Cheryl Ladd

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Cheryl Ladd
Ladd in 2001
Born
Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor

(1951-07-12) July 12, 1951 (age 72)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • author
Years active1970–present
Known forCharlie's Angels
Purple Hearts
Millennium
One West Waikiki
Las Vegas
Grace Kelly
Spouses
(m. 1973; div. 1980)
Brian Russell
(m. 1981)
Children2, including Jordan Ladd
Signature

Cheryl Ladd (born Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor; July 12, 1951) is an American actress, singer, and author best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the ABC television series Charlie's Angels, whose cast she joined in its second season in 1977 to replace Farrah Fawcett-Majors. Ladd remained on the show until its cancellation in 1981. Her film roles include Purple Hearts (1984), Millennium (1989), Poison Ivy (1992), Permanent Midnight (1998), and Unforgettable (2017).

Early life[edit]

Ladd was born Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor on July 12, 1951, in Huron, South Dakota,[1][2] the second daughter of Dolores (née Katz), a waitress, and Marion Stoppelmoor, a railroad engineer.[2] After high school, she traveled with the band The Music Shop and played in venues in the United States Midwest before settling in Los Angeles in 1970.[3]

Career[edit]

Early roles[edit]

Ladd originally came to Hollywood to begin a career in music (she was known as "Cherie Moor" when she was the singing voice of Melody on Hanna-Barbera's Josie and the Pussycats animated series, and she also sang on the 1970 album of the same name).[4] However, she soon began to land non-singing roles in commercials and episodic television, including guest appearances on shows such as on The Rookies, The Partridge Family, Police Woman, The Muppet Show, Search and Happy Days.[5]

Charlie's Angels (1977–1981)[edit]

Ladd (middle) in Charlie's Angels

Ladd's big acting break came in 1977, when she was cast in the ABC television series Charlie's Angels, replacing star Farrah Fawcett,[6] who left the show after only one season to pursue a movie career. To make the transition easier for audiences, producers cast Ladd as Fawcett's character's younger sister, Kris, instantly making her a part of the "Angels family". In the years to come, this practice of replacing Angels became a common event for the show. However, Ladd remained a part of the main cast for four seasons, until the show's cancelation in June 1981.[7]

While starring in the highly rated Charlie's Angels, Ladd took advantage of her newfound popularity to further her musical career, guest starring in musical-comedy variety series and specials, performing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl XIV in January 1980, and releasing three albums. She had a top-40 Billboard Hot 100 single and a gold record.[8][5]

Later career[edit]

Ladd in 2007

Following Charlie's Angels, Ladd remained a familiar face on television and has starred in more than 30 made-for-television films, including as Grace Kelly, the Philadelphia heiress who became a Hollywood glamour girl and then a European princess, in a biopic that was begun shortly before Kelly's death.[9] She also appeared in a number of feature films, such as Purple Hearts (1984), Millennium (1989), Poison Ivy (1992) (featuring Drew Barrymore, who later starred in the film adaptations of Charlie's Angels) and Permanent Midnight (1998). Ladd had the lead role in the television series One West Waikiki (1994–96) and made guest appearances in other TV shows such as Charmed, Hope and Faith and CSI: Miami. From 2003 until the show's cancellation in 2008 Ladd played Jillian Deline, the wife of the lead character Ed Deline (James Caan), in 29 episodes of the television drama series Las Vegas.[10]

In 1996, Ladd published a children's book titled The Adventures of Little Nettie Windship.[11] In 2005, she published Token Chick: A Woman's Guide to Golfing With the Boys,[12] an autobiographical book which focused on her love of golf.[13] For several years, Ladd hosted a golf tournament sponsored by Buick.[14]

In September 2000, Ladd starred on Broadway, taking over the title role from Bernadette Peters in a revival of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun. She played the role until January 2001, when Reba McEntire took over.[15]

On April 17, 2010, Ladd — along with her co-angel Jaclyn Smith — accepted the 2010 TV Land Pop Culture Award for Charlie's Angels.[16]

Ladd has continued to appear in a number of TV productions, including the 2011 Hallmark Channel movie Love's Everlasting Courage,[17] guest starring in the NCIS episode "Thirst" (as the love interest of medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard),[18] and the series Chuck, playing Sarah Walker's mother.[10]

On September 8, 2022, Ladd was announced as a contestant on season 31 of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with Louis Van Amstel.[19] They were eliminated in the third week of the competition, placing 14th.

Personal life[edit]

She married fellow actor David Ladd (son of Alan Ladd) in 1973. They have a daughter, actress Jordan Ladd.[20] Ladd took his surname as her own, keeping it after their divorce in 1980.[21]

Ladd has been married to music producer Brian Russell since 1981 and has a stepdaughter, Lindsay Russell.[22] Ladd is a celebrity ambassador for the child abuse prevention and treatment non-profit Childhelp.[23][24]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1971 Chrome and Hot Leather Kathy
1974 The Treasure of Jamaica Reef Zappy
1982 Now and Forever Jessie Clarke Feature film, Australia
1984 Purple Hearts Deborah Solomon
1989 Millennium Louise Baltimore
1990 Lisa Katherine
1992 Poison Ivy Georgie Cooper
1998 Permanent Midnight Pamela Verlaine
1999 A Dog of Flanders Anna
2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Herself Uncredited
2008 Holiday Baggage Sarah Murphy
2012 Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups Mrs. Claus
2014 The Perfect Wave Mrs. McCormack (Mom)
2017 Unforgettable Helen / Lovey
Camera Store Alma
2021 A Cowgirl's Song Erin Mays

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1970–1971 Josie and the Pussycats Melody Valentine (singing voice) 16 episodes
1972 The Rookies Girl Episode: "The Good Die Young"
Alexander Zwo Nelly Episode: "Das gestohlene Ich"
The Ken Berry 'Wow' Show Herself 5 episodes
1972–1973 Search Amy Love 3 episodes
1973 Harry O Teenage Girl Episode: "Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On"
Ironside Gwen Episode: "A Game of Showdown"
Satan's School for Girls Jody Keller Television film; co-starred with future "angel" colleague Kate Jackson
The Partridge Family Johanna Houser Episode: "Double Trouble"
1974 The Streets of San Francisco Susan Ellen Morley Episode: "Blockade"
Happy Days Cindy Shea Episode: "Wish Upon a Star"
1975 Switch Jill Lorimer Episode: "Death by Resurrection"
1977 Police Woman Kate Episode: "Silky Chamberlain"
Police Story Buffy Episode: "Prime Rib"
Code R Ruth Roberts Episode: "The Aliens"
The Fantastic Journey Natica Episode: "The Innocent Pray"
The San Pedro Beach Bums Herself Episode: "Angels and the Bums"
1977–1981 Charlie's Angels Kris Munroe Main role
1978 The Muppet Show Guest Episode: "Cheryl Ladd"
1979 Carol Burnett & Company Guest Episode: "Pilot"
The Cheryl Ladd TV Special Herself - Host and singer TV special
When She Was Bad Betina "Teeny" Morgan TV movie
1980 The Cheryl Ladd Special: Souvenirs Herself - Host and singer TV special
1983 Kentucky Woman Maggie Telford TV movie
1983 Grace Kelly Grace Kelly
1983 The Hasty Heart Margaret
1985 Romance on the Orient Express Lily Parker
1985 A Death in California Hope Masters Miniseries
1986 Crossings Liane DeVilliers
1987 Deadly Care Ann Halloran TV movie
1988 Bluegrass Maude Sage Breen Miniseries
1989 The Fulfillment of Mary Gray Mary Gray TV movie
1990 Jekyll & Hyde Sara Crawford née Lanyon
The Girl Who Came Between Them Laura
Crash: The Mystery of Flight 1501 Diane Halstead
1991 Changes Melanie Adams
Locked Up: A Mother's Rage
(aka The Other Side of Love)
Annie Gallagher
1993 Dead Before Dawn Linda
Broken Promises: Taking Emily Back Pam Cheney
1994 Dancing with Danger Mary Dannon
1996 Kiss and Tell Jean McAvoy
The Haunting of Lisa Ellen Downey
Vows of Deception Lucinda / Lucy Ann Michaels Television film
1994–1996 One West Waikiki Dawn 'Holli' Holliday, M.E. 21 episodes
1997 Ink Mercedes Episode: "The Black Book"
1998 Every Mother's Worst Fear Connie Hoagland Television film; co-starred with daughter Jordan Ladd
Perfect Little Angels Elaine Friedman Television film
1999 Jesse Mary Anne Myers Episode: "Crazy White Female"
Michael Landon, the Father I Knew Lynn Noe Landon TV movie
Intimate Portrait Herself - Cheryl Ladd 1 episode
2000 Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place Berg's Mom 2 episodes
2002 Her Best Friend's Husband Jane Thornton Television film
2003 Charmed Doris Bennett Episode: "The Day the Magic Died"
2003–2008 Las Vegas Jillian Deline 29 episodes
2004 Hope and Faith Mary Jo Johnson Fairfield Episode: "9021-Uh-Oh"
Eve's Christmas Diane Simon Television film
2006 Though None Go with Me Elizabeth Bishop Television film
2009 CSI: Miami Amanda Collins Episode: "Bolt Action"
2011 Love's Everlasting Courage Irene TV movie
NCIS Mary Courtney Episode: "Thirst"
Chuck Emma Episode: "Chuck Versus The Baby"
2014 Anger Management Joanne Episode: "Charlie Gets Tied Up with A Catholic Girl"
2015 Ray Donovan Tina Harvey Episode: "Breakfast of Champions"
Garage Sale Mystery: The Wedding Dress Helen Whitney Carter TV movie
2016 The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Linell Shapiro 4 episodes
2017 Ballers Mayor of Las Vegas Episode: "Bull Rush"
Royal New Year's Eve Abigail TV movie
2018 Malibu Dan the Family Man Pamela Marshall 2 episodes
The Christmas Contract Renee Guidry TV movie
2019 Grounded for Christmas Susan
2020 Christmas Unwrapped Janet Cohen
2022 Dancing With The Stars Contestant Placed 14th/16
2023 A Christmas for the Ages Joan TV movie

