Valerie Harper Biography (1940-)

Born August 22, 1940, in Suffern, NY; daughter of Howard (a sales executive)and Iva (a nurse; maiden name, McConnell) Harper; married Richard Schaal (anactor and writer), c. 1964 (divorced, 1978); married Tony Cacciotti (a producer, personal trainer, and restaurateur), 1987; children: (second marriage) Cristina.

Nationality
American
Gender
Female
Occupation
Actress, dancer, singer, writer
Birth Details
August 22, 1940
Suffern, New York, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • Rhoda Morgenstern, The Mary Tyler Moore Show (also known as Mary Tyler Moore), CBS, 1970-1974
  • Rhoda Morgenstern Gerard, Rhoda, CBS, 1974-1978
  • Valerie Hogan, Valerie (also known as Valerie's Family), NBC, 1986-1987
  • Liz Gianni, City, CBS, 1990
  • Rita Stone, The Office, CBS, 1995
  • Voice of female master of ceremonies, student, and member of dream crowdfor English version, Generator Gawl (animated), [Japan], beginning 1998
  • Miniseries
  • Herself, CBS: On the Air, CBS, 1978
  • Movies
  • Ann Menzente, Thursday's Game (also known as The Berk), ABC, 1974
  • Carol Turner, Night Terror, NBC, 1977
  • Carol Hefferman, Fun and Games, ABC, 1980
  • Maggie, The Shadow Box, ABC, 1980
  • Norma Danner, The Day the Loving Stopped, ABC, 1981
  • Laura Hogan, Don't Go To Sleep, ABC, 1982
  • Kate Bianchi, An Invasion of Privacy, CBS, 1983
  • Hannah Epstein, The Execution, NBC, 1985
  • Lynn Glover, Strange Voices, NBC, 1987
  • Nora Cromwell, Drop-Out Mother (also known as Goodbye, Supermom), CBS, 1988
  • Rachel Yoman, The People across the Lake, NBC, 1988
  • Katherine Slade, Stolen: One Husband (also known as I Want HimBack!), CBS, 1990
  • Dyan Draper, Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion, NBC, 1991
  • Mrs. Delvecchio, A Friend to Die For (also known as Death of aCheerleader), NBC, 1994
  • Grace Venessi, The Great Mom Swap, NBC, 1995
  • Voice of chicken, Dog's Best Friend, The Family Channel, 1997
  • Rhoda Morgenstern Gerard Rousseau, Mary and Rhoda, ABC, 2000
  • Claire, Dancing at the Harvest Moon, CBS, 2002
  • Specials
  • Wife, "Double Trouble," The Trouble with People, NBC, 1972
  • The Shape of Things, CBS, 1973
  • Guest, John Denver's Rocky Mountain Christmas, ABC, 1975
  • John Denver and the Ladies, ABC, 1978
  • The Sensational, Shocking, Wonderful, Wacky '70s, NBC, 1980
  • Cohost, The Candid Camera Special, NBC, 1981
  • I Love Liberty, ABC, 1982
  • Night of 100 Stars (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars), ABC, 1982
  • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1986
  • NBC's 60th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1986
  • The Television Academy Hall of Fame, NBC, 1986
  • Sex Symbols: Past, Present and Future, syndicated, 1987
  • This Is Your Life, NBC, 1987
  • Host, Child Abuse: Innocence on Trial, Lifetime, 1988
  • Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration, TNT, 1989
  • Host, A Festival at Ford's Theatre: The Stars Salute the President, TBS, 1990
  • CBS Comedy Bloopers, CBS, 1990
  • Happy Birthday, Bugs: 50 Looney Years, CBS, 1990
  • Mary Tyler Moore: The 20th Anniversary Show, CBS, 1991
  • What about Me? I'm Only 3!, CBS, 1992
  • The Poetry Hall of Fame, 1993
  • Scott Ross Street Talk, The Family Channel, 1993
  • The Second Annual Comedy Hall of Fame, NBC, 1994
  • The 69th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC, 1995
  • The Mary Tyler Moore Reunion, CBS, 2002
  • CBS at 75, CBS, 2003
  • Also appeared in the special Edna St. Vincent Millay.
