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Kari Michaelsen

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Kari Michaelsen
Born
Kari Markussen

(1961-11-03) November 3, 1961 (age 62)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, motivational speaker
Years active1976–2001 (Acting)
1990–present (Motivational speaking)
Spouse
David Waldock
​
​
(m. 2002; div. 2009)​
Children1
Websitehttp://www.karimichaelsen.com

Kari Michaelsen (born Kari Markussen, November 3, 1961) is an American actress, television personality, and motivational speaker. As an actress, she is best known for her role as Katie Kanisky on the sitcom Gimme a Break! (1981–1987).

Biography

Born in Manhattan, Michaelsen followed her parents into show business. Her father, Arne Markussen, is a singer. Her mother, Roberta Stevenson, was a dancer. She sang on the soundtrack for Sesame Street and was performing in Off-Broadway plays by age 11. In 1975, her family moved to Beverly Hills, and Michaelsen (who changed her name from Markussen) soon won guest spots on such shows as Diff'rent Strokes and Eight Is Enough. Her father is of Norwegian heritage.[1]

She graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1979 and studied at University of California, Los Angeles. She retired from television work in 2001. Kari has been doing public speaking and hosting educational seminars since 1990. She married David Waldock, a Mercedes-Benz executive, in July 2002. The couple had a son named Nickolas. Michaelsen and David Waldock were divorced in 2009.[2]

Michaelsen dated pop star Andy Gibb in 1983.[3] Michaelsen is longtime friends with retired actress Kristy McNichol.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1976 Joy Ride: An Auto Theft Kari Short
1981 Saturday the 14th Debbie Hyatt
1984 Terror in the Aisles Herself
1989 Girl Talk Marcia

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1980 Scared Straight! Another Story Television film
1980 Diff'rent Strokes Ellen Marshall Episode: "Little Mother"
1980 ABC Afterschool Special Karala Murtaugh Episode: "The Gymnast"
1981 The Choice Teenager Television film
1981 Eight Is Enough Lisa Episode: "Vows"
1981 CHiPs Teri Episode: "Karate"
1981 The Incredible Hulk Linda Episode: "The First: Part 1"
1981-86 Gimme a Break! Kathleen "Katie" Kanisky Main role
1981-1983 Rosie Kelly Larson 25 episodes
1982 Fantasy Island Cassie 1 episode
1983 The Kid with the 200 I.Q. Julie Gordon Television film
1983 ABC Afterschool Special Fran Davies Episode: "Have You Ever Been Ashamed of Your Parents?"
1983 Hart to Hart Lisa Carrigan Episode: "Trust Your Hart"
1989 Full House Stacey Fleetwood Episode: "Joey & Stacy and... Oh, Yeah, Jesse"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Title of work Result
1983 Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series Gimme a Break! Nominated
1984 Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in a Movie Made for Television The Kid with the 200 I.Q. Nominated

References

  1. ^ Former Gimme a Break Star Kari Michaelsen Returns to TV as a Talk Show Host People Magazine. December 10, 2001)
  2. ^ The Get Motivated! tour that barnstormed into St. Louis last week is as American as a get-rich-quick scheme, By Sarah Fenske of the Riverfront Times, May 5, 2011
  3. ^ "Looking for Answers". PEOPLE.com. December 10, 2001. Retrieved February 25, 2019.


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