Rhonda Shear
 |
Rhonda Shear | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rhonda Honey Shear November 12, 1954 |
| Spouse | Van Fagen (2001-present) |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Miss Louisiana USA 1975 |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Major competition(s) | Miss USA 1975 |
Rhonda Shear (born November 12, 1954) is an American television personality, comedian, actress, and entrepreneur.
Early life
Shear was born Rhonda Honey Shear in New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended Loyola University, earning a B.A. in Communications.[1] In 1977, after graduating from Loyola University, Shear moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a career in Hollywood.[citation needed]
Career
Shear earned titles in several beauty contests, including holding the titles of Miss Louisiana USA 1975 for Miss USA and that of Miss Louisiana for both the Miss World and the Miss International pageants.[2] Among her other titles was Queen of the Floral Trail Society. While she sported the latter title, she posed for a picture in Playboy Magazine; though fully clothed, the organizers were opposed to her appearance and rescinded her title.[citation needed]
Shear is best known for her role as a host of the USA Network's 1980s and '90s weekend B-movie show, USA Up All Night. From 1991 to 1998, she hosted in-studio and on-location segments that typically aired on Friday nights, replacing comedian Caroline Schlitt (the Friday night host for the show's first few years). She also occasionally hosted the show with her Saturday counterpart, Gilbert Gottfried, in addition to making cameos on his edition. Her trademark manner of speaking the show's title, by raising her voice an octave when saying the word "Up", became a catch phrase. Shear also briefly hosted a comedy program called Spotlight Cafe on WWOR-TV in Secaucus, NJ, hosted previously by comic Judy Tenuta.
Shear made two subsequent nude appearances in Playboy: First, in their "Funny Girls" pictorial in June 1991, then in her own pictorial titled "Rhonda Is Up All Night" in October 1993.[3]
Shear also co-starred in numerous sitcoms from playing the Fonz's girlfriend on Happy Days to the sexy neighbor on Married... with Children, before making her mark as a comedian. She then made her way into stand-up comedy, headlining as a successful comedian in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York, and eventually touring across the country with Comedy PJ Party, an on-stage slumber party featuring a number of comedians.[citation needed]
Other ventures
In 2001, Rhonda Shear, with her husband Van Fagan, started a new career as the designer and entrepreneur behind Shear Enterprises, LLC and Rhonda Shear Intimates. Shear began designing from her home office in 2003 with just 3 employees soon launching the Rhonda Shear Intimates line at HSN. She was later picked up on shopping networks around the world, including The Shopping Channel (Canada) and Ideal World Shopping (U.K.). Rhonda Shear Intimates has continued to grow and is now represented in over 40 countries with over 25 employees in her St. Petersburg, Florida offices (her home since 2005).
In 2010, Shear designed the Ahh Bra, and the product was an overnight success. The Ahh Bra is now the #1 selling bra worldwide with over 25 million sold internationally. In 2011 the company had 72 million dollars in sales.[3] As of 2013, she has added cosmetics, swim wear, fragrance, and Boomer Hottie.[4]
In 2014 a line of "intimates, athleisure and loungewear" was announced that was co-designed with Crystal Hefner, 2009 Playboy Playmate and wife of Hugh Hefner, to be sold through Hefner's website.[5]
Charity work
In 2011, Shear was the event chair and a sponsor for American Cancer Society's Making Strides: Put on Your Pink Bra Event. Between speaking engagements, creating a giant flying bra for the RedBull Flugtag, and helping with fundraising events, Shear got the chance to meet with women struggling in treatment or following surgery who needed bras that were affordable, feminine, and comfortable. She was struck by their stories, strength, and sense of community. Shear stays connected by donating product every month to women's shelters around the country and continuing her work nationwide with various charitable organizations that fund research and empower women.[3]
Credits
Filmography
- Quadroon (1971)[6]
- J.D.'s Revenge (1976)
- Galaxina (1980)
- Party Games for Adults Only (1984)
- Doin' Time (1985)
- Basic Training (1985)
- Spaceballs (1987)
- The Roller Blade Seven (1991)
- Legend of the Roller Blade Seven (1992)
- Return to Frogtown (1993)
