Finn Carter
Elizabeth Fearn "Finn" Carter (born March 9, 1960) is an American actress best known for her portrayal of seismologist Rhonda LeBeck in the 1990 cult horror-comedy film Tremors, opposite Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward.[1]Her breakthrough came earlier on television with the role of attorney Sierra Esteban Montgomery on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, which she played from 1985 to 1988 and reprised briefly in 1994.[2] Carter's other notable credits include the dystopian drama The Handmaid's Tale (1990) as Ofglen, the Western miniseries Dead Man's Walk (1996), the legal drama TV series Sweet Justice (1994–1995) as title character Sunny Justice, and a supporting role in the historical film Ghosts of Mississippi (1996).[3] Throughout her career, she has appeared in over 30 film and television projects, often in supporting or guest roles, including episodes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2003) and The Guardian (2004).[1] Born in Greenville, Mississippi, the daughter of journalist Hodding Carter III, Carter attended Skidmore College and Tulane University.[2] In recent years, she has appeared at fan conventions celebrating Tremors, including TremorsFest in 2024.[4]
Early life and education
Family background
Elizabeth Fearn Carter, professionally known as Finn Carter, was born on March 9, 1960, in Greenville, Mississippi.[5] She is the daughter of Hodding Carter III, a renowned journalist who served as editor and associate publisher of the Delta Democrat-Times in Greenville and later as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs in the Carter administration, and Margaret Ainsworth Carter.[5][6] The family resided in the Mississippi Delta region, where her father's newspaper advocated for civil rights during the 1960s.[6][7] Carter grew up alongside her three siblings—brother Hodding Carter IV, an author and adventurer, and sisters Catherine (an attorney) and Margaret (an artist)—in Greenville, a hub of Delta culture and agricultural life.[6][8]Academic and artistic training
Carter attended the Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts in Natick, Massachusetts, for her high school education, where she honed her skills in theater and dance.[5] Following high school, Carter pursued higher education at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, before transferring to Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she continued her academic studies alongside her growing interest in the performing arts.[2] Although she did not complete a degree at either institution, these experiences broadened her exposure to liberal arts and theater environments during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In parallel with her college attendance, Carter engaged in intensive dance training, studying with prestigious companies including the San Francisco Ballet Company, the José Limón Dance Company, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater School.[2] These programs refined her physical discipline and expressive techniques, blending classical ballet, modern dance, and contemporary forms that would inform her later approach to character embodiment in performance. By 1983, having built a strong base through these educational and artistic endeavors, Carter relocated to New York City to launch her professional acting career, seeking opportunities in the city's vibrant theater scene.[5]Acting career
Television debut and soap opera roles
Finn Carter began her professional acting career in television with a three-year contract role on the CBS daytime soap opera As the World Turns, debuting in January 1985 as Sierra Esteban Reyes Montgomery.[1] The character, introduced as the secret daughter of businesswoman Lucinda Walsh, had been raised in the fictional Latin American country of Montega under the rule of dictator Jacobo Esteban, her presumed father.[9] Sierra's storyline during Carter's tenure involved fleeing Montega amid a violent revolution, seeking refuge in Oakdale, and navigating family revelations, romantic turmoil—particularly a passionate but stormy relationship with Craig Montgomery (played by Scott Bryce)—and social integration challenges.[9] Carter's performance earned her recognition among soap opera audiences for portraying Sierra's resilience and emotional depth in these arcs.[10] Carter briefly reprised the role of Sierra in 1994 for a short storyline arc that revisited family dynamics and past relationships.[1] It was on the set of As the World Turns that Carter met actor Steven Weber, who portrayed Kevin Gibson; the two married in 1985 and divorced in 1992.[11] Transitioning from soaps, Carter secured a recurring role in the late 1980s and early 1990s on the ABC drama China Beach, appearing in four episodes in 1990 as Nurse Linda Matlock Lanier, a character dealing with the psychological toll of the Vietnam War. This part marked her expansion into primetime television, showcasing her versatility in ensemble-driven narratives.[10] Carter's early guest spots in the early 1990s included appearances on established series, such as her role as Sally Otterburn in the 1995 episode "Death 'N' Denial" of Murder, She Wrote, where she played a key figure in a mystery set during an Egyptian archaeological dig.[12]Film breakthrough and major roles
