I was saddened today to discover that 47 year-old B-Movie goddess Cheryl "Rainbeaux" Smith died on October 25, 2002. Cheryl Smith was the object of lust for an entire generation of guys (and some gals). Anyone who went to the drive-in during the 1970s knew the petite blonde actress. Ms. Smith was unusual in that she was accepted into the casts of A-List films, B-Movies and the occasional X-rated movie. I challenge you to find another actor with as diverse a list of credits. Maybe Cheryl was accepted so widely because she had IT. You can’t define IT, but you know IT when you see IT!

Cheryl grew up just off the Sunset Strip during the 60s. Her nickname "Rainbeaux" was given to her because she spent so much time in the Rainbow Room, a famous rock club on the Strip. "Rainbeaux" provided beautiful colors to the 70s. Sitting in the darkened Fare 4 theater in Memphis, I fell in love with Cheryl Smith as I watched Rene Daalder’s Cult Classic "Massacre at Central High." I was pissed off as Ms. Smith and co-star Robert Carradine were crushed to death beneath a well-aimed boulder. Actually, I could have cared less that Robert Carradine’s character was squashed, but the idea that anyone would have wanted "Rainbeaux" Smith’s character out of the picture made me mad.

Ms. Smith was a wisp of a woman, but she had a huge amount of talent. Cheryl Smith was able to exude sensuality, vulnerability, strength and humor with equal finesse. Ms. Smith showed great promise. In addition to her acting skills, Ms. Smith was an accomplished musician. In the movie "DuBeateo" she contributed some of the music. She played Joan Jett's drummer in that film. She was also an artist and painter. Unfortunately, her career and life slid away from her. But that comes later. The movies are such a powerful medium. The fact that fans will stalk celebrities they don’t even know and sometimes kill them speaks volumes about the seductive power of celluloid and light. Cheryl Smith, for a brief time, held court in theaters around the world. What films!

Cheryl made her debut at age 15 in the campy "Evil Knievil." Her second feature film brought her to the attention of many. "Lemora: A Child’s Tale of Supernatural" (Lady Dracula) showcased Ms. Smith as a young church choir member who is the object of a certain lesbian vampire’s bloodlust. Cheryl followed that with "Phantom of the Paradise," Brian De Palma’s camp take on Faust and Phantom of the Opera. Cheryl began using her nickname "Rainbeaux" on her next film, "The Swinging Cheerleaders." "The Swinging Cheerleaders" was a R-rated romp through the locker rooms of some very horny California high school students. "The Swinging Cheerleaders" was the first of three cheerleader films starring Ms. Smith. The others were "The Pom Pom Girls" and "Revenge of the Cheerleaders." Cheryl also starred in the first and best of the Women in Prison films, which became popular during the 70s: Jonathan Demme’s debut film "Caged Heat." Sex played an important role in Ms. Smith’s career. She starred in the title role of the X-rated musical version of "Cinderella." Instead of a glass slipper, Smith’s Cinderella was given a snapping vagina by her gay "fairy" godfather. I remember sneaking into the movie with a couple of buddies. I think we all loved Cheryl after that film.

Cheryl Smith was also given roles in several A-List films. She appeared in the aforementioned "Phantom of the Paradise," the Phillip Marlow detective film "Farewell My Lovely" with Robert Mitchum, Joseph Wambaugh’s "The Choirboys," Jonathan Demme’s "Melvin and Howard, " the Kathleen Quinlan domestic abuse film "Independence Day" and "Drum" the big budget sequel to "Mandingo."

Cheryl Smith also held a place of honor among horror and sci-fi fans. She starred in the cult favorite "Laser Blast," "Parasite" and "Lady Dracula." Cheryl was no stranger to comedy either. She appeared in two best Cheech and Chong films: "Up in Smoke" and "Nice Dreams."

Ms. Smith appeared in two of my all time favorite B-Movies. "Vice Squad" and "Massacre at Central High." I have reviewed both films in more detail elsewhere on the site, so I’ll not go any further into their virtues.

There is illusion, seduction and then there is reality. Countless films have dealt with the seductive call of Hollywood and the hollow underbelly that so many seem to find when they get there. "Day of the Locust," "Sunset Blvd." And David Lynch’s "Mulholland Drive" are great examples of this scenario. Cheryl Smith’s life could also be the basis for a cautionary tale. Behind the image that Ms. Smith portrayed on screen was a real human being in pain. Ms. Smith became a heroin addict during the late 1970s. She disappeared from the screen. Ms. Smith battled her addiction to heroin. Sources said that Ms. Smith had been managing her addiction with Methadone during the past five years. She did two prison terms. In prison, she put her artistic abilities to use by designing tattoos for fellow inmates. While it had been reported that Ms. Smith spent her last years a homeless person living near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, in fact she had been living with friends who were there for her at the end. She died of complications from Hepatitis. Janis Joplin once said that on stage, she made love to 10,000 people a night, but she went home alone (and lonely). I have a brother who may join Ms. Smith soon. He chose to use drugs for nearly 30 years. His once athletic body has been decimated. No one in our family could convince him of the error of his ways. Unlike, Ms. Smith, my brother has not gotten his addiction under control. Fortunately Ms. Smith was able to get her addiction under control. Unfortunately, she was unable to do so before the seeds of fatal health consequences had been planted. Stay away from the drugs folks. The pain it eases will still be there to deal with when you sober up. Prayers for those who loved her.

Rusty White