Image Credit: Peacock
Welcome back to the world of Friday the 13th. Peacock’s brand-new horror series Crystal Lake is taking fans down a new path in the franchise with a backstory on the true killer: Pamela Voorhees. Although her son, Jason Voorhees, becomes the focus of the films, Pam is the one who started it all. So, who exactly is playing the mother-effer of a killer?
Keep reading to learn who has the honor — and the pressure — of playing the one and only Pam Voorhees in the Friday the 13th prequel show.
What Is Crystal Lake About? Everything About the Friday the 13th Prequel Show
Crystal Lake explores Pamela Voorhees’ backstory from the original Friday the 13th.
A description for the series reads, “When two strangers arrive at Pam’s door digging into her past, a disturbing chain of events are set into motion, leaving the townspeople of Crystal Lake wondering: just who is Pam Voorhees?”
Photo Credit: Matt Infante/PEACOCK
Who Is Pamela Voorhees?
Most Friday the 13th fans should recall who Pamela Voorhees is. Pam is the mother of Jason Voorhees and the original killer from the 1980 flick. Upon its theatrical release, the character surprised viewers for being a vengeful knife and machete-wielding killer.
Of course, in later films from the franchise, Jason becomes the regular character who chops and slices his way through anybody who gets in his way.
Who Is Playing Pam Voorhees in Crystal Lake?
Actress Linda Cardellini is playing Pam Voorhees in Crystal Lake! Known for various film roles, including in Scooby-Doo, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed and Legally Blonde, Linda has always been one of the film industry’s most hard-working actors.
She first gained widespread recognition as Lindsay Weir on the beloved NBC cult series Freaks and Geeks before joining ER as nurse Samantha Taggart, a role she played from 2003 to 2009. Her television career has also included memorable roles in Mad Men, Bloodline, Hawkeye and the Netflix dark comedy Dead to Me, which earned her an Emmy nomination for playing Judy Hale. Recently, she starred in Netflix’s No Good Deed and the 2026 miniseries DTF St. Louis.
Linda’s other notable films include Legally Blonde, Brokeback Mountain, The Founder, Green Book, A Simple Favor, Daddy’s Home and its sequel, The Curse of La Llorona and Nonnas. She also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Laura Barton in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Endgame and Hawkeye, while voicing Lylla in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
When Does the Crystal Lake TV Show Come Out?
Crystal Lake will premiere on Peacock on October 15, 2026.
