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Wendy Schaal
American actress (born 1954) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Wendy Schaal (born July 2, 1954)[1] is an American actress known for her work in Joe Dante films, such as Innerspace, The 'Burbs, and Small Soldiers. Her other film credits include starring in Where the Boys Are '84, Creature, Going Under, and Munchies. She had many roles on television series in the 1980s, most notably as Vicki Allen on It's a Living and Marilyn Kelsy on Airwolf. Since 2005, she has primarily worked in voice acting, most notably voicing Francine Smith on the animated comedy television series American Dad!
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Early years
Schaal was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Lois Schaal (née Treacy) and actor Richard Schaal.[1] Schaal's father was married to actress Valerie Harper from 1964 to 1978, during which time Harper was her stepmother.[2] From birth until she was five, Schaal lived with her parents in Crete, Illinois. She moved with her mother to Newport Beach, California after her parents divorced.[3] Schaal studied acting with Viola Spolin in Chicago when she was nine years old, later moving to Wisconsin and then California when she was 11. When she was 14, a trip to New York to be with her father and Harper soon led her to California again when her father and stepmother chose to settle in Hollywood.[4]
Schaal earned an Associate of Arts degree from Los Angeles City College,[3] acting and working in set construction. After she attended an acting workshop led by her father, she began to work on television.[4]
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Career
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Schaal's early work on television included roles on Fish, Little House on the Prairie, Phyllis, Rhoda, and Welcome Back, Kotter. In 1981, Schaal joined the cast of the ABC-TV series Fantasy Island, portraying Julie, the niece of the program's central character, Mr. Roarke.[4] Her other roles on TV included Bonnie Hornback in AfterMASH,[5] Debbie Pepper in Good Grief,[5]: 404 Vickie Allen in It's a Living,[5]: 515 and Liz Dooley in Nearly Departed.[5]: 747 She also provides the voice of Francine Smith in the cartoon series American Dad![5]: 36
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Personal life
Schaal was married to Stephen M. Schwartz on September 4, 1977, but divorced in October 1987. They have one son.[1]
Union activism
On March 30, 2012, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) completed a merger of equals forming a new union SAG-AFTRA. As a result of this merger, a group of actors including Schaal, fellow voice actors Michael Bell, Clancy Brown, Schaal's former stepmother Valerie Harper, and other actors including former SAG President Edward Asner, Martin Sheen, Ed Harris, and Nancy Sinatra immediately sued against the current SAG President Ken Howard and several SAG Vice Presidents to overturn the merger and separate the (now merged) two unions because of their claims that the election was improper.[6] The plaintiffs dropped their lawsuit several months later.[7]
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Filmography
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References
External links
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