  • Awards Presentations
  • Presenter, The 13th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1987
  • Host, The 16th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1990
  • The Fourth Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1990
  • The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards, TheDisney Channel, 1990
  • The 26th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, NBC, 1991
  • Presenter, The 14th Annual Genesis Awards, Animal Planet, 2000
  • Presenter, The 2001 Genesis Awards, Animal Planet, 2001
  • The Second Annual TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV, TVLand, 2004
  • Episodic
  • "Love and the Housekeeper," Love, American Style, ABC, 1971
  • Eve Babcock, "The Most Crucial Game," Columbo, NBC, 1972
  • "The Peasant Lass," Story Theatre, syndicated, 1972
  • Herself, The Carol Burnett Show, CBS, 1973
  • Thicker Than Water, ABC, 1973
  • Rhoda Morgenstern Gerard, "Mary Richards Falls in Love," The Mary Tyler Moore Show (also known as Mary Tyler Moore), CBS, 1975
  • Herself, The Muppet Show, syndicated, 1976
  • Herself, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1976, 1977,1980, 1986, 1987, 1990
  • Rhoda Morgenstern, "The Last Show," The Mary Tyler Moore Show (also known as Mary Tyler Moore), CBS, 1977
  • Host, Fridays, ABC, 1982
  • "Egypt" (also known as "Egyptian Cruise"), The Love Boat, ABC, 1986
  • Herself, At Rona's, NBC, 1989
  • Herself, A Conversation with Dinah, The Nashville Network, 1989
  • Ellen Hartig, Missing Persons, ABC, 1993
  • Herself, "Valerie and Bonnie," Sidewalks Entertainment (also knownas Sidewalks Entertainment Hour), syndicated, 1994
  • Herself, Al Roker Program, NBC, 1995
  • Herself, Lauren Hutton and..., 1995
  • Herself, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, syndicated, 1995
  • Herself, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, Comedy Central, 1995
  • Kate Prescott, "Flesh and Blood," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1996
  • Molly Arnold, "The Magic Gate," Promised Land, CBS, 1996
  • Cohost, Sally Jessy Raphael, syndicated, 1996
  • Guest host, The Vicki Lawrence Show, syndicated, 1996
  • Herself, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1996, 1997
  • Cohost, Fox after Breakfast, Fox, 1997
  • Mia Mancini, "Last Train to Baghdad," Melrose Place, Fox, 1998
  • Mia Mancini, "Mama Mia," Melrose Place, Fox, 1998
  • Herself, Intimate Portrait: Mary Tyler Moore, Lifetime, 1998
  • Voice of a townsperson for English version, Majutsushi Orphen Mubouhen (animated; also known as Sorcerous Stabber Orphen), [Japan], 1998
  • Kate Prescott, "Full Circle," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1999
  • Wallis, "Shortcomings," Sex and the City, HBO, 1999
  • Aunt Paula, "Eric's Naughty No-No," That '70s Show, Fox, 2001
  • Julia, "Clemency," Family Law, CBS, 2001
  • Merle Keats, "The In-Laws," Three Sisters, NBC, 2001
  • Merle Keats, "Three Thanksgivings, One Turkey," Three Sisters, NBC, 2001
  • Narrator, Intimate Portrait: Estelle Getty, Lifetime, 2001
  • Narrator, Intimate Portrait: Nancy McKeon, Lifetime, 2001
  • Herself, The View, ABC, 2001
  • Herself, Lynda Carter: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2002
  • Judith, "Claude's Alternative Thanksgiving," Less Than Perfect, ABC, 2003
  • Also appeared on Beggars and Choosers, Showtime; Inside TV Land, TV Land; and Later with Bob Costas, NBC.
