Betsy Palmer, the stage, TV and film actress whom Tennessee Williams chose to embody the frustrated Alma Winemiller in The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, his 1976 rewrite of Summer and Smoke, died May 29 at age 88.

Born Patricia Betsy Hrunek, Palmer sported a distinctive short-copped blonde hair look that lent itself to playing troubled or frightening mom roles, especially in later years.

Palmer appeared in seven Broadway shows. All the original productions had short runs, but she replaced other actresses in long-run shows, notably Ellen Burstyn in Same Time, Next Year in 1977 and Lauren Bacall in Cactus Flower in 1967.

Palmer’s film career included some distinguished titles, including the movie adaptation of Broadway’s Mister Robers with Henry Fonda, but she stumbled on what may be her signature role, the murderous mom of horror movie killer Jason Voorhees in the low-budget 1980 “Friday the 13th” and one of its sequels. Thereafter she played similar roles in cinema scarefests like “The Fear: Reseurrection,” “Still Not Quite Human.” Her TV credits include "Murder, She Wrote,” "Knot's Landing," “Newhart,” and anthology shows like “Playhouse 90,” “Studio One in Hollywood,” “Kraft Theatre,” “Love, American Style” and 'The Love Boat."