In 1982, Steve Miner cast her as Chris Higgins in the horror film "Friday the 13th Part III". Despite mixed reviews, the film was a financial success. The same year, Kimmell guest starred on a string of television series including "The Facts of Life", "Happy Days", "Private Benjamin", and "Hart to Hart". The following year, Kimmell portrayed Marci Blake in the horror film "Sweet Sixteen". Another role came in 1983 in the action movie "Lone Wolf McQuade", playing Chuck Norris's daughter, Sally McQuade. The same year, she guest starred on a variety of television series: Melanie in "Fame", a girl in "Alice", herself in "Anatomy of a Scene", Susan Folsen and Lisa Telford "T.J. Hooker", and Lane Carter in "The A-Team".