Leah Ayres

Last updated

Leah Ayres Kalish
Leah Ayres at the Chiller Theatre Expo 2017.jpg
Kalish in 2017
Born
Leah Simpson

(1957-05-29) May 29, 1957 (age 67)
Alma mater Tufts University
New York University (BA)
Pacific Oaks College (MA)
OccupationActress
Years active1979–1998
Known for The Bradys
The Edge of Night
Bloodsport
Spouse
(m. 1990)
Children1
Website leahkalish.com

Leah Ayres Kalish (born Leah Simpson; May 29, 1957) is an American former actress, best known for her role as Janice Kent in the martial arts sports action film Bloodsport and as Valerie Bryson on the daytime serial The Edge of Night . [1] Kalish is a master yoga teacher, Family Constellations practitioner, [2] and coauthor of children's books. [3] [4]

Contents

Education

Kalish attended both Tufts University and New York University (NYU), earning a degree in dance from NYU. [5] Ayres also earned an MA in human development from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California in 1996. [6]

Certifications

Kalish is a certified Family Constellations facilitator, embodied language processing (embodiment process) practitioner, and Yoga Alliance registered master yoga teacher. She is a proponent of socio-emotional education and teaching integrated yoga and mindfulness in schools. [7] [8] [9] She and her husband Bruce Kalish are founders of a family constellations and inherited family trauma facilitation practice based in Los Angeles. [10]

Television

Her first major role was as Valerie Bryson on the daytime serial The Edge of Night in the early 1980s. In 1984, she starred in Velvet , [11] an ABC/Aaron Spelling television movie opposite Sheree J. Wilson, Shari Belafonte, and Mary Margaret Humes. In primetime, she co-starred as Linda Bowman on the abbreviated third season of ABC's 9 to 5 . She also played Jill Schrader on the HBO original comedy 1st & Ten in 1986-87.

In 1990, she replaced Maureen McCormick in the role of Marcia Brady on the short-lived series The Bradys . She also made guest appearances on such series as Hotel , The Love Boat , Fantasy Island , Married... with Children , and Who's the Boss? . In 1995, she had a recurring role as Tara Flynn on three episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger .

Film

Ayres starred in Bloodsport (1988) alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme [12] and played Michelle in the 1981 film The Burning . She appeared in Eddie Macon's Run (1983) [5] and portrayed the diner waitress in the Meat Loaf music video for "More Than You Deserve".

Filmography

Film and television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1979 Love of Life Christy BringhamDaytime drama
1979Mother and Me, M.D.Barrie TuckerTelevision pilot episode
1979 All That Jazz Nurse CapobiancoFeature film
1981 The Burning MichelleFeature film
1981Meat Loaf: More Than You DeserveWaitressMusic video
1981–1983 The Edge of Night Valerie BrysonDaytime drama
1982Dead RingerWaitressFeature film
1983 9 to 5 Linda BowmanMain role (7 episodes)
1983 Eddie Macon's Run Chris MaconFeature film
1983 Nine to Five Linda BowmanRecurring role (7 episodes)
1984 Fantasy Island Lauren SpenserEpisode: "Sing Melancholy Baby/The Last Dogfight"
1984 Velvet Cass DaytonTelevision film
1984 The A-Team Jenny OlsenEpisode: "Double Heat"
1984 The Love Boat Nancy SidonEpisode: "The Buck Stops Here / For Bettor or Worse / Bet on It"
1984 The Love Boat Arlene CortEpisode: "Country Blues / A Matter of Taste / Frat Brothers Forever"
1985 Dreams KimEpisode:
1985 Finder of Lost Loves Stacey BarnesEpisode: "Deadly Silence"
1985 Hotel JillEpisode: "Identities"
1985 Crazy Like a Fox Elaine MulliganEpisode: "If the Shoe Fits"
1985–1986 St. Elsewhere Mona PolitoRecurring role (5 episodes)
1986We're Puttin' on the RitzMicki ClineTelevision film
1986 Too Close for Comfort JenniferEpisode: "Ya Gotta Have Heart"
1987 1st & Ten Jill SchraderMain role (11 episodes)
1987 21 Jump Street Susan ChadwickEpisode: "Don't Pet the Teacher"
1987 The Oldest Rookie Nina ZagaEpisode: "An Internal Affairs Affair"
1987Hot Child in the CityRachel WagnerFeature film
1988 Bloodsport Janice KentFeature film
1988 Police Story: The Watch Commander Nancy MorganTelevision film
1989 Who's the Boss? PamEpisode: "Heather Can Wait"
1989 Freddy's Nightmares Roxanne WodehouseEpisode: "Welcome to Springwood"
1990 The Bradys Marcia Brady-Logan Main role (6 episodes)
1990 Capital News Stephanie SellarsEpisode: "Finished? Not Dunne"
1991 Who's the Boss? Pam HarperEpisode: "Party Politics"
1991 P.S. I Luv U Nicole BentonEpisode: "The Honeymooners"
1992 Baby Talk Lois HermanEpisode: "Broadway Baby"
1992 Baby Talk Lois HermanEpisode: "The Prince and the Pooper"
1992 The Player SandyFeature film
1992 Married... with Children BettyEpisode: "The Gas Station Show"
1992 Raven EllenEpisode: "Is Someone Crazy in Here or Is It Me"
1995 Walker, Texas Ranger Tara FlynnEpisode: "Case Closed"
1995 Walker, Texas Ranger Tara FlynnEpisode: "Point After"
1995 Walker, Texas Ranger Tara FlynnEpisode: "Evil in the Night"
1998 The Journey of Allen Strange Ms. SymondsEpisode: "Battle"
1998 Sliders DarlaEpisode: "Slidecage"

References

  1. "What is Leah Ayres doing now? Husband, Net Worth, Family". July 10, 2022.
  2. "Family Constellations in Los Angeles".
  3. "Yoga Pretzels: 50 Fun Yoga Activities for Kids and Grownups|Hardcover".
  4. "Yoga Planet".
  5. 1 2 Buck, Jerry (April 30, 2000). "Sassy free spirit joins '9 to 5' secretarial pool". Indiana Gazette. Pennsylvania, Indiana. The Indiana Gazette. p. 16. Retrieved February 21, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. "Personal Statement | Los Angeles, CA | (818) 667-3689".
  7. "Personal Statement | Los Angeles, CA | (818) 667-3689".
  8. "Leah Kalish, Author at Movement and Self regulation skills for early childhood education".
  9. "Leah Kalish".
  10. "Personal Statement | Los Angeles, CA | (818) 667-3689".
  11. "(TV listing)". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. The San Bernardino County Sun. December 15, 1994. p. 57. Retrieved February 21, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  12. "(TV listing)". The Index-Journal. South Carolina, Greenwood. The Index-Journal. September 16, 1990. p. 58. Retrieved February 21, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg