Wendy Schaal

Last updated

Wendy Schaal
Wendy Schaal by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg
Schaal at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1954-07-02) July 2, 1954 (age 70)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater Los Angeles City College (AA)
OccupationActress
Years active1975–present
Known for Innerspace
The 'Burbs
Small Soldiers
American Dad!
Spouse
Stephen M. Schwartz
​
​
(m. 1977;div. 1987)​
Children1
Father Richard Schaal

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 films such as Where the Boys Are '84 , Creature , Going Under and Munchies . She had many guest roles in television series of the mid-1980s, most notably as Marilyn Kelsy in Airwolf . Since 2005 she has primarily worked in voice acting, most notably voicing Francine Smith in the animated comedy television series American Dad!

Contents

Early years

Schaal was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Lois Schaal ( née McCullough) 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, at which time 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]

Career

Wendy Schaal speaking at the 2016 WonderCon Los Angeles for American Dad!, at the Los Angeles Convention Center Wendy Schaal (26122820876).jpg
Wendy Schaal speaking at the 2016 WonderCon Los Angeles for American Dad!, at the Los Angeles Convention Center

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 

Personal life

Schaal was married to Stephen M. Schwartz on September 4, 1977, but divorced in October 1987. They have one son. [1]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1976 Bound for Glory Mary Jo Guthrie
1978 Record City Lorraine
1984 Where the Boys Are '84 Sandra Roxbury
1985 Creature Beth Sladen
1987 Munchies Marge Mavalle
1987 Innerspace Wendy
1987 Batteries Not Included Pamela
1989 The 'Burbs Bonnie Rumsfield
1991 Going Under Jan Michaels
1994 My Girl 2 Emily Pommeroy
1995Out TherePaige
1998 Small Soldiers Marion Fimple
2001 Holiday in the Sun Jill
2005Inside the CIA Francine Smith (voice)Short film
2006 Loving Annabelle Senator Tillman
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1976 Welcome Back, Kotter Girl in HallwayEpisode: "Sadie Hawkins Day"
1976 Rhoda JanRecurring role (2 episodes)
1977 Fish Peggy DunnaganEpisode: "Fish's Job"
1979 Family SarahEpisode: "Malicious Mischief"
1979 Little House on the Prairie Christie NortonEpisode: "Annabelle"
1980–1981 It's a Living Vicki AllenMain cast (13 episodes)
1981–1982 Fantasy Island JulieMain cast (19 episodes)
1982 Strike Force MandyEpisode: "Chinatown"
1982 Happy Days LorraineEpisode: "Since I Don't Have You"
1982–83 The Love Boat Elaine Hamilton / Milicent FinleyS6 E7/
1983 AfterMASH Bonnie HornbackRecurring role (5 episodes)
1984 Fatal Vision Colette MacDonald Miniseries
1984 Cover Up RebeccaEpisode: "Midnight Highway"
1985 Knight Rider Jamie DownsEpisode: "The Nineteenth Hole"
1985 Finder of Lost Loves Emma TateEpisode: "Connections"
1985 The A-Team KarenEpisode: "Lease with an Option to Die"
1986 MacGyver Karen BlakeEpisode: "Deathlock"
1986 Airwolf Marilyn KelsyEpisode: "Hawke's Run"
1986 Amazing Stories SheenaEpisode: "Boo!"
1987 Gung Ho KellyEpisode: "Love Me Tender"
1987 Duet ElectraEpisode: "Satin Doll"
1987 My Two Dads ChristineEpisode: "Sex, Judge, and Rock & Roll"
1988 Full House VivianEpisode: "Sisterly Love"
1988 Night Court DianeEpisode: "Harry and the Tramp"
1989 Nearly Departed Liz DooleyMain cast (6 episodes)
1989 Dear John LisaEpisode: "Sisters"
1990–1991 Good Grief Debbie LapidusMain cast (13 episodes)
1992 Northern Exposure Tammy TamboEpisode: "My Mother, My Sister"
1993 Red Shoe Diaries 'Lilac' BossEpisode: "Hotline"
1994 Runaway Daughters Mrs. Mildred Cahn Television film
1995 Murder, She Wrote Zuleika BrownEpisodes: "Nan's Ghost: Parts 1 & 2"
1995 Hope and Gloria Nurse NancyEpisode: "Money You Should Mention"
1995 The John Larroquette Show BrendaEpisode: "An Odd Cup of Tea"
1997 Friends JeannineEpisode: "The One with All the Jealousy" (as 'Wendy Schall')
1997 Star Trek: Voyager CharleneEpisode: "Real Life"
1997 Fired Up SusanEpisode: "Are We Not Friends?"
1998 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction MomEpisode: "The Woods"
2000 The X-Files Martha CrittendonEpisode: "Chimera"
2001 Boston Public Mrs. Callie WebbEpisode: "Chapter 15"
2001 The Huntress Helena BarsamianEpisode: "Undercover"
2001 Six Feet Under Vicki DimasRecurring role (3 episodes)
2002 Providence Nancy NeimanEpisode: "Limbo"
2002 Boomtown Darlene BeechemEpisode: "The Freak"
2005–present American Dad! Francine Smith (voice)Main cast
2013; 2017; 2018 Family Guy Francine Smith (voice)
Various		Episodes: "Bigfat", "The Peter Principal", "Con Heiress"
Video Games
YearTitleRoleNotes
2014 Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff Francine Smith (voice)
2022 Warped Kart Racers Francine Smith (voice)Archived recordings

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Schaal, Wendy 1954–". Encyclopedia.com . Cengage.
  2. ↑ Gardella, Kay (April 11, 1986). "Harper Believes Family Comedy Mainstay of TV". Toledo Blade . Retrieved March 9, 2015. Though she has no children of her own, Harper reared her stepdaughter, Wendy Schaal, who is now an actress
  3. 1 2 "Identifies with role". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, AL. December 21, 1980. p. 127. Retrieved January 8, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 Downey, Mike (September 30, 1981). "Wendy Schaal: The New 'Tattoo'". Madison Capital Times. Madison, WI. Chicago Sun-Times News Service. p. 59. Retrieved December 14, 2020– via Newspaperarchive.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 19. ISBN   978-0-7864-6477-7.
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