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Year Title Label Notes
1970 Josie and the Pussycats Capitol Records
1978 Cheryl Ladd The album reached number 129 on the US Billboard 200 chart, with the single "Think It Over" peaking at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track "Walking In The Rain" was used as an ending song for Charlie's Angels in Japan and was released as a single, while the song "I'll Never Love This Way Again" was recorded by Dionne Warwick the following year.
1979 Dance Forever The album reached number 179 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The title track was also the closing theme of Charlie's Angels in Japan and was released as an EP, while the song "Where Is Someone To Love Me" was the theme of a Japanese whisky TV commercial featuring Ladd herself.
1981 Take a Chance Released in Japan
1982 You Make It Beautiful Mini-album released in Tokyo, Japan

Singles[edit]

Issued Title Label Release Catalogue No.
1970 "Every Beat Of My Heart" b/w "It's All Right With Me" (as a member of Josie and the Pussycats) Capitol Records 45 rpm 2967
"Inside, Outside, Upside Down" b/w "A Letter To Mama" (Josie and the Pussycats) Kellogg's Cereal Promo Record CP-58
"Josie" b/w "With Every Beat Of My Heart" (Josie and the Pussycats) CP-59
"Voodoo" b/w "If This Isn't Love" (Josie and the Pussycats) CP-60
"It's Gotta Be Him" b/w "I Wanna Make You Happy" (Josie and the Pussycats)d CP-61
1971 "Stop Look And Listen" b/w "You've Come A Long Way Baby" (Josie and the Pussycats) Capitol Records 45 rpm P-3045
1974 "The Family" b/w "Mamma Don't Be Blue" Warner Bros 7821
1976 "Country Love" b/w "He's Looking More Everyday Like The Man Who Broke My Heart" Capitol Records 4215
1978 "Think It Over" b/w "Here Is A Song" 4599
"Good Good Lovin'" b/w "Skinnydippin" 4650
"Skinnydippin'"(Extended Version) (either side) 12" Promo Single SPRO-8894
"Walking in the Rain" b/w "I'll Come Running" Capitol Records Japan 45 rpm ECR-20516
1979 "Missing You" b/w "Thunder In The Distance" Capitol Records 4698
"Missing You" (Extended Version) (either side) 12" Promo Single SPRO-9096
"Dance Forever" b/w "Missing You" Capitol Records Japan 45 rpm ECR-20575
1980 "Where Is Someone To Love Me" b/w "Just Like Old Times" ECR-17013
1981 "Just Another Lover Tonight" b/w "Television" ECR-17205
"Take A Chance" b/w "Victim Of The Circumstance" ECR-17155
1982 "Can't Say No To You" b/w "You Make It Beautiful" (duet with Frankie Valli) Capitol Records B-5115
"You Make It Beautiful" (duet with Frankie Valli) b/w "Can't Say No To You/Love And Passion/Sakura Sakura" Capitol Records Japan EP ECS-41010

