After hitting the U.S. Billboard charts in 1976 with his singing talent, Shaun Cassidy flexed his acting muscles as Joe Hardy on The Hardy Boys. The show aired until 1979 and sent teenage girls out in droves to buy posters of this handsome California boy. It didn’t hurt that his older half-brother, David Cassidy, had already paved a path for superstardom. Both were known for their acting and singing.
Shaun Cassidy’s cover of “Da Doo Run Run” was a Billboard number one hit, followed by “That’s Rock and Roll”, peaking at number three.
Rather than just sitting back and collecting royalties from his various ‘70s endeavors, Cassidy is still very much active in the film and TV industry, writing and/or producing a number of critically acclaimed shows over the years.
In 2013, he signed an exclusive two-year deal with Universal Television to create and develop new projects. His most recent success is New Amsterdam (2018-present). Now 58, Cassidy has been married three times and fathered five children.
The image of Laura Ingalls Wilder, portrayed by Melissa Gilbert, running down the hill on the opening of Little House on the Prairie is forever ingrained in the minds of so many fans of this beloved series. The show aired from 1974-1984 and was a standing weekly TV gathering for countless households.
Her all-American girl looks, freckles and all, made her a favorite among audiences. She also made her mark in 1979 in a riveting portrayal of Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker.
Gilbert has remained active as an actor, director, and producer—particularly in TV movies. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1985. Despite battling alcoholism and drug abuse, she was able to overcome her addictions and wrote very candidly about them in her 2009 autobiography.
She has served two terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild. Gilbert is active in politics, even making a bid for a congressional seat in Michigan in 2015, but was forced to withdraw from the race citing health reasons.
Frequently described as the first American supermodel, Cheryl Tiegs is best known for her multiple covers of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and her iconic 1978 “pink bikini” poster that adorned many walls. Her career as a model began when she was a senior in high school. She posed for a swimsuit ad for California bathing suit manufacturer Cole. Although she enrolled in college as an English major, she left early to pursue her modeling career. The staff at Glamour saw her Cole advertisement, and within a year she had graced their cover as well as Seventeen, Elle, Vogue, and Harper’s Bazaar.
Tiegs was the first model to appear twice on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She gained much attention when she posed in a fishnet swimsuit cover. In 1979, she met photographer Peter Beard and traveled with him to Africa to investigate the dire situation of wildlife. Their journey was highlighted in an Emmy-winning episode of The American Sportsman titled “Africa: The End Game”. Around the same time, she was signed to a reported $1.5 million two-year contract with Cover Girl cosmetics. Her face was literally everywhere in the late ‘70s.
In 2004, Tiegs was inducted in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue’s 40th anniversary “Hall of Fame”. She also made People’s 2008 “50 Most Beautiful People” list and Men’s Health Magazine’s 2012 “Hottest Women of All Time” compilation. She has been praised for breaking age barriers in the areas of beauty, fitness, and fashion. She has had numerous contracts featuring clothing lines and bathing suits bearing her name. Sears, QVC, and Revlon are some of the companies she has worked with over the years.
She has also made appearances on a variety of TV shows, including Celebrity Apprentice, Just Shoot Me, Girls Behaving Badly, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and in a recurring role as herself on Family Guy. She has been actively involved in a multitude of charitable causes, such as Earth Conservation Corps, Planned Parenthood, the Farrah Fawcett Foundation, City of Hope, and numerous environmental organizations. One area of her life that has seen less success is her love life. She’s had four failed marriages, and at 72, doesn’t seem to have any further plans to walk down the aisle.
A child actor, most known for his role as Nicholas Bradford, the adorable youngest child on Eight is Enough. The series ran from 1977-1981.
Because of his role on the show, Adam was nicknamed “America’s little brother.”
Over the years, Rich landed a few television roles, mostly guest appearances. He revived his most notable role as Nicholas Bradford in both An Eight is Enough Wedding and Eight is Enough: A Family Reunion.
