Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987): 10 Things You Didn’t Know
By Jeremy Dick
Photo via De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
6. Holly Hunter was the direct inspiration for the Bobby Joe character
While we’re talking about Bobby Joe, let’s talk about her origins! Back in the early 80s, Sam Raimi was living with multiple housemates in the business. One of them was a young Holly Hunter, still in the earlier stages of her acting career.
While Raimi was working on Evil Dead 2, he noticed his housemate Holly in costume for an audition. She was playing the part of a hooker, and was dressed much more scantily-clad than normal. Raimi couldn’t help but “leer” at her, causing her to get a little upset at the time. But it also gave Raimi the idea to put a character into the film directly inspired by “hooker” Hunter.
Hunter isn’t only Bobby Joe’s inspiration. In fact, Raimi was pushing hard for her to actually play the part of Bobby Joe in the movie! But despite his insistence, the studio balked, forcing him to cast someone else instead.
But let’s just say that decision hasn’t affected Hunter’s career at all.