In the iconic fourth installment of Friday the 13th, Jason Voorhees embodies his notorious role as a relentless killer. However, behind the scenes, the actor portraying this hockey mask-clad murderer, Ted White, displayed remarkable heroism by stepping in to protect his young co-star, actress Judie Aronson. During the filming of her character’s harrowing death scene, White intervened when director Joseph Zito allegedly insisted on keeping the nearly naked Aronson in frigid water for an extended period, despite her visible discomfort.

According to Ted White in the book Crystal Lake Memories, the water was brutally cold, and multiple takes exacerbated the situation. Aronson, who played the ill-fated skinny-dipper Samantha Lane, repeatedly requested to get out of the icy water, but her pleas were allegedly ignored by Zito. Frustrated with the director’s disregard for Aronson’s well-being, White finally declared, “That does it. Get the girl outta the damn water right now or I walk. I’m not gonna put up with this bullshit any longer. She’s an 18-year-old kid and she’s dying in that water, and you’re telling her no?” His passionate defense for Aronson highlighted the pressures actors endure on set, particularly in such extreme conditions.

White’s strong stance apparently resulted in a much-needed break for Aronson, allowing her to warm up temporarily. However, Zito offers a contrasting perspective, asserting that it was White himself who was the one complaining about the cold water, rather than Aronson. “Yes, I bullied him into staying in the lake, when naked Judie was willing to stay there, and tough guy Ted wanted to get out. That’s a pisser. Ask Judie about that,” Zito claims, suggesting that the narrative surrounding the incident may not be as straightforward as it seems.

In response to Zito’s assertions, Judie Aronson firmly refutes his account, stating, “No, that’s not true.” She elaborates on her experience, revealing how excruciating it was to endure the cold for such a prolonged time. “When half of your body is in the water for that many hours, it becomes really unbearable. I cried. I tried not to. I was a little bit delirious. I was out of my mind. I remember saying ‘I can’t do it anymore, I just can’t go on’… they would not let me stop. I should have gone to the hospital, but I didn’t. I was sick like a dog after that,” she shared, emphasizing the physical and mental toll of the filming conditions.

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While Zito concedes that White may have advocated for Aronson’s welfare to other crew members, he insists that the filming conditions were not as reckless as they might appear. “He might have had a conversation with the assistant director… But she was okay. I don’t want you to think we were completely crazy… It wasn’t like we just thought, ‘Hey, let’s go to a freezing cold lake and put a naked girl in it.’ Ted was right to be concerned, but we were too,” Zito commented. His remarks suggest a complex dynamic where safety concerns were acknowledged but perhaps not adequately addressed during the production.

When reflecting on her experiences in the industry, Judie Aronson offers crucial advice for aspiring actresses: “Always read your scripts before you accept the part. Never accept any part that takes place in water for long periods of time – I’d make sure to put that in the contract now.” Her insights underscore the importance of awareness and advocacy in Hollywood, particularly regarding the treatment of actors in challenging filming conditions.

Understanding the Misconceptions: Why ‘The Final Chapter’ of ‘Friday the 13th’ Was Never Truly the End

Frank Mancuso Jr., who produced both The Final Chapter and its 1982 predecessor Friday the 13th Part III, originally envisioned the fourth installment as the definitive conclusion to the franchise. In Crystal Lake Memories, he candidly expresses his feelings, stating, “There was a moment in time where I hated the Friday the 13th movies because that’s all everybody ever affixed me to.” His intent behind titling the film The Final Chapter was to signal an end to the series, allowing him to move on, as he found the process increasingly burdensome.

However, the financial realities of Hollywood soon intervened. With a production budget of just $2.2 million, the film grossed an impressive $33 million at the box office, much to the delight of studio executives. This overwhelming success led Paramount Pictures to overlook the supposed finality of Jason’s fate at the end of The Final Chapter. Subsequently, they hired another producer to launch Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, which premiered less than a year later, proving that in Hollywood, the end is often just a new beginning.

Experience the Intensity: Watch ‘Samantha’s Death’ Scene from ‘Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter’