Another tragedy: Alexa Kenin: 1962 - 1985

ALEXA KENIN

Published: September 12, 1985 in the New York Times

Alexa Kenin, an actress on stage and television and in motion pictures, died at her apartment in Manhattan on Tuesday. She was 23 years old, and the cause of death was not immediately known.

When Miss Kenin was 10 years old, she played opposite Jason Robards in a television movie, ''House Without a Christmas Tree.'' In 1977, she was in John Guare's ''Landscape of the Body'' at the Public Theater, and in Jack Gilhooley's ''Elusive Angel,'' Off Broadway.

In 1982, she co-starred with Bette Davis in a television movie, ''A Piano for Mrs. Cimino,'' and in May she acted on stage in ''Life Under Water,'' by Richard Greenberg, at the Ensemble Studio Theater's Marathon '85.

She appeared with Clint Eastwood in the 1982 film ''Honkytonk Man'' and recently completed work on the film ''Pretty in Pink,'' to be released in February.

She is survived by her parents, Dr. Michael Kenin and Maya Y. K. Ryan, and two step-sisters, Cordelia and Maria Ryan.

From her Find A Death web page:

On September 10, 1985, shortly after production on the latter film wrapped, she was beaten to death in her New York apartment. One theory holds that she was killed by her ex-boyfriend; another is that she was killed by a fan she had refused to speak to. When “Pretty in Pink” was released the following spring, it was dedicated to her memory and to that of its set decorator, Bruce Weintraub, who died on December 14, 1985.

Filmography

1. Animal Behavior (1989) .... Sheila Sandusky
2. Pretty in Pink (1986) .... Jena Hoeman
3. Princess Daisy (1983) (TV) .... Kiki Kavanaugh
4. Honkytonk Man (1982) .... Marlene
5. "ABC Afterschool Specials" .... Boots McAfee / ... (5 episodes, 1976-1982)
- Amy & the Angel (1982) TV episode .... Janet
- A Movie Star's Daughter (1979) TV episode .... Gerri
- Make Believe Marriage (1979) TV episode .... Penny Costanzo
- Me and Dad's New Wife (1976) TV episode
- The Amazing Cosmic Awareness of Duffy Moon (1976) TV episode .... Boots McAfee
6. "Gimme a Break!" .... C. C. (1 episode, 1982)
- Hot Muffins (1982) TV episode .... C. C.
7. "The Facts of Life" .... Jesse (1 episode, 1982)
- New York, New York (1982) TV episode .... Jesse
8. A Piano for Mrs. Cimino (1982) (TV) .... Karen Cimino
9. "Too Close for Comfort" .... Ethel Kadinsky (1 episode, 1981)
... aka The Ted Knight Show (new title)
- Who's Sara Now? (1981) TV episode .... Ethel Kadinsky
10. Word of Honor (1981) (TV) .... Beverly
11. A Perfect Match (1980) (TV) .... Angel
12. Little Darlings (1980) .... Dana
13. "Co-ed Fever" (1979) TV series .... Mousie
14. "The Word" (1978) (mini) TV mini-series .... Judy Randall
15. The House Without a Christmas Tree (1972) (TV) .... Carla Mae