Lynda Wiesmeier: Cause of death, Playboy career, movies

Lynda Wiesmeier was an actress who made a splash with a few notable films.

Yet, it’s a particular image of her that has gained attention in recent years, capturing something that feels like a glimpse into a bygone era…

Her journey began in Bitburg, Germany, where her father served as a doctor in the U.S. Air Force. The family moved around quite a bit before Lynda finally landed in sunny Los Angeles. She also spent some time in Bound Brook, New Jersey, where she became a regular sunbather at the Jersey shore.

Starring in zombie movie

Lynda loved working and keeping busy, balancing three careers: modeling, acting, and clerical work in a medical office.

In 1982, her beauty caught the eye of Playboy, and she was featured as the centerfold Playmate in their July issue. After becoming a Playmate, Lynda entered a whirlwind phase in her show business career, starring in films that showcased her stunning natural physique. She appeared in movies like Real Genius (1985), Teen Wolf (1985), Malibu Express (1985), and R.S.V.P. (1984).

Final movie

But it was her final film that might just be the one to put Lynda Wiesmeier on the map. In 1987, she was cast as Dianne in the zombie horror flick Evil Town.

The film starred none other than the legendary Dean Jagger, who took on the role of a mad scientist on a quest for eternal youth. His method? Synthesizing a drug from human pituitary fluid, of course. As he extracted the fluid, things took a turn for the worse — the process resulted in mindless zombies created from the unfortunate donors.

By an interesting twist of fate, Evil Town also featured Keith Hefner, the younger brother of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. With both Lynda and Keith on board, the film had quite the Playboy connection.

The film was set to hit theaters on June 3, 1987, but excitement was so high that many theaters started showing it a day early, on June 2. However, despite the buzz, Evil Town didn’t quite live up to expectations.

Critics panned it, calling it a “silly horror film.” Cavett Binion of All Movie Guide pointed out that the movie was a mishmash of scenes from earlier films, including an unfinished project from the 1970s, and added that it was “spiced up with some gratuitous nudity courtesy of former Playboy Playmate Lynda Wiesmeier.” Ouch!

Luckily, Lynda Wiesmeier was destined for a bit of a comeback. Somehow, a particular scene from Evil Town has gone viral in the years since its release.

However, it’s not for the reasons some might assume.

Lynda Wiesmeier photo

In this memorable moment, Lynda shares the screen with the nearly unknown actor Scott Hunter.

At first glance, this looks like your classic 1980s snapshot. In front of a Dodge car, a young man and woman strike a pose, both rocking quintessential ’80s attire. But take a closer look, and you might uncover something unexpected!

The man sports dark shorts and a gray hoodie splashed with colorful motifs, while Lynda shows off high-waisted white shorts paired with a bright red top, artfully knotted at the waist. Short shorts were just the style back then, and Scott wore them with corduroy shirts, which everyone seemed to have.

Their retro outfits scream ’80s fashion, making it a delightful throwback to the era for many. And that’s exactly what has people falling in love with this image.

Fashion in the 1980s was big, bright and bold – and we embraced a mix of styles, including punk, glam rock, and preppy looks.

We could play with colors, hair, makeup and lots of plastic jewelry and other crazy accessories. And sometimes, all it takes is a simple image from a lesser-known film to transport us back to this fantastic era – thanks for that, Lynda and Scott.

Left the industry

After leaving the film industry, Lynda embraced family life, marrying and welcoming two wonderful children —a son and a daughter— from her first marriage.

According to Joyce’s Take, the family settled in Lafayette, Louisiana, where Lynda took on the role of records manager in a law office.

However, life took a turn, and after a divorce in 2004, Lynda packed her bags and headed to sunny California, ready to start anew. Even as she moved on, Lynda cherished her connection with her fans. She became a familiar face at various fan conventions, like Glamourcon, The Hollywood Collectors Show, and WonderCon, where she shared her stories and signed autographs.

Cause of death

Sadly, Lynda’s journey was cut short when she passed away at just 49 in December 2012, following a brave battle with a brain tumor.

It’s bittersweet to think about what she might have shared about her time in films like Evil Town — a charming piece of cinematic history that captures a different era.

But even in her absence, we can still celebrate Lynda’s legacy and the joy she brought to her fans. Share this article if you also miss the 80s!