The years have not always been kind to Rich. From drug and alcohol addictions, criminal offenses, and a media hoax claiming he was murdered in 1996, there have been numerous struggles. He once said, “I am an actor, not a celebrity. I have always wanted to be an actor. I never wanted to be a celebrity!”. At 51, Rich has never married and has no children.
You couldn’t go anywhere in 1975 without hearing “Love Will Keep Us Together”. As half of the duo, Captain & Tennille, the cheesiness was front and center, but we lapped it up and asked for more. “Shop Around” was another smash, along with the super cringy “Muskrat Love”.
The Toni Tennille Show was a syndicated talk show from 1979-1981. The show featured popular musical acts of the day, along with celebrity interviews. Tennille also provided backup vocals for Pink Floyd’s "The Wall" and Elton John’s "Caribou" album.
At 79, Tennille lives in Florida and has been on her own since divorcing Daryl “Captain” Dragon in July 2014. Longtime fans were shocked because the couple had presented the image of a solid, passionate marriage for decades. In reality, Tennille cited Dragon’s “inability to be affectionate” as grounds for the divorce.
Despite no longer being legally bound to one another, the two remained close, with Tennille at his bedside when Dragon passed away on January 2, 2019.
Few sitcom receptionists have had as much of a following as Jennifer Marlowe, played by Anderson 1978-1982. Known for her platinum blonde hair and perfectly placed dimples, she oozed [explicit] appeal on WKRP in Cincinnati.
She also made guest appearances on S.W.A.T. and the sitcoms Phyllis and Three’s Company.
After her success in the ‘70s, Anderson appeared in a few TV movies and had guest appearances here and there. She had a starring role in The Jayne Mansfield Story, appeared as herself alongside Steve Martin in the romantic comedy The Lonely Guy, and voiced a collie in the animated film All Dogs Go to Heaven. In a number of projects, dating as far back as WKRP, Anderson often made salary demands that would halt productions, and in some cases, cost her the roles she was seeking.
She married four times, most notably to Burt Reynolds (1988-1993)—and personal drama has followed Anderson in the tabloids. Now 74, she has spent a number of years as a spokesperson of the dangers of smoking and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Best-known for playing Detective Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson on the series Starsky & Hutch (1975-1979), David Soul had guest appearances on a variety of TV shows before landing his breakout role. He also directed three episodes of the popular series.
He also enjoyed success as a singer, with “Don’t Give Up on Us” hitting number one in 1977.
Soul moved to England in the mid-1990s, trying his hand at a stage career in several West End productions. He has been quite successful across the pond, becoming a British citizen in 2004. He has been married five times and has six children.
Most recently, Soul was a guest on BBC’s Top Gear, finishing with one of the fastest lap times on the show’s history. He has also made cameo appearances on British and Scottish TV, lip-syncing or actually performing his own song “Silver Lady”.
Miss World USA 1972 would go on to have the lead role in Wonder Woman (1975-1979). Carter’s portrayal of the title character would serve as a source of inspiration for a generation of young girls. Her role as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman was based on the DC comic book fictional superheroine.
Prior to her TV success, Carter attended Arizona State University, dropping out to pursue a career in music after being voted “Most Talented”. From 1970-1972, she toured with a group called The Garfin Gathering along the Los Vegas and Reno casino circuit. She decided to pursue acting and the rest is history.
In 2007, DC Direct released a 13-inch full-figure statue of Carter as Wonder Woman, with a limited release of 5,000 units. In 2010, DC released a bust of Carter’s Wonder Woman to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the super heroine. Carter has also become synonymous with Maybelline Cosmetics after being featured in their advertisements for a number of years.
She has appeared in a few “B” movies, as well as having guest appearances on shows such as The Muppet Show and Smallville. In 2015, Carter wrote and recorded five songs for the video game Fallout 4. In 2018, she was joined by her daughter, Jessica Carter Altman, in recording the album, “Red, Rock n’ Blues”. At 68, Carter is still finding outlets for her talents.
Lee Majors first hit the scene in the mid-to-late ‘60s as Heath Barkley on The Big Valley, but he gained an even larger fanbase as Colonel Steve Austin in The Six Million Dollar Man (1973-1978). “We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can make him better than he was. Better, stronger, faster”. Those words immediately beckon images of the opening of this science fiction series that led to action figures and sparked the imaginations of everyone watching.