Carter made her feature film debut in the 1989 comedy How I Got into College, directed by Savage Steve Holland, where she portrayed Nina Sachie, a college admissions recruiter.[13] This role marked her transition from television to cinema, building on the visibility gained from her soap opera work on As the World Turns.[14] Her breakthrough came in 1990 with the horror-comedy Tremors, directed by Ron Underwood and produced by Brent Maddock and S.S. Wilson, in which she played seismology student Rhonda LeBeck.[15] Carter starred alongside Kevin Bacon as handyman Valentine McKee and Fred Ward as Earl Bassett, as the trio battles subterranean monsters known as Graboids in the isolated town of Perfection, Nevada.[16] The film received positive critical reception, earning an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 52 reviews, with praise for its blend of humor, suspense, and practical effects.[17] Although it opened modestly at $3.7 million and grossed $16.7 million domestically against an $11 million budget, Tremors achieved cult status through home video and cable airings, spawning a franchise.[18] Carter's performance earned her a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Following Tremors, Carter took the lead role of Sunny Justice, a kickboxing gym owner seeking vengeance for her sister's murder, in the 1992 action thriller Sweet Justice, directed by Allen Plone.[19] She later appeared in a supporting capacity as Cynthia Speetgens in Rob Reiner's 1996 historical drama Ghosts of Mississippi, which depicted the retrial of Medgar Evers' assassin and featured Alec Baldwin and Whoopi Goldberg in lead roles.Guest appearances and later projects
Following her major film roles in the early 1990s, Finn Carter transitioned to a series of guest appearances on prominent television dramas. She portrayed a character in the season 2 episode "And Baby Makes Two" of ER in 1995.[20] In 1991, she appeared in the season 2 episode "His Hour Upon the Stage" of Law & Order.[20] Carter guest-starred as Mrs. McCallum in the 2003 episode "A Night at the Movies" of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.[21] Her final notable television guest role came in 2004 as Deb Tomello in the episode "Without Consent" of The Guardian.[22] Carter also took on supporting roles in several made-for-television movies and independent films during the early 2000s. In the 2000 TV movie Missing Pieces, she played Marilyn, a figure involved in a mystery surrounding a rancher's investigation into his son's death.[23] She portrayed activist Lizette in the 2001 Lifetime film Taking Back Our Town, which dramatized a community's fight against corporate pollution. In 2002, Carter appeared as Missy Phillippi in the ABC TV movie The Pennsylvania Miners' Story, based on the real-life rescue of trapped coal miners.[24] Her last on-screen acting credit was the role of Bonnie in the 2005 independent comedy Halfway Decent, co-starring Ernie Hudson as a father navigating family dynamics with his sons.[25] After 2005, Carter effectively stepped away from acting roles, marking a shift toward semi-retirement from screen work while maintaining a low public profile in the entertainment industry.[26] This period has seen her focus increasingly on fan engagements tied to her enduring popularity as Rhonda LeBeck in Tremors. In 2024, she attended TremorsFest 2 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, participating in panels and autograph sessions with castmates and fans.[4] In 2025, Carter engaged in reflective interviews, including a September appearance on The Locher Room podcast where she discussed her experiences on As the World Turns and Tremors, as well as personal topics like sobriety.[27] She also appeared at the Pasadena Comic Con in May 2025 for a Tremors 35th anniversary reunion panel alongside director Ron Underwood and other alumni,[28] at Mid-Hudson Comic Con in August 2025, and at Terror Con in September 2025.[29] [30] Looking ahead, Carter has been announced as a guest for the For the Love of Horror convention in April 2026 in the UK, with Tremors-themed tickets available.[31] These convention activities highlight her ongoing connection to horror and sci-fi fandom rather than new scripted projects.Personal life
Marriages and relationships
Finn Carter met actor Steven Weber on the set of the soap opera As the World Turns, where she portrayed Sierra Esteban Montgomery from 1985 to 1988 and he appeared in a supporting role during the same period.[5][32] Their professional collaboration evolved into a romantic relationship, culminating in their marriage on November 14, 1985.[5][33] The couple divorced on September 1, 1994, after nearly nine years together.[5][2] Carter's second marriage was to lawyer James B. Woodruff, whom she wed on May 24, 1997.[5][34] The marriage ended in divorce on July 27, 2007, following a decade together, though specific circumstances were not publicly detailed.[5][35]Family and children
Carter has two daughters from her second marriage to attorney James B. Woodruff: Carter Woodruff, born in 1997, and Josephine Woodruff, born in 2000.[5][36] She maintains a close connection to her prominent family legacy as the daughter of Hodding Carter III, the acclaimed journalist, civil rights advocate, and U.S. State Department spokesman during the Iran hostage crisis.[7] Her siblings include author and adventurer Hodding Carter IV; attorney Catherine Carter Sullivan; and artist Margaret Carter Joseph.[37][8]Filmography
Film credits
Finn Carter's feature film career spans from her debut in the late 1980s to independent projects in the 2000s, with roles in genres ranging from comedy to horror and drama.- How I Got into College (1989): Carter made her film debut as Nina Sachie, a college-bound student in this romantic comedy directed by Savage Steve Holland, marking her transition from stage and television work to cinema.[38]
- Tremors (1990): She portrayed Rhonda LeBeck, a resourceful seismology student who aids in combating giant underground worms in the isolated town of Perfection, Nevada; the role contributed significantly to the film's status as a cult horror-comedy classic.
- The Handmaid's Tale (1990): Carter appeared as Ofglen in this dystopian drama adaptation of Margaret Atwood's novel, directed by Volker Schlöndorff.[39]
- Ghosts of Mississippi (1996): As Cynthia Speetgens, she appeared in a supporting role in Rob Reiner's historical drama about the civil rights murder trial of Medgar Evers, highlighting themes of justice and racial reconciliation.
- Halfway Decent (2005): In this independent comedy, she portrayed Bonnie, a character in a quirky ensemble story about misfits, co-starring with Ernie Hudson.