Morgan Fairchild
Morgan Fairchild | |
|---|---|
 Morgan Fairchild, Los Angeles, CA on September 16, 2012 | |
| Born | Patsy Ann McClenny February 3, 1950 Denton, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Spouse |
Jack Calmes (m. 1967–1973) |
| Partner | Mark Seiler (1980-present) |
| Parent(s) | Edward Milton McClenny Martha Jane Hartt |
| Website | Official website |
Morgan Fairchild (born Patsy Ann McClenny; February 3, 1950) is an American actress. She achieved prominence during the late 1970s and early 1980s with continuing roles in several television series, in which she usually conveyed a glamorous image.
Fairchild began her career in the CBS daytime soap opera Search for Tomorrow as Jennifer Pace from 1973 to 1977. In 1978 she appeared on the primetime soap opera Dallas as the first actress to portray Jenna Wade, before taking a lead role in the NBC series Flamingo Road in 1980 (for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama). In 1984, she co-starred in ABC's short-lived primetime soap Paper Dolls, and then appeared in Falcon Crest as attorney Jordan Roberts from 1985 to 1986. Fairchild has also performed in theater and played guest roles in television comedies, including Murphy Brown (for which she was nominated for an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series), Roseanne, Cybill, and Friends. She is a board member of SAG-AFTRA.
Early life
Born Patsy Ann McClenny in Dallas, Texas, the daughter of Martha Jane (née Hartt), a high school English teacher who taught at Richardson High School (in Richardson, Texas), and Edward Milton McClenny.[1] Fairchild has a younger sister, Cathryn Hartt, who is also an actress.[2][3] As a younger child, she was seen on WFAA-TV's Mr. Peppermint Show with host Jerry Haynes. In her teens she was in the audience on WFAA-TV's Sump'n Else bandstand show. She auditioned three times to be in The Little Group, which was the show's dance group. Also during this time, she appeared in several locally broadcast commercials on Dallas-Fort Worth television stations. As a child, she suffered a bout of scarlet fever, which left her partially deaf.
Career
Fairchild's first acting job was as a double for Faye Dunaway during filming for the film Bonnie and Clyde (1967).[1] She took her new first name, Morgan, from the 1966 David Warner film Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment. Fairchild then moved to New York City, where she secured her first credited onscreen role as the maniacal Jennifer Pace in the daytime soap opera Search for Tomorrow from 1973 until 1977. From the mid-1970s, she began to make various appearances on episodic primetime television series such as Kojak, Happy Days, Police Woman, and a few episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theatre.
Fairchild played Jenna Wade in the soap opera Dallas for one episode in 1978.[1] The character was later brought back, played briefly by Francine Tacker in 1980, and then as a regular character played by Priscilla Presley from 1983 to 1988. In 1978, Fairchild made the television film The Initiation of Sarah and also had a recurring role on the sitcom Mork & Mindy. In 1980, she scored her first regular primetime role as Constance Weldon Carlyle on the soap opera Flamingo Road. Though the series had an impressive beginning, the ratings soon dropped and it was cancelled after two seasons. Fairchild was nominated for a Golden Globe award for her role.[4]
After the cancellation of Flamingo Road, Fairchild continued to make guest appearances in a variety of episodic television series such as Hotel, Simon & Simon, Magnum, P.I. and The Love Boat. She also starred in the 1982 theatrical film The Seduction. In 1984, along with Joan Collins, she co-hosted the ABC-TV special Blondes vs. Brunettes, a one-hour variety show that gently poked fun at popular culture's blonde vs. brunette rivalry.[5] In that same year she also co-starred in another primetime soap opera Paper Dolls playing modelling agency owner Racine. The series was cancelled halfway through its first season, but by this time, Fairchild was established as a television actress and in 1985 she joined the hit series Falcon Crest, playing the glamorous lawyer Jordan Roberts for a season. She also appeared in the miniseries North and South in 1985, and its sequel in 1986.
1985 was the year in which Jon Lovitz on Saturday Night Live created the "Tommy Flanagan, The Pathological Liar" character who claimed outlandish achievements for himself, culminating in the grand illusion that his wife was Morgan Fairchild. The obvious remoteness of such a possibility, and its mainstream comic appeal, was testimonial to the broad popularity and desirability of Fairchild at the time.
Fairchild continued to make appearances in films and television series throughout the 1980s, and garnered an Emmy Award nomination for her guest appearance in a 1989 episode of Murphy Brown.[1] In the early 1990s, she was cast in a recurring role in Roseanne, as Sandra Bernhard's bisexual girlfriend Marla. In 1994, Fairchild appeared in an unexpectedly campy ad campaign for clothing retailer Old Navy, with Joan Collins and other formerly familiar faces on television. Her reprised role as the over-the-top glamour vixen was so successful that the company created numerous sequels around her persona.