The Bionic Woman, another science fiction series popular around the same time period, often featured Majors as his Austin character. He was also famously married to Farrah Fawcett from 1973-1984.
Majors played Colt Stevens, a Hollywood stuntman, for five seasons on The Fall Guy, proving he could have success outside of his Colonel Steve Austin character—although he did reunite with Lindsay Wagner in three TV movies following The Six Million Dollar Man/The Bionic Woman between 1987 and 1994.
He has had roles in numerous movies over the years, but is most remembered for his three major TV roles. Now at 80, he lives in Houston, TX, with his fourth wife.
One could argue that Debby Boone was nothing more than a one-hit wonder with a famous singing dad, Pat Boone. However, the magnitude of that one hit, “You Light Up My Life”, was earth-shattering in magnitude—in 1977 and beyond.
The mega-hit spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Boone also was a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Her wholesome image was broadly appealing and the song went on to be played at countless proms and weddings.
If you think “You Light Up My Life” was a one-and-done for Boone, you would be mistaken. She has since received seven additional Grammy nominations, adding two more awards to the 1978 win. She found a home in many musical theater productions and has authored six children’s books. She has come to be known for her versions of American standards.
Now 63, she has recorded 13 albums and is currently touring the country. Boone and her husband, Gabriel, married in 1979. They have four grown children and live in Los Angeles.
“Goodnight, John-Boy!” brings to mind the large, multi-generational family that invited us into their home on Thursday nights beginning in the fall of 1972. The Waltons provided a blueprint for future family dramas. The character of John-Boy, portrayed by Richard Thomas, was central to many of the show’s storylines.
Before and after The Waltons, Thomas guest-starred on a multitude of TV series and movies, but will always be remembered fondly as John-Boy Walton. He won an Emmy for his performance in the series and was also nominated for another Emmy award and two Golden Globes. He also directed five episodes of the series.
Thomas’s list of acting roles is long and quite impressive. He has appeared in three Waltons reunion specials, even though he left the series before its nine-year run had come to an end, in pursuit of other opportunities. Over the years, he has had numerous guest roles on TV, including Law & Order, The Americans, The Good Wife, Blue Bloods, The Blacklist, and NCIS: New Orleans. He has also appeared in a variety of commercials, movies, and an extensive number of Broadway productions.
He has authored 16 books. Thomas’s first marriage produced one son and triplet daughters. His second marriage resulted in one son. At 68, there seem to be no signs of Thomas slowing down professionally.
The instantly recognizable catchprase, “Dyn-O-Mite!”, helped make Walker a household name during his five-year stint on Good Times. His role as J.J. Evans on the popular sitcom put Walker on the fast track to superstardom.
He made numerous appearances on a variety of TV shows and movies during the ‘70s, in addition to commercials.
Stand-up comedy has always been Walker’s first love. He continues to tour with his stand-up routine. Even though he can’t seem to completely escape his J.J. persona and will always be expected to utter “Dyn-O-Mite!” on demand, Walker has managed to incorporate this into his life with a sense of humor.
In his own words, “There’s so many people who dislike you all the time, so when somebody loves anything that you do, you go ‘Yes! Finally!’, even if it means the dyn-o-mite thing.” At 72, he's still going strong.
Erik Estrada had never ridden a motorcycle before he became a star in the role of a motorcycle cop on CHiPs, an action-packed show about California Highway Patrol officers. He had also never participated in martial arts but took lessons because he knew that would be an aspect of the show.
Estrada took his role quite seriously and used his character as Ponch as an educational tool on the importance of police officers and the impact they have on communities. The popular show ran from 1977-1983, with Bruce Jenner briefly taking the helm when Estrada was in a salary dispute.
Over the years, Estrada has acted in everything from Mexican soap operas to action movies and reality TV shows. Interestingly, the CHiPs star once said, “I wanted to be a New York City cop before I became an actor.” That dream became a reality when Estrada was sworn in as a reserve police officer in St. Anthony, Idaho in 2016.
