Marilu Henner

Tall, good-humored American leading actor, primarily on TV. Henner began in musical theater, originating the supporting role of Marty in a production of "Grease" at the University of Chicago and leaving school to tour with the national company. She didn't appear in the eventual Broadway production of the musical, but did make it to the Great White Way in "Over There!" in 1974. Henner made it onto TV shortly thereafter and achieved a career breakthrough when she was cast as Elaine Nardo on the popular and highly acclaimed sitcom, "Taxi" (1978-83).

The red-haired, green-eyed Henner, with her straightforward, slangy speech style and slightly sharp but warmly open-faced expression, has typically played gutsy proletariat roles modeled to some extent on her highly successful role in "Taxi". Elaine was a single mother of two, an aspiring art curator and the first female cabbie at her garage, and Henner has subsequently played in TV-movies as a successful businesswoman swept up by romance in "Love With a Perfect Stranger" (1986) and a tough police lieutenant in "Ladykillers" (1988). Having acted in support of Burt Reynolds in the risque feature, "The Man Who Loved Women" (1983) and opposite him in the routine rowdiness of "Cannonball Run II" (1984), she reteamed with him for a lesser but still enjoyable sitcom run as his down-to-earth spouse on "Evening Shade" (1990-94). Probably Henner's most interesting feature to date has been Wim Wenders' affectionate but suitably atmospheric neo-noir "Hammet (1982), but she has also acted in the bombs "Rustler's Rhapsody" and "Perfect" (1985) as well as the enjoyable comedies "L.A. Story" (1991) and "Noises Off" (1992).