusty | Episode: "Built to Kill: Part 2" | |||
| 2007 | ER | Anna Hayes | Episode: "Crisis of Conscience" | |
| One Tree Hill | Hope Brown | Episode: "The Runaway Found" | ||
| Sybil Martin | TV movie | |||
| 2010–2011 | The Young and the Restless | Meggie McClaine | 45 episodes | |
| 2012 | Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader | Brenda Stratford | TV movie | |
| 2018 | The Alienist | Mrs. Van Burgen | 4 episodes |
| Year | Video game | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Blade Runner: The Video Game | Rachael | Voice and likeness | |
| 2018 | Happy's Humble Burger Farm | Dr. Rochelle Luna | Voice [27] |
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