Melody Anderson

Last updated
Melody Anderson
Melody Anderson Photo Op GalaxyCon Richmond 2020.jpg
Anderson in 2020
Born (1955-12-03) December 3, 1955 (age 67)
Education Carleton University (BA)
New York University (MSW)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • social worker
  • public speaker
Years active1977–1995
Known for All My Children
Flash Gordon
Firewalker

Melody Anderson (born December 3, 1955) is a Canadian retired actress, social worker and public speaker specializing in the impact of addiction on families. As an actress, her most high-profile role was playing Dale Arden in the 1980 adaptation of Flash Gordon . She later starred in the 1986 film Firewalker , with Chuck Norris. While singing, she also trained as an actress, leading to roles in films and television during the late 1970s and 1980s.

Contents

Early life

After high school, Anderson completed a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. She served a brief stint as an on-air reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation before travelling to Southeast Asia and Australia where she worked as one of the first non-Australian female reporters working for a Sydney newspaper. [1]

Career

Acting

Returning to North America, Anderson's first national exposure was as a guest star in the 1977 series Logan's Run and as a "Sweathog" in a 1977 episode of Welcome Back, Kotter . She made numerous guest appearances on television, including Archie Bunker's Place , Battlestar Galactica , Dallas , T. J. Hooker , CHiPs , the pilot episode of The A-Team and The Fall Guy . She had recurring roles on St. Elsewhere and Jake and the Fatman . [2] She was the female lead of the NBC 1983 series Manimal . [3] She was a guest star in the Murder, She Wrote episode "Prediction: Murder" in 1989. [4]

Anderson played the female lead Dale Arden in Flash Gordon (1980) and Janet Gillis in Dead and Buried (1981). [5] [6] In 1983, she played the title role in a made-for-television film called Policewoman Centerfold , in which her character, a divorced police officer, is fired after posing nude for a men's magazine (based loosely on the true story of Springfield, Ohio patrolwoman Barbara Schantz, who was subsequently fired from her job after posing nude in Playboy magazine in the early 1980s). [7]

In 1986, she appeared with Nicolas Cage in The Boy in Blue and with Chuck Norris in Firewalker. [8] She starred in the made-for-television movie Beverly Hills Madam (1986), which starred Faye Dunaway. [9] From 1992–93, Anderson portrayed Natalie Marlowe, and briefly her twin sister Janet Dillon, on the soap opera All My Children . [10] She starred as Edie Adams in the television film Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter, [11] opposite Jeff Goldblum as Ernie Kovacs and played the coveted role of Marilyn Monroe in the television movie Marilyn & Bobby: Her Final Affair (1993). [12] Her last television appearance was in 1995 as a guest star in the short-lived CBS revival of Burke's Law . [13]

Anderson has made appearances at genre conventions, such as the October 2009 Big Apple Convention in Manhattan. [14]

Social work

Anderson is licensed in California as a Certified EMDR Clinician/Therapist [15] and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New York and California. She facilitates therapy groups at several treatment centers in the Los Angeles area. [16] An international lecturer and media spokesperson on addictions and the family, she has made presentations on substance abuse and other mental health-related areas of study. [17]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980 Flash Gordon Dale Arden
1981 Dead & Buried Janet Gillis
1986 The Boy in Blue Dulcie
1986 Firewalker Patricia Goodwin
1989 Speed Zone Lea Roberts
1991Under SurveillanceCathy Meadows
1992LandslideClair Trinavant

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977 Welcome Back, Kotter Blonde SweathogEpisode: "Sweathog Back-to-School Special"
1978 Logan's Run SheliaEpisode: "Carousel"
1979 Pleasure Cove JulieTelevision film
1979 Elvis BonnieTelevision film
1979 Battlestar Galactica Brenda MaxwellEpisode: "Experiment in Terra"
1979 B. J. and the Bear ToniEpisode: "Wheels of Fortune"
1982 Archie Bunker's Place CherylEpisode: "Gary's Ex"
1982 Dallas Linda FarlowEpisode: "The Big Ball"
1982 T. J. Hooker Kate NicholsEpisode: "Terror at the Academy"
1982 The Fall Guy Mary / Mary Walker2 episodes
1983 CHiPs EmilyEpisode: "Day of the Robot"
1983 The A-Team AvonEpisode: "Mexican Slayride"
1983 St. Elsewhere Nurse Jill Roberts5 episodes
1983 Manimal Brooke McKenzie8 episodes
1983 Policewoman Centerfold Jennifer OaksTelevision film
1984Ernie Kovacs: Between the LaughterEdie AdamsTelevision film
1984High School U.S.A.Cindy FranklinTelevision film
1986 Hotel Lauren MoffatEpisode: "Triangles"
1986 Beverly Hills Madam Claudia WinstonTelevision film
1986 Philip Marlowe, Private Eye Rhonda FarrEpisode: "Blackmailers Don't Shoot"
1987Deep Dark SecretsJulianne WakefieldTelevision film
1989 Murder, She Wrote Katherine AaronEpisode: "Prediction: Murder"
1989 The Hitchhiker SterlingEpisode: "The Cruelest Cut"
1989Final NoticeKate DavisTelevision film
1990Hitler's DaughterSharon Franklin / Mary LipscombTelevision film
1991–1992 Jake and the Fatman Neely Capshaw6 episodes
1992–1993 All My Children Natalie Marlowe / Janet Dillon 61 episodes
1993Marilyn & Bobby: Her Final Affair Marilyn Monroe Television film
1995 Burke's Law Alexandra KohlEpisode: "Who Killed the World's Greatest Chef?"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faye Dunaway</span> American actress