He has also worked as a voice actor in shows that include El Americano, Plnes: Fire & Rescue, Adventure Time, and Sealab 2021. Estrada considers himself to be very much a family man and also enjoys interacting with his fans. As he once said, “An hour of my time is a tiny price to pay for all the support I’ve gotten from my fans.”
Best-known for her role as Barbara Cooper on the hit sitcom, One Day at a Time (1975- 984), Bertinelli became everyone’s sweetheart on a show centered around a divorced mom, living in an apartment with her two teenage daughters. Barbara was the sweet, responsible, younger daughter.
In real life, Bertinelli became a fixture on magazine covers and posters. She had the perfect combination of girl-next-door good looks and a personality that made her seem more like a good friend than a superstar.
Bertinelli has stayed in the TV spotlight as Gloria on the series, Touched by an Angel, from 2001-2003, and Melanie on Hot in Cleveland, from 2010-2015. She was famously married to rocker, Eddie Van Halen, from 1981-2007. Their romance, and the demise of it, was all over the tabloids.
The two had one child together, Wolfgang Van Halen, who has followed in his father’s rock-and-roll footsteps. Bertinelli married again in 2011 to Tom Vitale. She has acted in an extensive list of made-for-TV movies. Food Network shows highlighting her love of cooking have been popping up since 2015, and continue today.
Mac Davis started out in the music industry as a songwriter. He wrote a few songs for Elvis Presley, including “In the Ghetto” and “A Little Less Conversation”. Davis found his own path as a singer in 1970 with “I Believe in Music”, followed by “Baby Don’t Get Hooked on Me” in 1971.
Initially considered a country artist, he soon found crossover success and made numerous TV appearances. The Mac Davis Show (1974-1976) found a huge fanbase, followed by numerous Christmas specials into the ‘80s.
Davis retired from music and acting in 1989 due to alcoholism. Following extensive treatment and an extended hiatus, he released a new album in 1994. He was a cast member of the short-lived sitcom Rodney, which ran for two seasons in the mid-2000s. Davis has also done voice work for the animated series King of the Hill.
He has said “I do” three times and now has adult children. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000. At 77, he now resides in Atlanta, GA.
Like many young actors, McNichol got her start in commercials. It didn’t take long for her to be noticed and offered roles in both TV and movies. Most recognizable for her role as Buddy in Family, she won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1977 and 1979.
She also made a mark on the big screen, co-starring with Tatum O’Neal, in Little Darlings. McNichol was a regular feature in teen magazines in the late ‘70s.
Although she continued to have success in TV with Empty Nest and various movie roles, McNichol stepped away from her acting career in the early ‘90s. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she decided to step away from the Hollywood lifestyle for her mental health.
She is happily married to Martie Allen. They have been in a happy relationship for nearly two decades. McNichol teaches acting in a private school and devotes much of her time to charitable causes.
Wagner began her career as a model when she was only 13, but she's best known for her role as Jaime Sommers on the science-fiction series The Bionic Woman. The series often had a cross-over relationship with The Six Million Dollar Man, which was also a huge hit. The Bionic Woman aired from 1976-1978. In that relatively short period of time, Wagner became a household name and a part of must-see TV.
She won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1977. Later, she and Lee Majors would reprise their roles for a few special airings. Prior to her success as Jaime Sommers, Wagner appeared in four episodes of The Rockford Files in 1974.
While Wagner has continued acting, she has also added directing to her resume. Following her Bionic Woman success, Wagner appeared in the first made-for-TV movie, The Two Worlds of Jenny Logan. She would grasp the reigns of this new outlet, starring in more than 30 made-for-TV movies.
She has co-authored a series of books, mostly focused on beauty topics. Wagner has also served on the board of the Teen Talking Circle Project. In 2008, she started offing Quiet the Mind & Quiet the Heart workshops. In recent years, she guest starred on Fuller House, Grey’s Anatomy, and NCIS, among others.
