Marilu Henner

Marilu Henner
Henner in 2011
Born	Mary Lucy Denise Henner April 6, 1952 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupations	Actress author producer host
Years active	1971–present
Spouses	Frederic Forrest ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1982)​ Robert Lieberman ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 2001)​ Michael Brown ​ ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	2
Website	marilu.com

Mary Lucy "Marilu" Denise Henner (born April 6, 1952) is an American actress and writer. She began her career appearing in the original production of the musical Grease in 1971, before making her screen debut in the 1977 comedy-drama film Between the Lines. In 1978, Henner was cast in her breakthrough role as Elaine O'Connor Nardo in the ABC/NBC sitcom Taxi, a role she played until 1983 and received five Golden Globe Award nominations. She later had co-starring roles in films such as Hammett (1982), The Man Who Loved Women (1983), Cannonball Run II (1984), Johnny Dangerously (1984), Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985), Ladykillers (1988), L.A. Story (1991), and Noises Off (1992). She returned to television with a starring role in the CBS sitcom Evening Shade (1990–1994), and later had leading roles in many television films.

Early life

Henner was born in Chicago, Illinois, as the daughter of Loretta Callis (born Nikoleta Kalogeropoulos), who died of complications of arthritis at age 58 and Joseph Henner (whose surname was originally Pudlowski), who died of a heart attack at age 52.

Career

While a student at the University of Chicago in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Henner originated the role of "Marty" in the Kingston Mines production of Grease in 1971. When the show was discovered and moved to Broadway, she was asked to reprise the role; however, she chose instead to play "Marty" in the national touring company alongside John Travolta, who played "Doody". Additional Broadway credits for Henner include Over Here!, with Travolta, revivals of Pal Joey, Chicago, Social Security, and The Tale of the Allergist's Wife. Her first film appearance was in 1977 sleeper-hit Between the Lines, co-starring then-unknowns Jeff Goldblum, Lindsay Crouse, John Heard, and Jill Eikenberry. Her second role was opposite Richard Gere in the 1978 film Bloodbrothers.

Henner came to prominence with the role of Elaine Nardo in the situation comedy Taxi, portraying a single mother working as a cabbie who aspired to be an artist. She was the leading lady in the 1982 film Hammett directed by Wim Wenders, produced by Francis Ford Coppola and starring her first husband Frederic Forrest. In 1983, Henner starred opposite Burt Reynolds in The Man Who Loved Women, directed by Blake Edwards. Reynolds then asked Henner to join the cast of Cannonball Run II later that year along with Shirley MacLaine and Dom DeLuise. She was the leading lady in the 1984 film Johnny Dangerously, playing the love interest to Michael Keaton. In 1985 she once again appeared alongside John Travolta in Perfect. In 1991 she appeared opposite Steve Martin in L.A. Story as Trudi, a role for which she received a nomination for an American Comedy Award as the Funniest Supporting Female in a Motion Picture. From 1990 through 1994, she appeared opposite Burt Reynolds in the situation comedy Evening Shade, which also starred Ossie Davis and Hal Holbrook. She also appeared in Noises Off (1992) and in Man on the Moon (1999), a film about her Taxi co-star Andy Kaufman. Henner played herself (as well as herself playing her Taxi character).

Henner at the 1991 Emmy Awards

Henner guested on Match Game and Hollywood Squares. She provided the voice for Gotham City socialite Veronica Vreeland in Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1999), reprising the role in the animated films Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) and Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998). In 1994, she hosted her own daytime talk show, Marilu, for 165 episodes.

Henner starred as the domineering mother of the bride in the Brooks & Dunn video "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" in 2003.

In 2006 and 2007, Henner was the host of the television series America's Ballroom Challenge. Henner said on an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, in early 2008, that she has never actually danced ballroom and would like to go on a season of Dancing with the Stars, which would later come true in 2016 for the season 23 of Dancing with the Stars. She later hosted FitTV and The Discovery Channel's Shape Up Your Life, which is based on her books.

Henner was a contestant on NBC's first The Celebrity Apprentice, in 2008. She was fired by Donald Trump in the eighth episode but was brought back to help fellow contestant Trace Adkins in the final task of the show.

Henner, who has highly superior autobiographical memory, was a consultant for the CBS drama Unforgettable, which starred Poppy Montgomery as Carrie Wells, a woman with the same ability. Henner guest-starred as Carrie's aunt.

