1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Paula Abdul Biography (1962?-)

Full name, Paula Julie Abdul; born June 19, 1962 (some sources cite 1963), inSan Fernando, CA; daughter of Harry (a livestock dealer) and Lorraine (a classical pianist) Abdul; married Emilio Estevez (an actor), April, 1992 (divorced, 1994); married Brad Beckerman, October 24, 1996 (divorced, 1998). Addresses: Contact: c/o Atlas Third Rail, 9169 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA90069.

Nationality

American

Gender

Female

Occupation

Singer, actress, choreographer

Birth Details

June 19, 1962?

San Fernando, California, United States

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Television Appearances
• Specials
• The Songwriters Hall of Fame 20 th Anniversary ... The Magic of Music, CBS, 1989
• The Prince's Trust Gala, TBS, 1989
• Mike Tyson--A Portrait of the People's Champion, syndicated, 1989
• The Television Academy Hall of Fame, Fox, 1990
• America's Dance Honors, ABC, 1990
• First Person with Maria Shriver, NBC, 1991
• Coca-Cola Pop Music "Backstage Pass to Summer," Fox, 1991
• (In archive footage) Everybody Dance Now, PBS, 1991
• VH-1 to One: Paula Abdul (documentary), VH1, 1992
• Fox/MTV Guide to Summer `92, Fox, 1992
• America Bandstand 40th Anniversary Special, ABC, 1992
• Paula Abdul: Under My Spell, The Disney Channel, 1993
• NBA All-Star Stay in School Jam, TNT and NBC, 1993
• Bob Hope: The First 90 Years (also known as Bob Hope: A 90th Birthday Celebration), NBC, 1993
• In a New Light `93, ABC, 1993
• For Our Children: The Concert, The Disney Channel, 1993
• American Bandstand's No. 1 Hits, NBC, 1994
• Sinatra: 80 Years My Way, ABC, 1995
• Citykids All Star Celebration, ABC, 1996
• Host, The 100 Greatest Dance Songs, VH1, 2000
• Playing the Field: Sports and Sex in America (documentary), HBO, 2000
• Everybody Talk About ... Pop Music!, MTV, 2001
• Movies
• Ellen Collier, Touched by Evil, ABC, 1997
• Amy Fuentes, The Waiting Game (also known as Harlequin's The Waiting Game), Showtime, 1998
• Denise Walton, Mr. Rock `n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story, NBC, 1999
• Series
• Judge, American Idol: The Search for a Superstar, Fox, 2002-
• Awards Presentations
• The 41st Annual Emmy Awards, Fox, 1989
• The 31st Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1989
• The 1989 MTV Video Music Awards, MTV, 1989
• Presenter, The 62nd Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1990
• The 4th Annual Soul Train Music Awards, syndicated, 1990
• The 4th Annual Hollywood Insider Academy Awards Special, USA Network, 1990
• Presenter, The 32nd Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1990
• The 22nd Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1990
• Presenter, The American Music Awards, ABC, 1992
• 1991 MTV Video Music Awards, MTV/syndicated, 1991
• Presenter, The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards, The Disney Channel, 1992
• The 24th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1992
• Presenter, The American Music Awards, ABC, 1995
• 1995 NCLR Bravo Awards, Fox, 1995
• Presenter, 9th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, Nickelodeon, 1996
• The 23rd Annual American Music Awards, ABC, 1996
• Presenter, The 25th Annual American Music Awards, ABC, 1998
• Presenter, The 26th Annual American Music Awards, ABC, 1999
• Pilots
• Skirts, MTV, 2001
• Episodic
• Herself, America's Top 10, 1989
• Herself, The Tracey Ullman Show, Fox, 1989
• Herself, The Arsenio Hall Show, syndicated, 1989, 1991, 1992, and1993
• Herself, Muppets Tonight!, ABC, 1996
• Herself, "Lowenstein's Lament," Cybill, CBS, 1996
• Herself, "Affair," The Single Guy, NBC, 1996
• Herself, Saturday Night Live, NBC, 1998
• Herself, "It Happened One Night," Spin City, ABC, 1998
• Herself, Donny & Marie, syndicated, 1999
• Herself, "All That Live," All That, Nickelodeon, 1999
• Sasha, "Dreamgirl," The Wayans Bros., The WB, 1999
• Herself, "Aging, Not So Gracefully," Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, ABC, 1999
• Herself, The View, 2001
• Herself, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, CBS, 2002
• Also appeared as businesswoman, "The Cookie Thief," Chicken Soup for the Soul, PAX.
• Television Choreographer
• Movies
• A Smokey Mountain Christmas, ABC, 1986
• Awards Presentations
• The American Music Awards, ABC, 1990
• The 62nd Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1990
• Series
• The Tracey Ullman Show, Fox, 1987
• Film Appearances
• Sheri, Junior High School, 1981
• The Master of Disguise, Columbia, 2002
• Film Choreographer
• Private School, Universal, 1983
• Dragnet, MCA/Universal, 1987
• Can't Buy Me Love (also known as Boy Rents Girl), Buena Vista, 1987
• The Running Man, TriStar, 1987
• Big, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1988
• Bull Durham, Orion, 1988
• Coming to America (also known as Prince in New York), Paramount, 1988
• Action Jackson, Lorimar, 1988
• She's Out of Control, Columbia, 1989
• The Karate Kid Part III, Columbia, 1989
• Dance to Win (also known as City Rhythms, Dance Academy, and War Dancing), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1989
• The Doors, TriStar, 1991
• Jerry Maguire, 1996
• American Beauty, DreamWorks, 1999
• Black Knight, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2001
• Stage Choreographer
• Reefer Madness, Variety Arts Theatre, New York City, 2001
• RECORDINGS
• Albums
• Forever Your Girl, Virgin, 1988
• Shut Up and Dance, Virgin, 1990
• Spellbound, Captive/Virgin, 1991
• Head Over Heels, Captive/Virgin, 1995
• Greatest Hits, 2000
• Also contributed to Beverly Hills, 90210: The Soundtrack, Giant. Singles include "Straight Up," "Forever Your Girl," "Cold Hearted," "OppositesAttract, "Rush, Rush," and "The Promise of a New Day."
• Videos
• Paula Abdul: Straight Up, Atlantic, 1989
• Captivated `92: The Video Collection, A Vision, 1991
• Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS, and You, Paramount, 1992
• For Our Children, 1993
• Get Up and Dance! (also known as Paula Abdul's Get Up and Dance!), Live Home Video, 1994
• Dancer, Janet Jackson: Design of the Decade 1986/1996, 1996
• "Liberian Girl," Michael Jackson: History on Film--Volume II, 1997
• (And executive producer) Paula Abdul: Cardio Dance, Anchor Bay, 1998
• Music Videos
• Appeared in MC Skat Kat's "Skat Strut"; choreographer for The Jacksons' "Torture," Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done for Me Lately" and "Nasty"; also choreographed music videos for ZZ Top, Duran Duran, and the Pointer Sisters.
• WRITINGS
• Songs
• (With Kylie Minogue) Cowriter, "Spinning Around," 2000

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

• Catalano, Grace, Paula Abdul: Forever Yours, Penguin (New York), 1990
• Ford, M. Thomas, Paula Abdul: Straight Up, Dillon Press (New York), 1992
• Zannos, Susan, Paula Abdul: A Real-Life Reader Biography, MitchellLane, 1999

Periodicals

• People Weekly, August 19, 2002