Details:
Vanity was a glamorous Canadian model and lead singer of the all-girl group "Vanity 6". She specialized in playing sultry female characters often in trouble with the law.
Vanity was born Denise Katrina Matthews in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Helga Senyk and James Levia Matthews. She was of African-American and German descent. Vanity first appeared on screen in the biographical tale of writer Jack Londontitled Klondike Fever 1980), before venturing into more gritty territory such as the slasher film Terror Train 1980), the very odd chick flick Tanya's Island 1980), a B-grade martial arts film entitled The Last Dragon 1985) and the totally weird Never Too Young to Die 1986).
However, her best two performances were as the naive stripper assisting blackmail victimRoy Scheider in the under-rated thriller 52 Pick-Up 1986) and as a seductive, smart-talking nightclub singer teaming up with cop Carl Weathers to defeat murderous car tycoon Craig T. Nelson in the violent Action Jackson 1988).
Unfortunately, the remainder of Vanity's film work was of the "straight-to-video" variety and she only scored minor roles in several low-budget thrillers such as Neon City 1991) and Da Vinci's War 1993). In late 1995, Vanity turned her back on Hollywood and the entertainment industry, and dedicated her life to the Christian faith.
Vanity, who suffered from sclerosis encapsulating peritonitis, died on February 15, 2016 in Fremont, California.
Vanity was born Denise Katrina Matthews in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Helga Senyk and James Levia Matthews. She was of African-American and German descent. Vanity first appeared on screen in the biographical tale of writer Jack Londontitled Klondike Fever 1980), before venturing into more gritty territory such as the slasher film Terror Train 1980), the very odd chick flick Tanya's Island 1980), a B-grade martial arts film entitled The Last Dragon 1985) and the totally weird Never Too Young to Die 1986).
However, her best two performances were as the naive stripper assisting blackmail victimRoy Scheider in the under-rated thriller 52 Pick-Up 1986) and as a seductive, smart-talking nightclub singer teaming up with cop Carl Weathers to defeat murderous car tycoon Craig T. Nelson in the violent Action Jackson 1988).
Unfortunately, the remainder of Vanity's film work was of the "straight-to-video" variety and she only scored minor roles in several low-budget thrillers such as Neon City 1991) and Da Vinci's War 1993). In late 1995, Vanity turned her back on Hollywood and the entertainment industry, and dedicated her life to the Christian faith.
Vanity, who suffered from sclerosis encapsulating peritonitis, died on February 15, 2016 in Fremont, California.