“I’m so glad we’ve had this time together, just to have a laugh or sing a song...” was the familiar ending each week on The Carol Burnett Show. The hugely successful variety show was groundbreaking for being the first of its kind to be hosted by a woman and showcased Burnett’s talents as an actress, comedian, singer, and writer.
The show originally aired from 1968-1978 and has been shown in syndication countless times. The series won a whopping 25 Primetime Emmy Awards. The show opened the doors for other entertainers, but Burnett was clearly the star.
Following the success of the variety show, Burnett continued acting in everything from slapstick comedies to serious dramas, both on TV and movies. She is considered by many to be one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Her career has included Broadway stage performances, like Moon Over Buffalo, guest appearances, including Mad About You, along with writing and narrating several memoirs.
She was recognized as “one of America’s most cherished entertainers” in 2005 when she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom “for enhancing the lives of millions of Americans and for her extraordinary contributions to American entertainment.”
“Hello, world, here’s a song that we’re singin’, c’mon get happy…..”. That song meant the wildly popular TV series The Partridge Family was coming on your TV and everything else could wait for 30 minutes. David Cassidy was the obvious star, but Susan Dey had quite a following as well. Her portrayal of Laurie Partridge drew in droves of young male viewers who might not otherwise watch such a silly, music-oriented show.
The character of Laura was a musician, playing keyboard/piano and singing back-up vocals. She also seemed to be intelligent and very aware of the world around her. Of course, it didn’t hurt that she was beautiful. Before her Partridge Family success, she was a model—she got her start at the age of 15. Dey also appeared in a few movies, both on TV and the big screen, most notably Little Women in 1978.
Following some movie successes, Dey landed a role in Emerald Point N.A.S. for 22 episodes. Various other roles helped her find her way to her second-biggest acting role in a 34-year career. Dey was offered a game-changing role on the legal drama L.A. Law, a show critically acclaimed for its accurate portrayal of American lawyers. Dey’s character, Grace Van Owen, was a district attorney who worked her way up to becoming a judge. The show was a huge success and Dey was much better prepared to handle the fame than in her Partridge Family days.
Dey’s L.A. Law role led to several award nominations, with a Golden Globe win in 1988. Dey was one of 13 actors who won awards for the show. She left the show in 1992 following the finale of the sixth season. In recent years, Dey has avoided the public eye. She lives in upstate New York with her husband and enjoys a quiet life.
This beautiful, genre-crossing Aussie provided more than a few hit songs in the ‘70s. When “Let Me Be There” hit the airwaves in 1973, people took notice. “I Honestly Love You”, “Have You Never Been Mellow”, and “Please, Mr. Please" were also huge hits. Fans and music executives alike realized she was something special, with an ability to appeal to a broad spectrum of audiences.
Many more hits and awards would follow, along with work in movies. Her starring role as Sandy in Grease was a defining moment. Both the movie and soundtrack broke records and have stood the test of time.
Newton-John has continued to make music, act, become a video icon in “Physical”, spend years touring, and have a successful Vegas residency. And she has beaten cancer—twice. Unfortunately, it returned in 2017 as Stage IV and was reported to have spread to her bones. She has talked openly about her diagnosis and her use of medical cannabis to help ease the pain.
Her music will be much of her legacy, but she has also been an advocate for cancer research, animal rights, and numerous other causes. She is scheduled to perform at the Fire Fight Australia concert on February 16, 2020 to raise money for national bushfire relief.
You really can’t discuss ‘70s TV without including The Brady Bunch. The quick-witted middle son, Peter, was portrayed by Christopher Knight. The show aired from 1969-1974 and had a cult following. Once the show ended, we had more Brady adventures in store with a variety of specials and movies.
Knight was a teen magazine favorite and enjoyed quite a fan base. Some have argued that he was the most entertaining Brady kid. That might be up for debate, but the fame the show brought him can’t be denied.
Knight hasn’t been able to repeat the success of The Brady Bunch and its various offshoots, but it hasn’t been for lack of trying. Over the years, he has hosted short-lived game shows like Trivial Pursuit - America Plays, appeared in reality shows like The Surreal Life and My Fair Brady, and had roles in such so-bad-they’re-good movies like The Last Sharknado.
