Cyndi Lauper

Known primarily for her eccentric persona, including brightly-colored, odd hairstyles and a thick Queens accent, Lauper made her mark in the entertainment industry with her debut album, "She's So Unusual" (1984), which produced four Top 5 hit singles, including her signature song "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and the poignant ballad "Time After Time". Her follow-up albums, while critically praised, generally failed to repeat her early success. Lauper assumed a behind the camera role, co-directing the video "I Drove All Night" from her third album, "A Night to Remember" (1989). She has since directed her own videos which are noted for their arresting collage-like images generated through cross-cuts and dissolves.

In 1985, Lauper began her association with films by writing, producing and performing the title track for the Stephen Spielberg-produced "Goonies". Her screen debut was opposite Jeff Goldblum as (what else?) an eccentric psychic in the ill-fated comedy "Vibes" (1988). She was seen to much better effect as Michael J. Fox's wise secretary in "Life With Mikey" (1993) and in guest appearances on the popular sitcom "Mad About You" (NBC, 1994 and 1995 ) which earned her an Emmy Award. A reworked, reggae-tinged version of her first hit, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" called "Hey, Now" was featured in the drag comedy "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar" (1995).