Diane Franklin, the 64-year-old actress known for a string of hit 1980s comedies, was seen on a rare outing with her husband Ray DeLaurentis, 67, in Los Angeles on Monday. Photos obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail show the couple walking together and soaking up the sun on a hot summer day in Southern California.
Franklin wore an all-black ensemble of a tank top, shorts and sneakers, listening to audio through a pair of earbuds. She wore her signature curly hair up and led the way, with DeLaurentis following behind.
DeLaurentis, a veteran writer, wore an all-blue outfit of a T-shirt, Nike shorts and white sneakers. He beamed during the outing while carrying a water bottle.
Diane Franklin's early career
According to a bio on her website, Franklin began working at age 10 in modeling, commercials and voice-over roles. She later gained stage experience in Equity theater and appeared in six episodes of the soap opera As the World Turns in 1979, playing Lois Middleton.
Her film debut came in 1982's The Last American Virgin, in which she played Karen alongside co-star Steve Antin. Her bio states she was chosen from hundreds of girls for the role, and that her long, dark, curly hair helped spark a major fashion trend of the decade.
Breakout roles in the 1980s
The same year, Franklin appeared in the horror film Amityville II: The Possession as Patricia Montelli, a character described in her bio as a victim of incest and family abuse. She followed that with two 1983 television films, Deadly Lessons, opposite the late Bill Paxton, and Summer Girl.
Her bio describes her role in 1985's Better Off Dead, opposite John Cusack, as her most beloved. She played Monique Junot, a French exchange student.
Franklin went on to appear in 1986's TerrorVision and 1989's How I Got Into College. Another highlight of her career came in 1989's Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, in which she played Princess Joanna alongside Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter and the late George Carlin.
She also appeared on several prominent television shows of the era, including Murder She Wrote, Charles In Charge, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Matlock.
Life as an author and family
Franklin has written three books about her career, including the autobiography Diane Franklin: The Excellent Adventures Of The Last American, French-exchange Babe Of The 80s. She also wrote Diane Franklin: The Excellent Curls Of The Last American, French-exchange Babe Of The 80s, detailing her behind-the-scenes experience making The Last American Virgin, and a tribute book to Better Off Dead, according to her bio.
Franklin is the mother of two children, according to her bio: writer and actress Olivia DeLaurentis and musician Nick DeLaurentis.
Recent work and upcoming appearance
Franklin has continued working in the decades since her 1980s breakout, with projects appearing on Hulu, Peacock and ABC. Her recent credits include the 2023 film The Dark Room, the 2024 film Angel with a Gun and last year's horror film Bampire.
She has more than 35,000 followers on her Instagram page, where she shares updates on her current projects along with nostalgic details about her best-known roles.
Franklin is set to appear at Skyline Scares, an event in Indiana, this October.
The Daily Mail reached out to representatives for Franklin but had not received a response.
