| Valerie Harper  Born: 22-Aug-1940
Birthplace: Suffern, NY
Gender: Female
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Actor
Party Affiliation: Democratic Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Rhoda on Mary Tyler Moore Valerie Harper began her career as a leggy showgirl at Radio City Music Hall. She made her film debut at 16, as one of the teenagers at the prom in Rock, Rock, Rock. She was a chorus girl in the musical film of Li'l Abner with Stubby Kaye. To most audiences, she is Rhoda Morganstern, wacky pal on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 1970s. After spinning off to her own Rhoda sitcom, Rhoda consistently beat Mary Tyler Moore in the ratings.
Harper later starred in the sitcom Valerie, with a young Jason Bateman as her son. But she was considered "difficult", and Bateman soon came to be considered "the star" of the show, so when Harper didn't report to work one day, the next day she was fired. Her character was written into a car crash, Sandy Duncan was brought in to play her sister, and the show was renamed Valerie's Family. Harper sued, arguing that the title implied her continued involvement. She won $1.4 million, 12% of the show's profits -- and the show got its third title, The Hogan Family.
Harper ran for president of the Screen Actors Guild in 2002, but lost to Melissa Gilbert. When she charged that the voting had not been on the level, the union voted again, and again Gilbert won. No longer in demand for sitcoms, she was the voice of a chicken in Dog's Best Friend, and has toured extensively in a one-woman show about the life and times of Pearl S. Buck. Husband: Richard Schaal (actor, m. 1964, div. 29-Jan-1978)
Daughter: Wendy Schaal (stepdaughter, actress, b. 2-Jul-1954)
Husband: Tony Cacciotti (producer, m. 8-Apr-1987, one daughter)
Daughter: Cristina Cacciotti (adopted, actress, b. 1983)
University: Hunter College
Friends of Hillary
PAC For a Change
Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors
SAG-AFTRA Board of Directors
Emmy 1971 for Mary Tyler Moore
Emmy 1972 for Mary Tyler Moore
Emmy 1973 for Mary Tyler Moore
Emmy 1975 for Rhoda
Golden Globe 1975 for Rhoda
Risk Factors: Lung Cancer, Brain Cancer
TELEVISION
Missing Persons Ellen Hartig (1994)
City Liz Gianni (1990)
Valerie Valerie Hogan (1986-87)
Rhoda Rhoda Morgenstern Gerard (1974-78)
The Mary Tyler Moore Show Rhoda Morgenstern (1970-74)
FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
Shiver (Feb-2012)
My Future Boyfriend (10-Apr-2011) · Bobbi Moreau
Dancing at the Harvest Moon (20-Oct-2002)
Mary and Rhoda (7-Feb-2000)
The Great Mom Swap (23-Sep-1995)
Death of a Cheerleader (26-Sep-1994)
Strange Voices (19-Oct-1987)
The Execution (14-Jan-1985)
Blame It on Rio (17-Feb-1984) · Karen Hollis
Don't Go to Sleep (10-Dec-1982)
The Day the Loving Stopped (16-Oct-1981)
The Shadow Box (Sep-1980)
The Last Married Couple in America (1980)
Chapter Two (14-Dec-1979) · Faye Medwick
Freebie and the Bean (25-Dec-1974)
Thursday's Game (14-Apr-1974)
Official Website:
http://www.valerieharper.com/
Author of books:
Today I Am A Ma'am, and Other Musings on Life, Beauty, and Growing Older (2001, memoir)
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