Annabel Schofield, the Welsh-born model who became an icon of 1980s London fashion before transitioning to acting with a memorable role on “Dallas,” has died at age 62. Designer-model Catalina Guirado announced that Schofield died Saturday, Feb. 28, in Los Angeles following a battle with cancer.
Born Sept. 4, 1963, in Llanelli, Wales, Schofield grew up immersed in the entertainment world. Her father, John D. Schofield, was a British film production executive who worked on major Hollywood productions including “Romancing the Stone,” “Jerry Maguire,” and “As Good as It Gets.” That early exposure to film sets would shape her trajectory through multiple creative industries over the next four decades.
Schofield became a defining face of London’s cutting-edge fashion scene in the 1980s, when the city’s street-inspired style dominated international runways. Represented by London’s Take Two Agency, she graced hundreds of fashion magazine covers—including Italian Vogue and Vogue Germany—and starred in major campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Rimmel, Revlon, and Boots No. 7. Her work with legendary photographer David Bailey, who reportedly counted her among his favorite models, cemented her status among the era’s elite.
Schofield achieved international recognition through a memorable Bugle Boy Jeans television commercial in which she drove through the desert in a black Ferrari Testarossa and delivered the now-iconic line: “Excuse me, are those Bugle Boy jeans you’re wearing?” The advertisement became one of the most recognizable fashion commercials of the late 1980s and embedded itself in the cultural memory of a generation.
Melissa Richardson, former owner of London’s Take Two Agency, paid tribute to the late star. “She was the forerunner of Take Two—without her, we could never have made it as we did,” Richardson said.
At the height of her modeling career, Schofield relocated to Los Angeles to pursue acting. She landed a role in 12 episodes of “Dallas” in 1988, playing artist’s model Laurel Ellis opposite Larry Hagman’s iconic J.R. Ewing character in the show’s 11th season. The role showcased her natural screen presence and marked a successful transition from fashion to television.
Her film credits included “Solar Crisis” opposite Charlton Heston, in which she played Alex Noffe, as well as “Dragonard” and “Eye of the Widow.” Schofield later moved behind the camera, taking on production roles for major films including “The Brothers Grimm,” “Doom,” and “City of Ember.”
In 2010, Schofield founded Bella Bene Productions in Burbank, where she developed commercials, music, and fashion projects as an executive producer. She formed a creative partnership with director and graphic artist Nick Egan, known for his work with The Ramones, The Clash, Duran Duran, and Oasis. She also collaborated with renowned photographers including Andrew McPherson, Ellen von Unwerth, and Michael Muller, and produced a 3D Guerlain campaign featuring Angelina Jolie with photographer Will Camden.
Schofield channeled her experiences into writing the semi-autobiographical novel “The Cherry Alignment,” inspired by her life as a 1980s actress and model. The book included a dedication to her late friend and “The Brothers Grimm” colleague Heath Ledger.
The actress first revealed her cancer diagnosis in November 2023, documenting her health battle on a GoFundMe page that raised more than $34,000 toward its $40,000 goal. In a July 2025 update, she revealed the cancer had spread to her brain and that she would undergo chemotherapy. She later described undergoing surgery to have a mass removed through her nostrils.
In her final Instagram post on January 20, 2026, Schofield wrote: “It was very exciting to finally get this done but I’m not out of the woods yet.”
In a December update, Schofield reflected on the emotional and financial toll of her illness. “All of this is compounded by the Christmas season and the fact that I’m alone most days and completely out of money,” she shared. The diagnosis had come over two years before her death, during which time she struggled to maintain a normal life while undergoing treatment.
Schofield was predeceased by her father, who died in 2020, and her sister, Amanda. She is survived by her mother. Her death marks the loss of a multifaceted talent who left an indelible mark on both the fashion and entertainment industries during a transformative era in popular culture.