Apart from acting, Knight has found success in the business world, founding Kidwise Learningware, which manufactures interactive educational products. He also started Escape Labs, a TV tuner business. His most recent venture is Christopher Knight Home, an online furniture store.
The path to fame for Ali MacGraw broke the usual movie star rules. She was already 30 when she had her first starring role in Goodbye, Columbus in 1969. She won a Golden Globe for that portrayal. Next came the role that would make her a household name and overnight star. Love Story was released in 1970 and made everyone ugly cry with her heartbreaking performance as the dying half of an ill-fated couple.
Jenny, the character MacGraw seemed to effortlessly meld into, uttered the timeless line, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” In later years, the American Film Institute would rank that tear-jerking sentence as No. 13 of its list of the 100 greatest movie quotes.
Following the success of Love Story, MacGraw would star in the crime thriller The Getaway, which would introduce her to her second husband, Steve McQueen. A few years later, she would star in Convoy. Other movies would follow, but nothing would come close to the timeless appeal of Love Story. MacGraw would leave the acting world behind in the late ‘90s and place her focus on her passion for animal rights. She has been an activist in that area for many years.
She visited a friend in New Mexico in 1993 and decided to move to an area near Santa Fe. She’s never looked back and feels very much at home there. She filmed a video, “Yoga Mind & Body” in the White Sands area, and has been credited with helping popularize yoga in the U.S. She reunited with Ryan O’Neal, her co-star from Love Story, for a tour of the play “Love Letters”. She still considers O’Neal to be a dear friend.
Music wasn’t the beginning of Debbie Harry’s story. She worked a few odd jobs, including a stint as a Playboy Bunny, before co-forming Blondie in 1974 in New York City. The band released four albums between 1976 and 1979, striking a chord with listeners looking for something different and edgy. Harry’s supermodel good looks and innovative fashion sense didn’t hurt, but she wanted to be taken seriously for the band’s songwriting and musical abilities.
The recognition she and the band longed for came in 1979 with the release of “Parallel Lines”. The album gave us six hits and secured Blondie’s spot in rock and roll history, particularly New Wave. Harry was the instantly recognizable fixture of the band and became a music and style icon.
In the ‘80s Harry tried her hand at acting, starring in Videodrome and Union City. During this time period, Harry released two solo albums, but the band was destined to reunite. Solo work continued to be a part of Harry’s musical journey, but Blondie would release their eleventh album in 2017. Harry would publish a memoir in 2019.
For several years, philanthropy has been a top priority for her. She has been particularly active in increasing awareness of cancer and endometriosis. At 74, Harry remains a fashion icon and Blondie’s music legacy is still enjoyed by fans, both new and old.
Born in Hollywood to show-business parents, it seemed only natural for Leif Garrett to become a child actor. He had guest starring roles on episodes of Nanny and the Professor, Gunsmoke, and Family Affair, among others. While he managed to have steady work as an actor, Garrett’s real calling was music. His biggest hit would come in 1978 when “I Was Made for Dancing” hit the airwaves.
While enjoying his success in music, Garrett also had a recurring role on Family, starring as the boyfriend of Bubby (played by Kristy McNichol). As a teen, his long path of drug use and self-destruction would begin. At 17, he crashed his car while high, leaving his best friend in a wheelchair for life. This led to a legal battle that was settled out of court, but didn’t take away Garrett’s feelings of guilt.
Garrett has continued to record music and had a role in the movie adaptation of The Outsiders. He stepped away from public life for several years, returning to the spotlight as host of the VH-1 show 8-Track Flashback in the late ‘90s. He was also featured in a 1999 episode of Behind the Music, which included an awkward reunion with Roland Wrinkler, the friend injured in the accident years earlier. Sadly, the reunion must have triggered his old demons because he was arrested soon after the episode, trying to buy drugs from undercover officers in a park.
There were a few unsuccessful attempts to revive his music career and another drug arrest in 2004. He went to rehab and made a few TV appearances after his release. He appeared in the reality series Celebrity Rehab in 2010.
