Lesley Gilb Taplin

Lesley Gilb Taplin was born on September 6, 1946, in Seattle, Washington, to Tyrell and Corinne Lathrop Gilb. Growing up alongside her sister Tyra in Berkeley, California, she cultivated a love for the arts that led her to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Following her undergraduate studies, she pursued a Ph.D. in Dramatic Arts at Stanford University.

Gilb made her cinematic debut in the socially charged film "The Activist," where she played the lead role of Lee James. However, she became particularly renowned for her captivating performance as the cunning and enigmatic vampiress in the cult classic "Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural," which solidified her status in indie horror cinema.

Her professional journey was marked by a diverse range of roles in the film industry, including film producer, production assistant, and story editor. Beyond her film work, Gilb was a dedicated educator and actively volunteered with several organizations in downtown Los Angeles. An avid traveler, she explored various cultures across America, Europe, and Morocco.

Lesley spent significant time in Santa Monica and also lived in Ross and Palo Alto in Northern California. She was a proud mother to her son, Nicholas, and daughter, Blythe. Tragically, her life was cut short on April 13, 2009, when she was involved in a fatal car accident on highway 101 in Los Angeles at the age of 62.