The Only Major Actors Still Alive From Apocalypse Now

There is a notable scene about halfway through “Apocalypse Now” in which the central soldiers pause to watch a USO show featuring three half-naked women. The soldiers are so horny, they are barely able to contain themselves, and it seems for a moment that the women may not escape with their lives. In the extended “Apocalypse Now Redux” edit, released in 2001, the three women have an additional scene wherein they have lines and amorous trysts with the film’s main characters. 

The women are played by actresses Colleen Camp, the actress and model Cynthia “Cyndi” Wood, and Playboy Playmate Linda Beatty. Beatty never explored a film career, although she was in an episode of “Wonder Woman” and the crime film “Big Time” before “Apocalypse.” In Those films, she was credited as Linda Carpenter. Cynthia Wood had small roles in the films “Shampoo” and “Van Nuys Boulevard,” but also didn’t act much after “Apocalypse.” Wood, however, was also a singer, and fans of the 1983 anime series “Golgo 13: The Professional” should listen for her vocals in several scenes. 

Colleen Camp, meanwhile, has remained an active and visible actress since she started her career in 1973 with an appearance in “Battle for the Planet of the Apes.” Camp has been in, well, campy movies like “The Swinging Cheerleaders” and “The Gumball Rally” as well as notable Hollywood films like “Smile” and “Funny Lady.” In 1983 Camp appeared in the SoCal romance “Valley Girl” and in 1985, she played the suspicious French maid Yvette in the cult classic comedy “Clue.” Camp turned up frequently in comedies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “Police Academy 2,” “Illegally Yours,” “Wayne’s World,” and “My Blue Heaven.” She’s still acting to this day at 70.