When Carole King was 3 years old, her mother discovered her gift of perfect pitch and would soon begin formal music lessons. Gifted in other areas academically, King started kindergarten at age 4 but was soon advanced to the 2nd grade. Song-writing and singing seemed to come naturally to King. She either wrote of co-wrote a laundry list of hit songs for herself and other artists, including “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” when she was only 17. It was originally written for the Shirelles, with then-husband Gery Goffin. The pair wrote dozens of songs that would become huge hits during this period, like “The Locomotion”, “One Fine Day”, “Just Once in My Life”.
In the early ‘60s, King charted with her own vocals. In 1967, Aretha Franklin made a smash out of “Natural Woman", which King and Goffin had written together. It was the 1971 release of King’s solo album that would change everything. In a first for a female writer/artist, "Tapestry" won 4 Grammy Awards—Record, Song, and Album of The Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female. "Tapestry" would remain the best-selling album by a female artist for a quarter century.
In 1987, King was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame—then she and Goffin were awarded the National Academy of Songwriters’ Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1990, the two were inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Carol has remained active with musical and literary work, along with being the recipient of numerous honors and awards. She has maintained a long friendship with James Taylor, another renowned singer/songwriter and the two have toured together.
King found a new audience in the early 2000s when “Where You Lead” became the theme song for Gilmore Girls, with a few minor lyric adjustments. In 2012, King received the BMI Icon Award and an Honorary Doctorate from Burklee College of Music. 2013 brought her The Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, and President Barak Obama presented her with The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. She was the first woman to receive that honor. King has written a memoir, had a show based on her life and career on Broadway, and was celebrated at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2015. At 77, she still loves to perform and has millions of fans across the globe.
Smith is best known for her role as Kelly Garrett on the '70s TV show Charlie’s Angels. She was the only one of the three female leads to remain with the series for its complete run (1976-1981). Prior to the role, she began her work in commercials. Beginning in the early ‘80s, Smith began developing and marketing her own lines of clothing and perfume.
She was able to capitalize on her Kelly Garrett persona and was a successful businesswoman. Sadly, her personal life was not going as well as her career. By 1981, Smith had been married and divorced twice, and had just embarked on her third marriage.
Though Smith’s career was largely centered around made-for-TV movies and an occasional mini-series here and there, she was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Mini-series or TV Film for her role as the title character in Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. She also reprised her role as Kelly Garrett with cameo appearances in the films Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle in 2003, and Charlie’s Angels in 2019. On TV, she had a recurring role on The District from 2002-2004. She appeared in two episodes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in 2012.
Smith had a long, highly successful business relationship with K-Mart for a number of years, selling her own lines of home furnishings and clothing. Throughout the years, Smith has been named “The World’s Best Dressed Woman" and topped a poll as “Whose Face Most Women Would Like To Have”. She's been married to her fourth husband since 1997 and lives in Los Angeles. A native of Houston, TX, she has said it will always be her home in her heart.
Not very many people can be recognized worldwide by a single name, but this icon of music, TV, movies, and fashion has made people sit up and take notice since a very early age. Cher initially found fame as part of a singing act with her then-husband, Sonny Bono. Simply known as Sonny & Cher, they hit number one with the single “I’ve Got You Babe”, going on to star in The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour in 1971. The show lasted until 1974, and was a huge hit. Unfortunately, tensions behind the limelight led to a divorce and the demise of the show.
Cher would go on to have her own self-titled TV show from 1975 -1976. She had much musical success in the ‘70s as well, with hits throughout the decade, including “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves”, “Half Breed”, and “The Way of Love”.
Cher decided to seriously pursue an acting career in the ‘80s, having appeared in a few screen projects before. She appeared on Broadway. She acted alongside Meryl Streep in the film Silkwood. Critics and audiences alike were starting to recognize her dramatic acting skills. In a short span of time, she starred in The Mask, The Witches of Eastwick, and Moonstruck. She was honored with her first Academy Award for her riveting performance in Moonstruck. Cher continued to release albums and was still known for her brazen fashion sense. In 1989, in the music video for “If I Could Turn Back Time”, her attire was barely there and led to MTV only airing the video late at night. She worked closely over the years with designer Bob Mackie, who was famously responsible for many of her provocative outfits.
