Sandra Peabody (born January 11, 1948) is an American producer, writer, acting coach, talent agent, and retired actress.

[2][3] In 1964, Peabody got cast in another one-act play, Riders to the Sea, which opened at Florida State University in July.

[1] During her senior year, Peabody got cast in another professional play Enter Laughing (1966), as Wanda, the girlfriend of the main character.

[6] The play opened in January 1966 at the Hollywood Little Theater in Florida to favorable reviews, with her acting in the cemetery scene highlighted.

[9] In a retrospective interview, Peabody described the film as having an unusual story and her scenes involving a lot of horseback riding.

[14][15][16] In 1970, Peabody had a supporting role as The Sun in the Robert Kalfin and The Rubber Duck directed Off-Broadway production Tarot, which ran at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

[18][1] Peabody's breakthrough role would occur when she got cast as the protagonist Mari Collingwood in Wes Craven's directorial debut The Last House on the Left (1972), a controversial exploitation horror film and a loose remake of Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring (1960).

[19] Peabody responded to a casting notice for the film in the New York industry trade publication Backstage and set up an audition at Sean S. Cunningham's office.

[20] Craven and Cunningham originally wanted Peabody to read for the role of Phyllis (portrayed by Lucy Grantham); after they met her, they decided to cast her as Mari.

[20] Peabody did not want to do the movie based on this script version, and Craven promised her that he would rewrite it as a traditional horror film.

[12] In an interview, she described models as being a "bitchy lot" and stating soap operas do not allow people to develop their skills as professionals, believing it to be entirely about pursuing jobs.

[12] During this time frame, while pursuing casting calls, Peabody struggled to get acting jobs for characters her age, so she signed with a children's agent.

[12] Peabody's portrayal received praised: writer Jonathan Takiff of Philadelphia Daily News stated that she was believable as an actress.

[33] After retiring from acting, Peabody taught theater techniques to children at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts until 1982.

[34] The series received critical acclaim, with writer Judy McDermott of The Oregonian stating it is "an unabashed celebration of children.

[41] In 1988, Peabody developed A Time to Care (1988), a television documentary film that focuses on local nursing homes and the positive effects that community volunteerism has on the residents.

[43] Peabody wrote and produced the educational public television series Zone In (2001) revolving around "tough issues for kids.

[44] Peabody has taught the Meisner technique she was trained with during her youth to a younger generation and has helped launch the acting careers of several child actors such as Bret Harrison and Alicia Lagano and has provided guidance to those studying under her with both entering and navigating the industry.

[44][45][46] In 2015, Peabody directed the first episode of LTC TV—a series detailing events occurring at Lakewood Center for the Arts in Lake Oswego, Oregon.