Palance was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of the actor Jack Palance and his wife Virginia Baker. Holly was the first of three children born to the couple, followed by Brooke Palance in 1952 and Cody Palance in 1955. She married Tomorrow Never Dies director Roger Spottiswoode; they divorced in 1997.
Palance played Lois Lane opposite Christopher Reeve in his screen test for the title role in Superman (1978). The tests included scenes from the balcony interview in Superman and the Niagara Falls hotel room scene from Superman 2 (1980), where Reeve played Clark Kent; this footage was released to the public as an extra feature on a special edition DVD release of the film in the early 2000s. Palance is notable for her role as an ill-destined young nanny in The Omen (1976), alongside Gregory Peck and Lee Remick.
Palance co-hosted the television version of Ripley's Believe It or Not! with her father for one season, replacing Jack's former co-host, Catherine Shirriff; Holly would later be replaced as co-host by singer Marie Osmond.
Filmography
Actress
2019
Rock Bottom (Short) as
Judgemental Woman
1989
Cast the First Stone (TV Movie) as
Ellen Armstrong
1986
The Best of Times as
Elly Dundee
1984
Tuxedo Warrior as
Sally / Jane (The African Run reissue)
1983
Under Fire as
Journalist
1983
The Thorn Birds (TV Mini Series) as
Miss Carmichael
- Part 3 (1983) - Miss Carmichael
- Part 2 (1983) - Miss Carmichael
- Part 1 (1983) - Miss Carmichael
1982
Bret Maverick (TV Series) as
Jessica 'Dolly' Denard
- Horse of Yet Another Color (1982) - Jessica 'Dolly' Denard
1980
Spy! (TV Series) as
Cynthia
- Cynthia (1980) - Cynthia
1979
Once Upon a Classic (TV Series)
- Leatherstocking Tales (1979)
1979
Telford's Change (TV Series) as
American Woman
- The Philistines Of Sussex/Situation Vacant (1979) - American Woman
1978
The Comeback as
Gail Cooper
1977
The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It as
Air Hostess
1976
Dickens of London (TV Mini Series) as
Miss Baldwin
- Memories (1976) - Miss Baldwin
- Magic (1976) - Miss Baldwin
- Money (1976) - Miss Baldwin
- Fame (1976) - Miss Baldwin
- Love (1976) - Miss Baldwin
- Success (1976) - Miss Baldwin
1976
The Omen as
Nanny
1976
Plays for Britain (TV Series) as
Mrs. Ede
- Shuttlecock (1976) - Mrs. Ede
1975
Thriller (TV Series) as
Susie Kay
- Look Back in Happiness (1975) - Susie Kay
1973
Golf Etiquette as
A Golfer
Thanks
2001
Making 'Superman': Filming the Legend (Video documentary short) (grateful appreciation)
2001
Taking Flight: The Development of 'Superman' (Video documentary short) (grateful appreciation)
Self
2019
It's All for You with Holly Palance (Video documentary short)
2019
It's All for You with Holly Palance (Video documentary short)
2001
Biography (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Jack Palance: From Grit to Grace (2001) - Self
1982
Ripley's Believe It or Not! (TV Series documentary) as
Self - Co-Host / Self / Self (co-chost) / ...
- Operation Valkyrie (1984) - Self
- Shakespeare's Forgeries (1983) - Self - Co-Host
- Cicero the Spy (1983) - Self - Co-Host
- Black Bart (1983) - Self - Co-Host
- Rasputin (1983) - Self - Co-Host
- The Man Who Never Was (1983) - Self - Co-Host
- The Glory Hand (1983) - Self - Co-Host
- Dunkirk (1983) - Self - Co-Host
- Cardiff Giant (1982) - Self - Co-Host
1984
The 56th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special documentary) as
Self - Presenter
1984
Breakaway (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.137 (1984) - Self
1983
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) as