Dorothy Faye Dunaway is an American actress. She is the recipient of many accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and a BAFTA Award. In 2011, the government of France made her an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernie Kovacs</span> American comedian, actor, and writer (1919–1962)

Ernest Edward Kovacs was an American comedian, actor, and writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dyan Cannon</span> American actress and filmmaker

Dyan Cannon is an American actress, filmmaker and editor. Her accolades include a Saturn Award, a Golden Globe Award, three Academy Award nominations and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was named Female Star of the Year by the National Association of Theatre Owners in 1973 and the Hollywood Women's Press Club in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bebe Neuwirth</span> American actress (born 1958)

Beatrice "Bebe" Jane Neuwirth is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Known for her roles on stage and screen, she has received two Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and a Drama Desk Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean Stapleton</span> American actress (1923–2013)

Jean Stapleton was an American character actress of stage, television and film. Stapleton portrayed Edith Bunker, the perpetually optimistic and devoted wife of Archie Bunker, on the 1970s sitcom All in the Family, a role that earned her three Emmys and two Golden Globes for Best Actress in a comedy series. She also made occasional appearances on the All in the Family follow-up series Archie Bunker's Place, but asked to be written out of the show during the first season due to becoming tired of the role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathy Najimy</span> American actress and activist (born 1957)

Kathy Ann Najimy is an American actress and activist. She was first nationally known for her feminist play The Kathy and Mo Show, which she wrote and performed with Mo Gaffney. On film, she is best known for her roles in Soapdish (1991), Sister Act (1992) and its sequel (1993), Hocus Pocus (1993) and its sequel (2022), Hope Floats (1998), The Wedding Planner (2001), Rat Race (2001), WALL-E (2008), Step Up 3D (2010), The Guilt Trip (2012), Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas (2013), A Christmas Melody (2015), Dumplin' (2018), Music (2021), and Single All the Way (2021). On television, she is best known for her portrayal of Olive Massery on the NBC sitcom Veronica's Closet (1997–2000) and for voicing Peggy Hill on the animated television series King of the Hill (1997–2010).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dale Arden</span> Fictional character appearing in Flash Gordon

Dale Arden is a fictional character, the fellow adventurer and love interest of Flash Gordon and a prototypic heroine for later female characters, including Princess Leia and Padme Amidala in Star Wars. Flash, Dale and Dr. Hans Zarkov fight together against Ming the Merciless.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgan Fairchild</span> American actress (born 1950)

Morgan Fairchild is an American actress. She began acting in the early 1970s and has had roles in several television series since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jill Hennessy</span> Canadian actress and singer

Jillian Noel Hennessy is a Canadian actress and singer. She is most known for her roles on the American television series Law & Order, on which she played prosecutor Claire Kincaid for three seasons, and Crossing Jordan, on which she played the lead character, Jordan Cavanaugh, for six seasons. She has also acted in films such as RoboCop 3 and Most Wanted, and the independent films Chutney Popcorn and The Acting Class, the latter of which she also wrote and co-directed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loni Anderson</span> American actress

Loni Kaye Anderson is an American actress. She played receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982), which earned her three Golden Globe Awards and two Emmy Award nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danielle Panabaker</span> American actress (born 1987)

Danielle Nicole Panabaker is an American actress. She began acting as a teenager and came to prominence for her roles in the Disney films Stuck in the Suburbs (2004), Sky High (2005) and Read It and Weep (2006), and in the HBO miniseries Empire Falls (2005). She won three Young Artist Awards: for guest-starring in an episode of the legal drama television series The Guardian (2004), for her lead role in the TV film Searching for David's Heart (2005) and for her ensemble performance in the family comedy film Yours, Mine & Ours (2005).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edie Adams</span> American singer, actress and businesswoman (1927-2008)

Edie Adams was an American comedian, actress, singer and businesswoman. She earned the Tony Award and was nominated for an Emmy Award.