In 1995, Fairchild returned to daytime soap operas as the catty Sydney Chase on The City.[6] She played the role for a year, after which she went on to appear in General Hospital. She also made guest appearances on the hit sitcom Friends (as Chandler Bing's mother, Nora) and was a recurring guest star on the sitcom Cybill as Andrea, a rival of Cybill Shepherd's character.
Through the years, Fairchild has also appeared in various theater productions. More recently, she starred in the role of Mrs. Robinson in the stage adaptation of the film The Graduate. She also fronted an international advertising campaign for the consumer tooth whitening product Dental White.[7] In 2005, Fairchild appeared in the competition reality show, But Can They Sing? on VH1.
In 2006, she was cast in yet another of her "rich bitch" roles in the My Network TV series Fashion House, playing Sophia Blakely, a rival to Bo Derek's character, Maria Gianni.[8] She has also appeared on the television series Chuck as Dr. Honey Woodcomb, the mother of Captain Awesome. She made another return to soap operas in 2009 when she had a guest role in the daytime series The Bold and the Beautiful.[9] In recent years she guest-starred in Bones, Revenge, and Hot in Cleveland.[10][11]
In addition to her work as an actress, Fairchild has long maintained a strong role within the Screen Actors Guild, now SAG-AFTRA. Currently, Fairchild is a three-year board member of the Guild and has served on several diverse committees, including co-chair Legislative Committee, National Executive Committee, SAG-AFTRA Relations Committee, Commercials Contracts Committee, Honors and Tributes Committee (HATS), and Guild Governance and Rules Committee.
In 2014, Fairchild was named spokesperson for burialplanning.com, a website created to help consumers make burial preplanning choices. In that capacity, she appeared on television commercials and in a direct mail campaign.
Personal life
Fairchild has been in a relationship with film company executive, Mark Seiler, for 35 years. She was previously married to Jack Calmes from 1967 to 1973.[12]
Fairchild is active in raising awareness of AIDS-related issues and environmental protection.[1]
During the early 1970s, Fairchild was kidnapped and held against her will on two separate occasions.[13][14]
Politics
Fairchild is a Democrat, contributing to the campaigns of well-known liberal politicians such as Dick Gephardt, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, and Howard Dean.[15]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Bonnie and Clyde | Faye Dunaway's double | uncredited |
| 1970 | A Bullet for Pretty Boy | Small role | uncredited |
| 1978 | The Initiation of Sarah | Jennifer Lawrence | Television film |
| 1979 | Murder in Music City | Dana Morgan | Television film |
| 1980 | The Memory of Eva Ryker | Lisa Eddington | Television film |
| 1980 | Challenge of the Tiger | Celebrity | |
| 1980 | The Dream Merchants | Dulcie Warren | Television film |
| 1981 | The Girl, the Gold Watch & Dynamite | Stella Walker | Television film |
| 1982 | The Seduction | Jamie Douglas | |
| 1982 | Honeyboy | Judy Wellman | Television film |
| 1984 | Time Bomb | Renee DeSalles | Television film |
| 1984 | The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood | Lady Marian | |
| 1985 | Peewee's Big Adventure | Agent Dottie | |
| 1986 | Red Headed Stranger | Raysha Shay | |
| 1987 | Campus Man | Katherine Van Buren | |
| 1987 | Sleeping Beauty | Queen | |
| 1987 | Deadly Illusion | Jane Mallory/Sharon Burton | |
| 1988 | Street of Dreams | Laura Cassidy/Eva Bomberg | Television film |
| 1988 | Killing Blue | Lisa | |
| 1989 | Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge | Mayor Karen Wilton | |
| 1989 | The Haunting of Sarah Hardy | Lucy | Television film |
| 1990 | How to Murder a Millionaire | Loretta | Television film |
| 1990 | Mob Boss | Gina | |
| 1990 | Menu for Murder | Paula Preston | Television film |
| 1991 | Even Angels Fall | Leslie | |
| 1991 | Writer's Block | Magenta Hart | Television film |
| 1991 | Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady | Irene Frances Adler | Television film |
