Actress Jennifer Runyon dies aged 65 – Remember her from Ghostbusters?

She was the woman whose eyes widened in terror as a green, gloopy ghost whisked her away above the New York skyline. Now, news of her passing has brought a whole generation up short. Actress Jennifer Runyon has died at the age of 65. She left an indelible mark on the 1984 film Ghostbusters, in which she played the young woman who becomes the earthly vessel for an ancient entity.

When Ghostbusters burst onto the big screen, no one could have predicted it would become the phenomenon it did – a film still quoted and referenced to this day. Jennifer Runyon wasn't the film's headline star; that honour naturally went to Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. But her role was every bit as essential to the plot as a proton pack. Without her character, there would have been no Zuul, and without Zuul, there would have been no film.

She built her career on the small screen

Before her big-screen debut, Jennifer Runyon had already racked up considerable experience in the world of soap operas. Between 1981 and 1983, she played two different characters in the popular series Another World, a show that had viewers hooked day in, day out. Later in the 80s, she made several guest appearances in the sitcom Charles in Charge, where she demonstrated her flair for lighter material.

After Ghostbusters, her career continued, but the spotlight never again shone quite so brightly on her. One exception was the 1987 film My Demon Lover, in which she actually took the lead role. It's a minor cult classic that has, over the years, found its way into the hearts of many a VHS enthusiast.

What lingers when the lights go down?

Looking back now, it's clear that Jennifer Runyon represented an era when actors could simply be actors. No social media personalities, no brand ambassadors, no constant PR crisis management. She did her job, stepped back from the limelight, and lived her life away from the glare of fame. Details of her later years have been scarce, which is why her death feels particularly remote and poignant.

• Jennifer Runyon was born on 1 April 1960.
• Her big break came with Ghostbusters (1984).
• On television, she was seen in series such as Another World and Charles in Charge.
• She passed away in March 2026 at the age of 65.

If there's any comfort to be found, it's that film endures. For as long as someone, somewhere, hits play and watches the scene where Dana Barrett's neighbour starts acting oddly, Jennifer Runyon is still there, forever young, ready to remind us that sometimes the biggest hits also have those roles – the ones not in the spotlight, but without which nothing else would work. Rest in peace.