  • Pilots
  • Herself, The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour, ABC, 1973
  • Liz Farrell, Farrell for the People, NBC, 1982
  • Film Appearances
  • Rock, Rock, Rock, Vanguard/Distributor Corporation of America, 1956
  • (Uncredited) Girl in orange dress, Li'l Abner, Paramount, 1959
  • With a Feminine Touch, 1969
  • The Ones in Between, 1972
  • Consuelo, Freebie and the Bean, Warner Bros., 1974
  • Faye Medwick, Chapter Two, Columbia, 1979
  • Barbara, The Last Married Couple in America, Universal, 1980
  • Karen Hollis, Blame It on Rio, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1984
  • Stage Appearances
  • Dancer, Li'l Abner (musical), St. James Theatre, New York City, 1956-1958
  • Entertainer and townsperson, Take Me Along (musical), Shubert Theatre, New York City, 1959-1960
  • Dancer, Wildcat (musical), Alvin Theatre, New York City, 1960-1961
  • Dancer, Subways Are for Sleeping (musical), St. James Theatre, 1961-1962
  • Standby for Beth Nemerov, Something Different, Cort Theatre, New York City, 1967-1968
  • Multiple roles, Paul Sills' Story Theatre (select Grimm Brothers fairy tales adapted to stage and set to music), Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles,then Ambassador Theatre, New York City, 1970-1971
  • Member of ensemble, Metamorphoses (also known as Ovid's Metamorphoses), Ambassador Theatre, 1971
  • Lunchtime and Halloween (double-bill), Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle, WA, 1975
  • Night of 100 Stars (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars), Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1982
  • Dorothy and Carol, Death Defying Acts, Variety Arts Theatre, New York City, 1995-1996
  • Marjorie Taub, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Manhattan TheatreClub, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City, c. 2001-2002
  • An Evening with Valerie Harper, Epiphany Theatre Company, New YorkCity, 2002
  • Host and reader of stage directions, Auntie Mame (benefit performance for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS), John Jay College Theatre, New York City, 2003
  • Appeared in Destry Rides Again, Broadway production; and Come Blow Your Horn, regional production.
  • Major Tours
  • Dr. Martha Livingstone, Agnes of God, U.S. cities, 1983
  • Pearl S. Buck and other characters, The Dragon and the Pearl (soloshow; also known as All under Heaven and Pearl), U.S. cities,between 1996 and 1999
  • Marjorie Taub, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, U.S. cities, 2002-2003
  • Also toured in Dear Liar.
  • RECORDINGS
  • Audiobooks
  • Narrator, Today I Am a Ma'am: And Other Musings on Life, Beauty, and Growing Older, by Valerie Harper and Catherine Whitney, HarperCollins, 2001
  • Videos
  • She Turned the World On with Her Smile: The Making of the "Mary TylerMoore Show," Twentieth Century-Fox Home Entertainment, 2002
  • Eight Characters in Search of a Sitcom, Twentieth Century-Fox HomeEntertainment, 2003
  • WRITINGS
  • Stage Writings
  • (With Dyke Garrison) The Dragon and the Pearl (solo show; also known as All under Heaven and Pearl), produced on tour of U.S. cities, between 1996 and 1999
  • Teleplays
  • Episodic
  • (With Richard Schaal) "Love and the Visitor," Love, American Style, ABC, 1970
  • Nonfiction
  • (With Catherine Whitney) Today I Am a Ma'am: And Other Musings on Life, Beauty, and Growing Older (autobiography), illustrated by Rick Tulka, Cliff Street Books, 2001

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, St. James Press, 2000
    Periodicals
    • Elle, February, 2000, p. 70
    • Next, November 9, 2001, p. 29
    • TV Guide, March 31, 2001, pp. 34-36
    Electronic
    • Theatermania.com, http://www.theatermania.com, September 28, 2001
    • Valerie Harper Home Page, http://www.valerieharper.com, July 1, 2004

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