Gail Edwards

Gail June Edwards
Edwards in Key Largo · 2003
Born	September 27, 1952 (1952-09-27) Coral Gables, Florida
Residence	Sedona, AZ · Miami, FL
Occupation	Actress, Singer-songwriter
Known for	Appearing in situation comedies throughout the 80’s and mid-90’s
Spouse	Robert Decker
Parents	Dr. and Mrs. Robert V. Edwards
Website
www.GailEdwards.com

Gail June Edwards (born September 27, 1952) is a retired American actress best known for her roles as Dot Higgins in ABC's It's a Living, Sharon Lemure in NBC's Blossom, and Vicky Larson in ABC's Full House.

Early life and career

Edwards, a native Floridian, was raised in Coral Gables and caught the performing bug early in life. She had her father hang the curtain and lights while she choreographed, costumed, and starred in her own neighborhood musicals. In the sixth grade, Edwards played “Little Mary” in The Women at the Coconut Grove Playhouse where famed theater producer-playwright George Abbott came backstage to single out her performance. This appearance became her launching pad for numerous industrial films and local television commercials in South Florida.

In 1970, after graduating from the University of Miami, Cum Laude, Edwards wrote, produced, and starred in the off-Broadway musical Becoming. It won the Miami Herald Critics’ Choice award three times before the musical debuted in New York. While in New York, Edwards signed with the LeMond/Zetter Management Group. Soon afterwards, she landed the role of “Sandy” opposite Peter Gallagher in Broadway's East Coast tour of Grease. After producing and starring in two additional productions, The Good One and Vanities, both earning her the Drama-Logue Critics' Award, Edwards turned her focus toward television.

Upon moving to Los Angeles in 1976, Edwards signed with the Ro Diamond Agency (later with the Gersh Agency) and immediately began landing guest-star roles on such television series as Happy Days, Lou Grant, M*A*S*H and Taxi.

In 1979, Edwards auditioned for a Witt-Thomas production in which she landed the role of “Dot Higgins” on ABC’s It’s a Living. She, along with Barrie Youngfellow, Paul Kreppel and the late Marian Mercer were the only four members of the It's a Living cast who lasted during the network and syndicated runs of the show. During this six-year run, Edwards appeared in many movies-of-the-week along with numerous other guest-star appearances in such series as Benson, Buffalo Bill, Doogie Howser, M.D., Knight Rider, Night Court and the premiere episode of Amazing Stories, directed by Steven Spielberg.

Upon moving to the Southwest in 1994, Edwards retired from showbiz while concluding her last two roles, portraying the engaged Vicky Larson on ABC’s Full House and Sharon Lemure, the fast-talking mother of Six on NBC’s Blossom.

