20 Things You Didn't Know About The Omen

8. That's Jack Palance's Daughter

Poster for The Omen
20th Century Fox

We've mentioned a little about how Donner's ambitions as a filmmaker were beyond just a simple horror film, and it was somewhat audacious for such a new director to come to a studio with so many demands. After all, Donner only had a bunch of TV credits to his name, meaning at best that he could assemble a workmanlike product.

One of those TV credits bled into his film career, as he was shooting an episode of Bronk when he heard he got the gig. Bronk was a failed 70s cop vehicle for gristled actor Jack Palance. When Palance heard that Donner's next project would be in England, he suggested he look up his daughter Holly, as she was a fantastic actress.

True to his word, Donner looked up and cast Holly Palance in The Omen. She's the ill-fated nanny that gives Damien the birthday gift he secretly really wants.

Contributor
Contributor

Kenny Hedges is carbon-based. So I suppose a simple top 5 in no order will do: Halloween, Crimes and Misdemeanors, L.A. Confidential, Billy Liar, Blow Out He has his own website - thefilmreal.com - and is always looking for new writers with differing views to broaden the discussion.