Everything Deborah Raffin: TV movie

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Deborah Raffin in Ski Lift to Death

In 1978, Deborah Raffin starred in Ski Lift to Death. The actress was first-billed in this made-for-TV thriller (later retitled Snowblind for home video release) which also featured Clu Gulager, Howard Duff, Veronica Hamel and a young Don Johnson. Raffin shared many of her scenes with actor Charles Frank. You can find some more information on the film here.

Ski Lift to Death is a typical TV movie from the late '70s. A bunch of familiar faces gather together for some melodramatic situations. Combine this with a dance contest and some ski stunt footage and you get a nice piece of fluffy television entertainment. Its not that good but it is bad enough to be fun. Deborah Raffin comes out relatively unscathed...and she's really beautiful too!

Here are some images of Deborah Raffin in Ski Lift to Death:

Deborah Raffin and Clu Gulager

Deborah Raffin and Charles Frank

Deborah Raffin in How to Pick Up Girls

In 1978, Deborah Raffin appeared in a TV movie called How to Pick Up Girls. In this project, the lovely actress and former professional model portrayed...a beautiful professional model! Since the subject matter was so familiar, Deborah Raffin fits right in to this television comedy.

Of course, Raffin is not especially well-remembered for her comedic roles but she does a great job here as an effervescent model. She has a scene early on with a drunken Richard Dawson (as her photographer), but after that shares all her scenes with the movie's star, Fred McCarren. Raffin even has a disco dancing scene taking place at the famous Studio 54 nightclub!

Unfortunately, Deborah Raffin's screen-time in How to Pick Up Girls is limited and the actress only appears in the first half of the movie. She does make a great impact on the viewer and she does a fine job with her role.

Deborah Raffin & Richard Dawson

Deborah Raffin & Fred McCarren

Deborah Raffin in For the Love of It

Deborah Raffin in a slapstick comedy? Yes, it happened! The actress had dabbled in comedy a bit during the 1970s, but in 1980 she starred in the spy spoof For the Love of It. It was a made-for-TV farce with lots of television actors appearing throughout and with beautiful Deborah Raffin taking the lead role. While primarily remembered for her dramatic work, Deborah Raffin proved here once and for all that she was quite adept at comedy and probably could have done more of it if she had wanted to.

In For the Love of It, Deborah Raffin shares many of her scenes with actor Jeff Conaway and the pair have great chemistry. A heavily coked-up Conaway is second-billed here as a young medical student who falls in love Raffin. When she gets mixed up in some odd goings on involving the CIA, FBI and US Army, it's up to him and his friends to save her. There are several genuine laughs to be found throughout with all the stars and guest stars giving great high energy performances. Deborah Raffin shines with a bubbly, energetic turn that is perfect for this lightweight picture.

Here are some images of Deborah Raffin in For the Love of It:

Deborah Raffin and Jeff Conaway

Deborah Raffin and a fake mole

Deborah Raffin and Jeff Conaway

Deborah Raffin in Killing at Hell's Gate

In 1981, Deborah Raffin co-starred in the TV movie Killing at Hell's Gate. In the film, she plays Anna Medley, a Oregonian river rafting guide. When an old boyfriend (Robert Urich) returns to town alongside a campaigning Congressman, she agrees to lead the politician and a small group on a whitewater rafting expedition. Trouble arises when a trio of drunken rednecks start to harass them as they make their way down the river which eventually leads to murder and desperation.

Deborah Raffin is second-billed in Killing at Hell's Gate though the actress has less time onscreen than one might expect. She does get a few good scenes and some nice close-ups, however, which really add something to the proceedings. It's a pretty good TV movie, predictable for sure, but nonetheless quite watchable. A number of familiar faces are featured, including Paul Burke, Lee Purcell, George DiCenzo, Brion James and Joel Higgins (who Deborah Raffin would re-team with for the 1984 TV movie Threesome).