Cher continued to have success in both film and music, but had a new smash on her hands with the release of the song “Believe” in 1998. Tiring of show business and facing health issues, Cher performed in a 35-date farewell tour from 2002-2005. In 2006, she auctioned off much of her estate, donating a portion of the profits to charity. She briefly returned for another tour in 2014, but had to cancel due to illness. Over the years Cher has wowed us with her music, acting ability, daring outfits, turbulent love life, candid demeanor, and an impressive list of awards and accolades. She even starred alongside Christina Aguilera in Burlesque in 2010. It’s hard to believe she's 73 and in the midst of her final (maybe) farewell tour.
Prior to the debut of Happy Days in 1974, Anson Williams had landed guest roles on Marcus Welby, M.D., The Paul Lynde Show, and Love, American Style. It was his role as Potsie Weber on an episode of Love, American Style that would lead to the character’s inclusion on Happy Days. In the show’s beginning, Potsie was a prominent character, but his role diminished over time as the popularity of Henry Winkler’s character, Fonzie, overshadowed much of the cast.
Williams was able to display his singing skills on a few episodes and remained in the main cast for 219 episodes. His role as Potsie also led to an appearance on an episode of Laverne & Shirley, a spinoff from Happy Days. Williams also had guest starring roles on The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, The Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour, and Greatest Heroes of the Bible.
Over the years, Williams has appeared as himself in an episode of Boy Meets World and two Happy Days reunion specials. He has directed a number of shows in addition to acting. His directing credits include episodes of L.A. Law, Glory Days, Hooperman, Diagnosis Murder, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210, Baywatch, Lizzie McGuire, and the entire series The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
We might not see Williams in front of the camera as often these days, but he is certainly making his mark behind it. Now 70, Williams has had two marriages, resulting in five children. He and Jackie Gerken have been married since 1988 and reside in Malibu, California.
Green’s soft tone and signature falsetto gave soul a new sound in the early ‘70s. He had huge hits, including “Let’s Stay Together” and “I’m Still in Love with You”. His soothing voice and habit of giving female concert goers roses contributed to his popularity. With his career on the move, Green started to focus more on his Christian faith—and concert-goers were not sure what to think when he started adding mini-sermons to his shows.
In 1974, a life-changing event happened when a woman attacked Green in the bathroom with a pot of boiling-hot grits. She then shot and killed herself in Green’s home. He suffered third degree burns and devoted himself completely to his faith during his long recovery. He bought a church, became a pastor, and focused on gospel music. For a while, Green only performed inspirational music.
By the late ‘80s, Green had started performing his secular songs, along with gospel music. He collaborated with other artists, singing duets with Annie Lennox and Lyle Lovett. He also made a guest appearance on an episode of Ally McBeal. He released new albums in 2003 and 2008, and learned to embrace both his secular and gospel songs. Some refer to him as The Reverend Al Green. Whatever name you choose, there's no doubt that he has impacted music across the board.
He still pastors his church in Memphis, TN. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. He has won 11 Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He was ranked No. 65 by Rolling Stone on their list of The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, and No. 14 on their list of 100 Greatest Singers. With all of these honors, Green still considers his church and relationship with God to be his highest achievements.
Best-known for her role as George Jefferson’s maid, Florence Johnston, on The Jeffersons, Marla Gibbs made America laugh weekly in this groundbreaking sitcom. The show ran from 1975-1985, and Gibbs received five nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
She also had one nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film. She also starred in Checking In, the short-lived spinoff of The Jeffersons in 1981.
Gibbs found herself in the starring role of the series 227, which aired from 1985-1990 for 116 episodes. She had a number of supporting roles in films and made guest appearances on Touched by an Angel, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Southland, Judging Amy, and ER. She also had a recurring role on The Hughleys.
Between 2015 and 2017 she guest starred on Hot in Cleveland, American Horror Story, and This is Us. Just before her 88th birthday, she returned to her role as Florence Johnston on Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons, in May of 2019.
