Rebecca Holden

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Rebecca Holden
Rebecca Holden in 2009
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • singer
Years active1980–present
Known forKnight Rider
General Hospital
Spouses
  • Bobby Vassallo
    ​
    (divorced)​
  • Joel Diamond
Websitewww.rebeccaholden.com

Rebecca Holden is an American actress and singer.

Career[edit]

While continuing voice studies in New York City, Holden became a model best known as "the Breck Girl".[1] She went on to model on magazine covers and to film national commercials such as for Ivory Soap, Dentyne, Kellogg's, Chevrolet, Gillette, Playtex, Arrid, and 7 Up.[2]

Holden guest-starred on primetime shows such as The Love Boat; Magnum, P.I.; Matt Houston; Three's Company; Taxi; Night Court; Mike Hammer; Remington Steele; Barney Miller; Quincy, M.E.; T.J. Hooker; Police Squad! and others.[2] She then joined the cast of the TV series Knight Rider in the series regular role of April Curtis during the show's second season (1983–1984).[3] Knight Rider has appeared in syndication in over 200 countries throughout the world, most notably in Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

She played the diabolical Elena on ABC's soap opera General Hospital, and later moved to Tennessee to help care for her ill sister. During this period she appeared in many stage plays and musicals such as the role of Nancy in Oliver! and Lola in Damn Yankees. Holden starred in a production of Baby, the Musical at the Boiler Room Theatre in Franklin, Tennessee[4]

In 2015, Holden starred in the feature Hollywouldn'ts, and also had a lead role in a pilot for Comedy Central.[citation needed]

She was co-host of the TNN dance show Dancin' at the Hot Spots in 1993. She continues to tour internationally with her music, and serves as an emcee and performer for various charitable and corporate events as well as for military and veterans affairs.[citation needed]

In 2009, Holden portrayed the character Beth in the movie adaptation of The Book of Ruth: Journey of Faith.[5]

On May 15, 2017, filmmaker Richard Rossi announced Holden had been cast in the lead role of Sister Sara Sunday in the independent film Canaan Land.[6][7]

Music[edit]

While she was still a model, Holden formed a country music group and toured with it for two years.[1]

Classically trained as a voice major and piano minor in college, Holden has sung opera and performed the lead roles in such musicals as Oliver! and Damn Yankees.[citation needed] She recorded a country album for Curb records, and her music videos have appeared on TNN and CMT. She recorded both a country and gospel album for BMG Records in Switzerland, and toured in Europe and Asia, including performing for the King of Malaysia.[citation needed] She was the featured performer with the United States Air Force Band at a memorial for World War II veterans.[citation needed] During Holden's service as president of the Music City Christian Fellowship, she performed as singer and mistress of ceremonies for the Christian Country Music Awards and the Sunday gospel shows at the Grand Ole Opry.[citation needed]

Holden charted two singles for TRA-Star Records in 1989: "The Truth Doesn't Always Rhyme" and "License to Steal". She recorded the album The Highway Runs Both Ways for Curb Records and a self-titled album for BMG Europe.[8]

In the early 2010s, Holden and Kevin Sasaki toured in "Together Forever", a musical tribute to Eydie Gormé and Steve Lawrence.[9]

Holden's most recent[when?] CD single release is "Dreams Come True", a duet with Tony LeBron, on Silver Blue/Summit Records.[citation needed]

Personal life[edit]

Holden married Bobby Vassallo, her childhood sweetheart.[10]

Public service[edit]

Holden has been active with relief organizations. She was a founding board member of Operation California (now Operation USA), traveling for charity work in Ethiopia during the famine. She later helped form Operation Texas, providing help to earthquake victims in Mexico City.[1]

Recognition[edit]

In 1989, Holden was recognized as both New Independent Artist and New Independent Female at the first Cash Box magazine Nashville Music Awards.[11]

Filmography[edit]

Film
Year Film Role Notes
1982 Dirty Hero Christene Adams Alternative title: Yogoreta eiyû
1988 The Sisterhood Alee Caged Woman
1989 Loverboy Anchovy woman
1991 Twenty Dollar Star Lisa
1992 The Hollywood Beach Murders Jamie
1999 Foolish Rebecca the Waitress
Lycanthrope Sheila Stein Alternative title: Bloody Moon
2001 Knight Chills Newscaster Direct-to-video release
Outlaw Prophet Molly
2005 From Venus The Avatrix
2009 The Book of Ruth: Journey of Faith Beth Direct-to-video release
2015 The Hollywouldn'ts Lead
2016 Baskets Co-star
2016 All Wrong Lead
2021 Canaan Land Lead
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1980 B.A.D. Cats 1 episode
Three's Company Bunny/Twinkie 1 episode
1982 House Calls Jan Howard 1 episode
Happy Days Lola 1 episode
The Love Boat Mona (1981), Diane (1984) 2 episodes
Magnum, P.I., 1981 Laura Frasier 1 episode
Enos 1 episode
Barney Miller, 1981 Wendy McWilliams 1 episode: "Paternity"
Taxi Christina Longworth 1 episode
Private Benjamin 1 episode
Too Close for Comfort Susan Andrews 1 episode
Quincy, M.E. Kirsten MacKenzie 1 episode
Police Squad! Stella 1 episode
T. J. Hooker Lynn Hartman 1 episode
1983 Johnny Blue Kathy Weatherby Television movie
Matt Houston Dr. Carol Masters
Sharon Dardis 		2 episodes
1983–1984 Knight Rider April Curtis[3] 21 episodes
1984 The Master 1 episode
The New Mike Hammer Barbara Rainey 1 episode
1986 Night Court Mary Korchak 1 episode
Remington Steele Windsor Thomas 1 episode
1987 General Hospital Elena Cosgrove Unknown episodes
1988 CBS Summer Playhouse Vanessa 1 episode

Discography[edit]

Year Single Peak chart
positions
US Country[12]
1989 "The Truth Doesn't Always Rhyme" 82
"License to Steal" 78

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Another 'Knight Rider' star seeks music career". The News-Messenger. Ohio, Fremont. Gannett News Service. August 28, 1986. p. 27. Retrieved June 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ a b "Bio". RebeccaHolden.com. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  3. ^ a b O'Hallaren, Bill (January 4, 1986). "Boy, Has She Got Car Troubles". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  4. ^ Shaw, Peggy (February 1, 2002). "From the small screen to the small stage". The Tennessean. Tennessee, Nashville. p. W – 1. Retrieved June 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "Book of Ruth". Rebecca Holden.com.
  6. ^ Nolasco, Stephanie (November 2, 2019). "'Knight Rider' star Rebecca Holden recalls on-screen chemistry with David Hasselhoff, why she left series". Fox Corporation. Fox News. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  7. ^ Rutherford, Tony (May 16, 2017). "Knight Rider Star Rebecca Holden Lands Canaan Land Lead" (Press release). Christian Newswire. Retrieved May 16, 2017 – via HuntingtonNews.net.
  8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  9. ^ "Today". The Star-Democrat. Maryland, Easton. June 10, 2011. p. 3. Retrieved June 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ^ Hilton, Pat (May 17, 1984). "Striking Rebecca Holden oozes Hollywood glamour". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Wisconsin, Green Bay. Gannett News Service. p. I-2. Retrieved June 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  11. ^ Oermann, Robert K. (December 7, 1989). "Alabama wins big at 'Cash Box' awards". The Tennessean. Tennessee, Nashville. p. 5–D. Retrieved June 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2012). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 154. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rebecca Holden.
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