Brenda
A counselor lured to her death by the voice of a drowned boy.
Brenda is a camp counselor in the 1980 American slasher film *Friday the 13th*, directed by Sean S. Cunningham. She is already at Camp Crystal Lake when a group of five counselors—Ned, Jack, Bill, Marcie, and Alice—arrive to help reopen the abandoned summer camp. Brenda is portrayed by actress Laurie Bartram, who was cast alongside other actors who had previously appeared on soap operas. Her character is among the counselors at the camp who are subsequently murdered one by one by an unknown killer. Brenda's death occurs after she returns to her cabin and is lured outside by a little boy's voice calling for help.
- Role
- Camp Counselor / Victim
- First Appearance
- Friday the 13th (1980)
- Status
- Deceased
- Killer
- Pamela Voorhees
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Brenda is already present at Camp Crystal Lake when the other counselors—Alice, Bill, Jack, Marcie, and Ned—arrive in 1979 to prepare for its reopening. Unlike the arriving counselors, Brenda does not participate in refurbishing the cabins. After returning to her cabin, Brenda is lured outside by the sound of a little boy's voice calling for help, and ventures toward the camp's archery range, where the floodlights suddenly turn on. Alice later hears Brenda screaming, and after investigating, finds a bloodied axe in Brenda's bed. Brenda's body is later discovered outside near the archery range; Mrs. Voorhees throws Jack's body through the window after Alice finds the axe.
In Their Own Story
The night was quiet except for the distant rumble of thunder. After a game of strip Monopoly with Alice and Bill, Brenda headed back to her cabin. A small voice called out from the darkness—a little boy asking for help. Concerned, Brenda followed the sound toward the archery range. The floodlights blazed on, illuminating the area for a moment before everything went dark again. Alice later heard Brenda's scream, and when she and Bill investigated, they found a bloodied axe in Brenda's bed. The killer, Mrs. Voorhees, later hurled Brenda's body through a window as Alice tried to barricade herself inside the main cabin.
Reader's Guide
Brenda appears in the 1980 film *Friday the 13th* as one of the camp counselors hired to reopen Camp Crystal Lake. She is played by Laurie Bartram, who was cast by New York-based casting directors Julie Hughes and Barry Moss. Brenda is among the group of counselors that includes Ned (Mark Nelson), Jack (Kevin Bacon), Bill (Harry Crosby), Marcie (Jeannine Taylor), and Alice (Adrienne King). After playing strip Monopoly with Alice and Bill, Brenda returns to her cabin and is lured outside by a little boy's voice. She is killed off-screen; her body is later found by Alice, who discovers a bloodied axe in Brenda's bed. The killer is revealed to be Mrs. Voorhees, who blames the counselors for the drowning of her son Jason in 1957.
Did You Know?
- Brenda is played by Laurie Bartram, who was cast because she had previously appeared on soap operas.
- Brenda is lured to her death by the sound of a little boy's voice calling for help—the voice is actually Mrs. Voorhees mimicking a child's voice, not Jason Voorhees.
- After Brenda's death, Alice finds a bloodied axe in Brenda's bed.
- Brenda's body is discovered outside near the archery range; Mrs. Voorhees throws Jack's body through the window after Alice finds the axe.
- Brenda is already at Camp Crystal Lake when the other five counselors arrive to reopen it in 1979.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Brenda?
She appears as a teenage camp counselor in the original 1980 film who helps reopen Camp Crystal Lake. Her character is part of the initial group hired to prepare the facility for summer campers.
What are her key activities before dying?
Before her death, she participates in games like strip Monopoly with fellow counselors Alice and Bill. These interactions establish her connection to the other victims before the attacks begin.
How does Brenda die?
She is lured away from the group by a mysterious voice mimicking a drowned child. This distraction leads directly to her murder at the hands of the camp's killer.
Who kills Brenda?
The character responsible for her death is Pamela Voorhees, who seeks revenge against the staff members. Brenda becomes one of the victims in this specific vendetta during the film's events.
What is her significance to the story?
Her demise contributes to the rising body count that drives the horror narrative forward. She represents the vulnerability of the counselors attempting to operate the reopened campsite.
More in Characters & Killers
Elsewhere in the Friday the 13th universe
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