- Tender Loving Care (1995)
- Assault of the Party Nerds 2: The Heavy Petting Detective (1995)
- Earth Minus Zero (1996)
- Don't Quit Your Day Job (1996 video game)
- The Fanatics (1997)
- Desperation Boulevard (1998)
- Prison-A-Go-Go! (2003)
- You Are All Going to Die (2013)
Discography
- Your Bedtime Buddy (1996)
Television
- The John Pela Show (dancer, 1970)
- New Orleans Saints Vs. Atlanta Falcons Match (dancer, 1970)
- Shape Spa Commercial (herself, 1977)
- The $1.98 Beauty Show (contestant, 1978)
- The Love Experts (contestant, 1978)
- The Gong Show (contestant, 1979)
- Happy Days (1 episode, 1979)
- The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1980)
- The Bob Hope Special (1980)
- Dance Fever (1981)
- The Young and the Restless (1982)
- Two Top Bananas (1982)
- Dallas (3 episodes, 1982-1985)
- CHiPs (1 episode, 1982)
- Hart to Hart (1 episode, 1983)
- The Fall Guy (1 episode, 1983)
- The A-Team (1 episode, 1983)
- Three's Company (1 episode, 1983)
- Hour Magazine (1984)
- Eye on L.A. (1984)
- The Dukes of Hazzard (1 episode, 1984)
- The New Mike Hammer (2 episodes, 1984)
- Cheers (1 episode, 1985)
- The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (1985)
- The New Love American Style (1986-1987)
- Hot Seat with Wally George (4 episodes, 1986-1987)
- Me and Mrs. C (1987)
- Hard Knocks (1989)
- The Alan Thicke Show (1990)
- Full House (1 episode, 1990)
- Married... with Children (episode "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" 1990)
- USA Up All Night (Host, 1991–1998)
- Circus of the Stars (1991)
- Doctor Doctor (1 episode, 1991)
- Into The Night (1992)
- A & E's Comedy on the Road (1992)
- Larry King Live (guest, 1993)
- Maury Povich Show (guest, 1993-1994)
- Entertainment Tonight (1993 and 1995)
- Joan Rivers Show (1994)
- Sally Jessy Raphael (1994)
- VH1 Top 21 Countdown (1994)
- Rick Dees Show (1994)
- Christina Show (1994)
- Bertice Barry Show (1994)
- Silk Stalkings (1 episode, 1994)
- WWF Wrestlemania X (guest timekeeper, 1994)
- Battle of the Sexes (1995)
- Evening at the Improv (1995-1996)
- The Richard Bey Show (1995)
- Geraldo (1995-1998)
- Clint Homes Show (1995)
- Mike and Maty Show (1995)
- Good Morning Television (1995)
- Women Aloud (1995)
- The Howard Stern Show (guest, 1995)
- Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (guest, 1995)
- Duckman (1 episode, 1996)
- Live form Queens (1996)
- Runaway with The Rich and Famous (1996)
- Pictionary (guest, 1997)
- Oddville, MTV (1 episode, 1997)
- Hard Copy (1998)
- Unhappily Ever After (1 episode, 1998)
- Access Hollywood (1998)
- Bloomberg Report (1998)
- The X Show (2000-2001)
- Love Bytes (1 episode, 2001)
- Home Shopping Network (correspondent, 2003–Present)
- The Peter Austin Noto Show (9 episodes, 2013)
Awards and accolades
| This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (November 2014) |
- Miss Louisiana USA
- Miss Louisiana World
- Miss Hollywood
- Miss LA Press Club
- Miss Golden Globes
- Best B-Movie Actress (Prison A Go-Go)
- Voted Tampa Bay’s Best Local Lingerie Boutique
- Former President of International Bachelor Women
- Featured Fashion Designer at Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2008, 2009, 2011
- Winner of HerRoom.com “Undies Awards” 2011 Best Leisure Bra
- Event Chairperson 2011, American Cancer Society: Making Strides “Put on Your Pink Bra” Event
- Winner of “Best Female Presenter” 2011 Moxie Awards by ERA
- Winner of 2012 Enterprising Women Award
- Winner of 2012 Best Product Award at HSN
- 3rd Place Winner of 2012 WPO’s of Top 50 Fastest Growing Women Led Companies
- Winner of Treasure Coast International Film Festival Visionary Award
- Winner in 2012 Ernst & Young Retail and Consumer Products Category
- Winner in 2012 Stevie Awards as Most Innovative Company of the Year
- Winner of 2012 Gulf Coast Business Review Entrepreneur of the Year
- Winner of Entrepreneur of the Year - Ernst & Young "Retail & Consumer Products"
- Winner of Stevie Award Bronze - Most Innovative Company of the Year
References
- ^ "Rhonda Shear Biography". Retrieved 2008-02-19.
- ^ "The Rhonda Shear Site - About Rhonda - Rhonda Trivia". Retrieved 2007-02-08.
- ^ a b c Schawbel, Dan (June 14, 2012). "Rhonda Shear: From Playboy Model to Millionaire Entrepreneur". Forbes.
- ^ (dead link). The Wall Street Journal. [dead link]
- ^ "Playmate News, Girl Talk". Playboy. 61 (December): 156. December 2014.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Bozung, Justin (July 25, 2013). "Rhonda Shear, host of USA Network's UP ALL NIGHT and actress in films like SPACEBALLS, GALAXINA, ASSAULT OF THE PARTY NERDS talks with TV Store Online.". TVStoreOnline.com.