Misty Rowe

Mistella Rowe (born June 1, 1952) is an American actress. She is best known for portraying the perky, squeaky-voiced blonde on the American television series Hee Haw for 19 years, often appearing as Junior Samples's assistant during used-car comedy segments. Rowe and other "honeys" on the series were notable for performing in cleavage-inducing halter tops, hot pants, and country-style minidresses. Rowe also starred in the 1978 Hee Haw spin-off Hee Haw Honeys, cast with then-newcomer Kathie Lee Gifford (then known as Kathie Lee Johnson) as the singing daughters of truck stop diner owners portrayed by Hee Haw regulars Lulu Roman and Kenny Price.^[2] Rowe later appeared in a national road show version of the series entitled Hee Haw Honey Reunion.^[3]

Misty Rowe
Rowe and Dick Gautier in When Things Were Rotten, 1975
Born	(1952-06-01) June 1, 1952 (age 73) San Gabriel, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1972–1991
Spouse(s)	James DePaiva ​ ​ (m. 1986; div. 1995)​ Barry Singer ​ (m. 2006)​ [1]
Children	1
Website	mistyrowe.com

Early years

Rowe's father was a mechanic. She studied at the Pasadena Playhouse on a scholarship.^[4] When she was young, people made fun of her because of her lisp, causing her to stop talking for a year when she was 12. Speech therapy helped to correct the problem.^[5] Rowe was born in San Gabriel, California. She left home at age 17 to go to Hollywood, where she lived at the Hollywood Studio Club.^[6]

Film and television

In addition to her roles on Hee Haw and Hee Haw Honeys, Rowe portrayed carhop Wendy in early seasons of the sitcom Happy Days and Maid Marian in the Mel Brooks-produced When Things Were Rotten (1975). Rowe's 1980s television appearances include several episodes of Fantasy Island and The Love Boat and portraying a country music singer on Airwolf.

On film, Rowe has twice portrayed Marilyn Monroe, in Goodbye, Norma Jean (1976) and Goodnight, Sweet Marilyn (1989). Her other film credits include The Hitchhikers (1972), Loose Shoes (1980), The Man with Bogart's Face (1980), National Lampoon's Class Reunion (1982), and Meatballs Part II (1984), and the television movie SST: Death Flight (1977).

Stage

Rowe's stage credits include children's theater (Misty's Magic Moo Town), appearing as Patsy Cline in the off-Broadway musical Always...Patsy Cline,^[7] and the Atlantic City production Misty Christmas, Finally a Fruitcake You'll Like! In 2010, Rowe appeared in the self-written, off-Broadway musical Fandance: The Legend of Sally Rand.^[8]

Personal life

While Rowe was married to actor James DePaiva, her unborn baby died in the spring of 1990.^[5]

In other media

Austin, Texas rock band Young Heart Attack wrote a song called "Misty Rowe". In a 2004 interview, songwriter Steven Hall said about the song: "I was obsessed with this actress [Rowe] who was on Hee Haw and Happy Days. She was really sexy and Misty Rowe was the first woman on television who made me feel...different."^[9]