Tricia Leigh Fisher is an American actress and singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaye Ballard</span> American actress and singer (1925–2019)

Kaye Ballard was an American actress, comedian, and singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marina Sirtis</span> British actress (born 1955)

Marina Sirtis is a British‐American actress. She is best known for her role as Counselor Deanna Troi on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and four Star Trek feature films, as well as other appearances in the Star Trek franchise.

<i>Firewalker</i> (film) 1986 film by J. Lee Thompson

Firewalker is a 1986 American action-adventure comedy film starring Chuck Norris, Louis Gossett Jr., Will Sampson in his final feature film role, and Melody Anderson. It was directed by J. Lee Thompson and written by Norman Aladjem, Robert Gosnell and Jeffrey M. Rosenbaum. This was the first comedic role for Norris, giving him a chance to poke fun at his action persona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peyton List (actress, born 1986)</span> American actress (born 1986)

Peyton List is an American actress known for roles on Mad Men, FlashForward, The Tomorrow People and Frequency. She began her career on daytime television, playing Lucy Montgomery on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns from 2001 to 2005, before she went to primetime with regular roles on the short-lived dramas Windfall (2006) and Big Shots (2007).

Madolyn Smith is a retired American actress, known for her roles in the films Urban Cowboy (1980), 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984), and Funny Farm (1988).

<i>Beverly Hills Madam</i> American TV series or program

Beverly Hills Madam is a 1986 American made-for-television drama film directed by Harvey Hart and starring Faye Dunaway, Melody Anderson, Donna Dixon and Robin Givens. It was originally broadcast on NBC on April 6, 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faye Dunaway filmography</span>

Faye Dunaway is an American actress who appeared in over seventy films, thirty television shows, thirteen plays and two music videos. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses of her generation, she was one of the leading actresses during the golden age of New Hollywood. After her film debut The Happening, she starred in the gangster film Bonnie and Clyde, in which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She starred with Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair (1968). In 1969, she co-starred with Kirk Douglas in Elia Kazan's drama The Arrangement. The following year, she starred with Dustin Hoffman in Little Big Man. In 1970, her performance in Jerry Schatzberg's experimental drama Puzzle of a Downfall Child earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama. She portrayed Milady de Winter in Richard Lester's The Three Musketeers (1973) and The Four Musketeers (1974).

References

  1. Ackerman, McCarton (January 1, 2012). "Playing a Better Melody". The Fix. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  2. Romero, Dennis (November 9, 1991). "'Jake' Gives Anderson a New Facet in Her Constantly Evolving Career". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  3. Scott, Vernon (November 5, 1983). "Scott's World;NEWLN:'Manimal's' Melody Anderson: Beauty and the beasts". United Press International . Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  4. Parish, James Robert (1997). The Unofficial Murder, She Wrote Casebook. New York: Kensington Books. p. 180. ISBN   1-57566-210-8.
  5. Lopez, Kristen (February 23, 2019). "'Life After Flash' Acts As A Dual Celebration And Redemption Of Flash Gordon's Leading Man". Forbes . Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  6. Dunning, Jennifer (October 10, 1981). "'DEAD AND BURIED'". The New York Times . Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  7. Rosenberg, Howard (October 12, 1983). "Networks' orgy of sleaze and tease waxes hot" . The Journal Herald . Dayton, Ohio. p. 35. Retrieved February 1, 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  8. Canby, Vincent (November 21, 1986). "'FIREWALKER'". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  9. "DUNAWAY TO PLAY MADAM IN NBC MOVIE". Los Angeles Times. April 3, 1986. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  10. Hart, Marla (June 17, 1993). "THREE'S A CHARM". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  11. Farber, Stephen (February 27, 1984). "TV NOTES; TRIAL FOR ERNIE KOVACS BECOMING A DOCUDRAMA". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  12. Scott, Vernon (June 28, 1993). "The likeness was startling when actress Melody Anderson walked..." United Press International. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  13. McKerrow, Steve (March 21, 1995). "He's back, and preserving law and order". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  14. ""Don't miss Melody Anderson at Big Apple Comic-Con" Accessed January 18, 2010". Wizard World. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  15. "Melody J. Anderson, LCSW". EMDR Therapy Network. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  16. "Melody Anderson". Psychology Today. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  17. Melody Anderson, All-American Speakers. Retrieved September 3, 2012.