| 1992 | Just Deserts | Catherine Harcourt | Television film |
| 1993 | Das Paradies am Ende der Berge | Irmgard Hoelzl | |
| 1993 | Freaked | Herself | |
| 1993 | Based on an Untrue Story | Satin Chow | |
| 1994 | Point of Seduction: Body Chemistry III | Beth Chaney | |
| 1994 | Test Tube Teens from the Year 2000 | Camella Swales | |
| 1994 | Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult | Herself | |
| 1995 | Criminal Hearts | District Attorney | |
| 1995 | Venus Rising | Peyton | |
| 1995 | Gospa | Sister Fabijana Zovko | |
| 1996 | Dead Man's Island | Valerie St. Vincent | |
| 1996 | Star Command | Cmdr. Sigrid Ivorstetter | |
| 1997 | Moment of Truth: Into the Arms of Danger | Diana Astin | Television film |
| 1998 | Shattered Illusions | Angie | |
| 1998 | Holy Man | Herself | |
| 1999 | Nice Guys Sleep Alone | Lorraine | |
| 2000 | Unshackled | Mrs. Rebecca Miller | |
| 2000 | Held for Ransom | Mrs. Kirkland | |
| 2001 | Peril | Terry | |
| 2002 | Teddy Bears' Picnic | Courtney Vandermint | |
| 2002 | I Was a Teenage Faust | Babylonia | Television film |
| 2004 | Knuckle Sandwich | Mrs. Simms | |
| 2004 | Arizona Summer | Debbie | |
| 2006 | Shock to the System | Phyllis Hale | |
| 2006 | The Initiation of Sarah | Trina Goodwin | Television film |
| 2007 | Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story | Herself | |
| 2008 | The Sno Cone Stand Inc | Cathy Wanton | |
| 2009 | The Slammin' Salmon | Herself | |
| 2010 | Life's a Beach | Felicia Wald | |
| 2010 | The Steamroom | Sheila | |
| 2011 | Boy Toy | Barbra | |
| 2011 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 | Herself | |
| 2011 | eCupid | Venus | |
| 2012 | American Horror House | Miss Margot / Rosemary | Television film |
| 2012 | Spring Break '83 | Mouth's Mother | |
| 2012 | A Perfect Ending | Valentina | |
| 2013 | Fighting Back | Cheryl | |
| 2013 | Wiener Dog Nationals | Ms. Merryweather | |
| 2013 | Dark Power | Elizabeth Archer | |
| 2014 | On Paper[16] | Television film | |
| 2014 | Bikini Model Academy | Herself | |
| 2014 | Beethoven's Treasure Tail | Charlene | Video |
| 2014 | Sam | Lulu | |
| 2014 | Christian Mingle | Lacie Wood |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973-1977 | Search for Tomorrow | Jennifer Pace | |
| 1976 | Kojak | Allison | Episode: "A Hair-Trigger Away" |
| 1977 | Rafferty | Lisa Farrell | Episode: "A Point of View" |
| Switch | Shelley Bloom | Episode: "Downshift" | |
| Rosetti and Ryan | Claire Blake | Episode: "The Ten-Second Client" | |
| Happy Days | Cynthia Holmes | Episode: "My Fair Fonzie" | |
| The Bob Newhart Show | Bianca / Linda | Episode: "Grand Delusion" | |
| 1978 | Police Woman | Cheryl | Episode: "Murder with Pretty People" |
| The Amazing Spider-Man | Lisa Benson | Episode: "Night of the Clones" | |
| Barnaby Jones | Felice Winters | Episodes: "Daughter of Evil" and "A Dangerous Affair" | |
| Dallas | Jenna Wade | Episode: "Old Acquaintance" | |
| 1978 | Escapade | Suzy | TV pilot |
| 1978-1979 | Mork & Mindy | Susan Taylor | 3 episodes |
| 1979 | Concrete Cowboys | Carla / Kate | Episode: "Concrete Cowboys" |
| A Man Called Sloane | Melissa Nelson | Episode: "The Venus Microbe" | |
| 1980 | Young Maverick | Selene | Episode: "Makin' Tracks" |
| 1981 | The Love Boat | Jenny Boyer | 2 episodes |
| 1980-1982 | Flamingo Road | Constance Weldon Semple Carlyle | 38 episodes Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (1982) |
| 1982 | Magnum, P.I. | Alex Houston / Catherine Hailey | Episode: "Ki'is Don't Lie" |
| Simon & Simon | Alex Houston / Catherine Hailey | Episode: "Emeralds Are Not a Girl's Best Friend" | |
| 1983 | Hotel | Carol | Episode: "Hotel" |
| 1984 | Paper Dolls | Racine | 13 episodes |
| 1985 | North and South | Burdetta Halloran | TV mini-series |
| 1986 | North and South, Book II | Burdetta Halloran | TV mini-series |
| 1985-1986 | Falcon Crest | Jordan Roberts | 29 episodes Nominated—Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role on a Prime Time Serial (1986) |
| 1989 | My Two Dads | Diana Thackery | Episode: "Macho, Stupid Guy Time" |
| Murphy Brown | Julia St. Martin | Episode: "TV or not TV" Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (1990) | |
| 1992 | Roseanne | Marla | 3 episodes |
| 1993 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Miranda | Episode: "Pheromone, My Lovely" |
| Murder, She Wrote | Iris Novaro | Episode: "Murder at a Discount" | |
| 1994 | Burke's Law | June Ward | Episode: "Who Killed Romeo?" |
| Empty Nest | Zoe | Episode: "Best Friends" | |
| Diagnosis: Murder | Pamela Dorn | Episode: "My Four Husbands" | |
| 1995-1996 | The City | Sydney Chase | |
| 1996 | General Hospital | Sydney Chase | |
| 1995-1997 | Cybill | Andrea Thorpe | 4 episodes |
| 1997 | Head Over Heels | Mona DuBois | Episode: "Gigolo Guy" |
| Touched by an Angel | Jackie Sykes | Episode: "My Dinner with Andrew" | |
| The Naked Truth | Herself | Episode: "Bridesface Revisited" | |
| 1998 | Home Improvement | Herself | Episode: "Mr. Likeable" |
| V.I.P. | Herself | Episode: "Three Days to a Kill" | |
| The Angry Beavers | Muffy Snootwell | Episode: "Open Wide for Zombies/Dumbwaiters" (voice) | |
| 1999 | The New Addams Family | Lady Pretensia | Episode: "Thing's Romance" |
| 1995-2001 | Friends | Nora Tyler Bing | 5 episodes |
| 2001 | Dharma & Greg | Jackie | Episode: "Dharma Does Dallas" |
| 7th Heaven | Merle 'Bird' | Episode: Teased | |
| 2002 | Roswell | Meris Wheeler | 2 episodes |
| Providence | Gwendolynne Gold | Episode: "Limbo" | |
| Maybe It's Me | Big Kimberly | Episode: "The Quahog Festival Episode" | |
| That '80s Show | Cossima Blair | Episode: "Beach Party" | |
| 2003 | Just Shoot Me! | Lily Barton | Episode: "Pictures of Lily" |
| 2004 | That '70s Show | Carolyn | Episode: "Going Mobile" |
| 2006 | Fashion House | Sophia Blakely | 35 episodes |
| 2007 | Two and a Half Men | Donna | Episode: "Young People Have Phlegm Too" |
| 2008 | Men in Trees | Herself | Episode: "Get a Life" |
| 2009 | Nip/Tuck | Herself | Episode: "Manny Skerritt" |
| My Name Is Earl | Carol | Episode: "Friends with Benefits" | |
| The Bold and the Beautiful | Dorothy | 4 episodes | |
| 2010 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Claire Lockton | Episode: "Bedtime" |
| 2008-2010 | Chuck | Dr. Honey Woodcomb | 3 episodes |
| 2011 | Bones | Bianca Chiverton | Episode: "The Prince in the Plastic" |
| 2012 | Happily Divorced | Jill | Episode: "The Reunion" |
| 2014 | Revenge | Teresa (cameo) | Episode: "Addiction" |
| 2014 | Hot in Cleveland | Claudia / Fake Elka | Episode: "Playmates" |
References
- ^ a b c d e "Morgan Fairchild Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story". Biography.com. 1950-02-03. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
- ^ Morgan Fairchild Biography at filmreference.com
- ^ Family Tree of Morgan Fairchild
- ^ "Morgan Fairchild Biography". Tvguide.com. 2012-11-28. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent. Encyclopedia of Television: Series, Pilots and Specials 1974-1984. New York: BASELine Publications, page 50
- ^ "'The City' Is A Killer : Morgan Fairchild Takes 'Loving' From Small-Town Corinth To Downtown Manhattan - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 1995-11-05. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
- ^ Dental White on YouTube
- ^ "Morgan Fairchild to Join Cast of 'Fashion House'". Fox News. July 1, 2006.
- ^ "Morgan Fairchild: Coming to The Bold and the Beautiful". TV Fanatic. 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
- ^ "Scoop: REVENGE on ABC - Sunday, March 30, 2014 - BWWTVWorld". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ^ Potts, Kimberly (2014-01-27). "Casting Scoop: Morgan Fairchild and Nora Dunn Stop by 'Hot in Cleveland' [Exclusive Photo] | Yahoo TV - Yahoo TV". Tv.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ^ Interview. People magazine, 25 September 2006.
- ^ "Bobby Brown, Jewel, Morgan Fairchild, Elliott Yamin." Celebrity Close Calls. The Biography Channel. 25 June 2011.
- ^ "Scott Baio, Pam Grier, Morgan Fairchild, Greg Louganis." Celebrity Close Calls. Dir. Jared Burke, Seth Jarrett, Timothy F. Smith, and Kathi Watson. The Biography Channel. 13 Aug. 2011.
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Hallmark-Channel-Sets-2014-Original-Movie-Schedule-20140313#
External links