References[edit]

  1. ^ Leszczak, Bob (2015). From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records, 1950-2000. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 181. ISBN 9781442242746.
  2. ^ a b Shindler, Merrill (February 28, 1988). "THE HORSEY SET OPENS ITS RANKS TO CHERYL LADD". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  3. ^ de Arakal, Byron (October 1981). "Cheryl: From Huron, South Dakota to Hollywood, Cheryl Ladd Quietly Moves Ahead". Orange Coast Magazine: 19.
  4. ^ "Greatest TV Cartoon Theme Songs #13: Josie and The Pussy Cats". ToonBarn. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  5. ^ a b de Arakal, Byron (October 1981). "Cheryl". Orange Coast Magazine. Emmis Communications. pp. 19–24. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  6. ^ Reilly, Sue (September 26, 1977). "Taking Farrah's Spot". People. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  7. ^ Mansour, David (2011). From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 79. ISBN 9780740793073. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  8. ^ "Lost in the '70s: Cheryl Ladd, "Think It Over"". Popdose. February 12, 2009.
  9. ^ O'Connor, John J. (February 21, 1983). "TV MOVIE: GRACE KELLY". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Nededog, Jethro (October 3, 2011). "'Charlie's Angels' Star Cheryl Ladd Gets Maternal on 'Chuck'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  11. ^ Grady, Pam (November 25, 2012). "Cheryl Ladd has pick of litter with 'Paws'". SFGate. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  12. ^ Metz, Nina (June 4, 2006). "Guess what's on the ceiling in Cheryl Ladd's bedroom". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  13. ^ "'Charlie's Angels' star Cheryl Ladd is still a total blonde bombshell at 66". AOL. July 26, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  14. ^ "Happy Playing Two Tours, Nelson Is No Easy Ryder". Los Angeles Times. October 31, 1997. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  15. ^ "New Star Fills the Balcony, Doin' What Comes Natur'lly; A Familiar Face Can Rejuvenate a Musical". The New York Times. 2001. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  16. ^ "2010 TV Land Awards". SFGate. April 26, 2010. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  17. ^ "Cheryl Ladd as Irene on Love's Everlasting Courage – Hallmark Channel". Hallmark Channel. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  18. ^ "NCIS: Thirst". TV.com. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 10, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  19. ^ "Dancing with the Stars: Teresa Giudice, Wayne Brady, Selma Blair and More Celebs Join Season 31". Peoplemag. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  20. ^ Nolasco, Stephanie (February 19, 2019). "'Charlie's Angels' star Cheryl Ladd on her relationship with God: 'It has gotten stronger and deeper'". Fox News. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  21. ^ David, Anna (June 9, 1997). "Ladd's Lass". People. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  22. ^ Miller, Samantha (September 27, 1999). "Wings of Desire". People. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  23. ^ "Childhelp's Celebrity Ambassadors". Childhelp. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  24. ^ "Childhelp Golf Invitational Raised Over $188,000". Childhelp. Retrieved March 21, 2018.

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