Filmography

Television / Film Appearances - Alphabetized
Title	Director	Role	Airing	Year
A Quiet Little Neighborhood, A Perfect Little Murder	Anson Williams	Judy Lipton	MOW - ABC	1990
Amazing Stories	Steven Spielberg	Joleen	NBC	1985
Barnaby Jones	Kenneth C. Gilbert	Karen Webster	CBS	1979
Benson	Gilbert Moses	Linda	NBC	1984
Big Brother Jake	Gary Shimokawa	Suzie	Family Channel	1990
Blinded by the Light	John A. Alonzo	Zora	MOW - CBS	1980
Blossom	Bill Bixby, Ted Wass	Sharon Lemure	NBC	1991 – 1993
Brothers	Gary Nardino	Liza	Showtime	1984
Buffalo Bill	Tom Patchett	Reporter	NBC	1983
Danny Thomas: Young & Foolish	Buddy Bregman	Gail	CBS	1978
Doogie Howser, M.D.	Stephen Cragg	Mrs. Fukes	ABC	1992
Duet	Lee Shallat-Chemel	Dr. Dellerton	FOX	1989
Full House	Joel Zwick	Vicky Larson	ABC	1990 – 1993
Get Crazy	Allan Arkush	Willy Loman	Film	1983
Happy Days	Jerry Paris	Loretta	ABC	1980
In Self Defense	Bruce Seth Green	Alice Miller	MOV - NBC	1987
It's a Living / Making a Living	J.D. Lobue, John Bowab, Jay Sandrich	Dot Higgins	ABC - Syndication	1980 – 1982 / 1985 – 1989
J.O.E. and the Colonel • Humanoid Defender	Ron Satlof	Dr. Lena Gant	MOV - ABC	1985
Jennifer Slept Here	John Bowab	Pam Wilson	NBC	1983
Just Married	Bill Foster	Linda Altobello	Pilot - NBC	1985
Knight Rider	Robert Foster	Flannery Roe	NBC	1983
Lou Grant	Alexander Singer	Karen	CBS	1977
M*A*S*H	Charles S. Dubin	Marina Ryan	CBS	1981
New Love, American Style	Lee Bernhardi	Lucy	ABC	1986
Night Court	Jim Drake	Tracy Knight	NBC	1989
Starting Fresh	Bob Claver	Gale	CBS	1979
Taxi	James Burrows	Denise	ABC	1978
The Family Man	Richard Correll	Hilary Kozak	CBS	1990 – 1991
The Last Resort	Asaad Kelada	Beverly	CBS	1979
Three's a Crowd	Lee Shallat-Chemel	Dorothy	ABC	1985
Touched by an Angel	Tim Van Patten	Barbara Archibald	CBS	1994
Tough Cookies	Paul Krasny	Diane Taylor	NBC	1986
When the Whistle Blows	Edward Parone	Jolene Jennings	ABC	1980
Working Stiffs	Norman Abbott	Sandy	CBS	1979
You are the Jury	Burt Brinckerhoff	Maggie Henshaw	NBC	1986
Television Commercials - Alphabetized
Title	Appearing with	Role	Year	Notes
Bold Detergent	Solo	Mother	1978
Canon Copiers	Jack Klugman	Executive	1988
Dr. Pepper	Chuck McCann	Esmeralda	1984	Clio Award
Johnson's Baby Shampoo	Solo	Teenager	1976
Kodak	David Copperfield	Pitchwoman	1984
Sizzler	N/A	Secretary	1986
Theatre - Alphabetized
Title	Appearing with	Role	Year	Notes
Becoming	Anne Sward	Woman 1	1975 – 1976	Miami / Off-Broadway
Cabaret	Mercedes McCambridge	Sally Bowles	1973	Gusman Center
Grease	Peter Gallagher	Sandy	1977	East Coast Tour
Jacques Brel	Robert J. Lowery	Woman 1	1975	Parker Playhouse
Mame	Numerous UM performers	Mame	1996	Jerry Herman Ring Theatre (Christening)
The Good One	Penny Peyser	Tura	1985	Drama-Logue Critic's Award
The Wisdom of Eve	Various	Eve	1983	In Memory of Dalton Cathey
The Women	Toby Wing	Little Mary	1963	Coconut Grove Playhouse
To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday	Various	Kevin	1985	West Coast Premiere
Vanities	Annie Potts	Joanne	1979	Drama-Logue Critic's Award
Herself - Alphabetized
Title	Notes
Celebrity Family Feud	It’s a Living vs. Dallas
E! True Hollywood Story	Blossom biography interview
The John Davidson Show	It's a Living cast interview
TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes	Guest Host

Other points of interest

• Being offered a role without the grueling audition process is the height of tribute in Hollywood. Six such roles included: Anson Williams (A Perfect Little Murder), Steven Spielberg (Amazing Stories), Gary David Goldberg (Family Ties), Don Reo (Blossom), Martha Williamson (Touched by an Angel) and Jerry Herman (Mame)

• Award of Excellence from the American College Theatre Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 1972

• Opened for Frank Sinatra at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach on March 24, 1974 benefiting Danny Thomas’ St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

• Backup vocalist for Sergio Franchi’s 1976 US tour

• Upon moving to Los Angeles, Edwards lived with former MGM contract star, Gloria DeHaven from 1977 through 1979

• Bronze Halo award for Outstanding Contribution to the Entertainment Industry from the Southern California Motion Picture Council in 1986

• Inducted alongside Janet Reno and Al Del Greco in the Coral Gables High School Hall of Fame on March 1, 2001

References

1. Gail Edwards at the Internet Movie Database
2. Gail Edwards at TVGuide.com
3. Gail Edwards at TV.com

External links

• Gail Edwards Acting Reel on YouTube
• Gail Edwards at iTunes
• Gail Edwards Official Web Site

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