Henner in July 2010

In August 2012, Henner won $25,000 for the charity Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) as a celebrity contestant on Live! with Kelly "Grilling with the Stars" contest for her Healthy/Easy Grilled Mushroom and Heirloom Tomato dish.Henner has written nine books on diet, health and memory, the most prominent being Total Health Makeover, in which she explains the virtues of a non-dairy diet in conjunction with food combining and exercise. She leads monthly classes on her website, www.marilu.com, designed to help people integrate these steps into a healthier, more active lifestyle. Both of her parents died in their 50s, which prompted her to lead a healthier lifestyle. She hosted The Art of Living, produced by United States Media Television.

Henner rejoined the cast for its 13th season on The All-Star Celebrity Apprentice where she was joined by fellow Apprentice alumni. She played for her charity The Alzheimer's Association and won over $50,000 for the cause. She returned, after being eliminated, for the final task to assist Trace Adkins. In 2013, Henner made a guest appearance on Brooklyn Nine-Nine for 5 episodes.

She hosts The Marilu Henner Show, which airs every weekday morning on more than a dozen radio stations across the U.S. The show is distributed by Sun Broadcast Group, in conjunction with GCN radio. The Marilu Henner Show can also be heard live at Marilushow.com, where she features guest physicians, health experts, celebrity guests, and friends.

On August 30, 2016, she was revealed as one of the celebrities who would compete on season 23 of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with professional dancer Derek Hough. Henner and Hough were eliminated on the ninth week of competition and finished in sixth place.

On July 10, 2018, she appeared as a "guestpert" on the podcast My Brother, My Brother and Me. In 2018, Henner appeared on the first season of The Neighborhood, a CBS series starring Cedric the Entertainer, Tichina Arnold and Beth Behrs. Henner appeared in episode 8 of the first season titled, “Welcome to Thanksgiving”.

Personal life

Henner has hyperthymesia or total recall memory; she can remember specific details of virtually every day of her life since she was a child.

She has two sons from her second marriage.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1977	Between the Lines	Danielle
1978	Bloodbrothers	Annette Palladino
1982	Hammett	Kit Conger / Sue Alabama
1983	The Man Who Loved Women	Agnes Chapman
1984	Cannonball Run II	Betty
1984	Johnny Dangerously	Lil Sheridan
1985	Rustlers' Rhapsody	Miss Tracy
1985	Perfect	Sally
1987	Grand Larceny	'Freddy' Grand
1991	L.A. Story	Trudi
1991	Chains of Gold	Jackie
1992	Noises Off	Belinda Blair / Flavia Brent
1994	Chasers	Katie
1998	Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero	Veronica Vreeland	Voice, direct-to-video
1999	Man on the Moon	Herself	Uncredited cameo
1999	The Titanic Chronicles	Mrs. Stuart While	Voice
2000	Enemies of Laughter	Dani
2012	Vamps	Angela Horowitz
2016	Imperfections	Val
2018	Life with Dog	Alice
2020	The Mimic	The Assistant Editor

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1977	Off Campus	Janet	Television film
1978	The Paper Chase	Susu (pizza girl)	Pilot episode
1978–1983	Taxi	Elaine O'Connor Nardo	Main role; 114 episodes
1981	Dream House	Laura Griffith	Television film
1983	Super Bowl XVII Pre-Game Show	Elaine Nardo	Television film
1985	Stark	Ashley Walters	Television film
1985	Alfred Hitchcock Presents	Claire	Episode: "Method Actor"
1985	Great Performances	Louise	Episode: "Grown-Ups"
1986	Who's the Boss?	Diane Wilmington	Episode: "Angela's New Best Friend"
1986	Love with the Perfect Stranger	Victoria Ducane	Television film
1988	Channel 99	Susan McDowell	Television film
1988	Ladykillers	Samantha Flannery	Television film
1990–1994	Evening Shade	Ava Evans Newton	Main role; 98 episodes
1992	The Legend of Prince Valiant	Lady Catherine	Episode: "The Trap"
1993–1995	Batman: The Animated Series	Veronica Vreeland	Voice, 4 episodes
1995	Cybill	Terry Belmont	Episode: "Since I Lost My Baby"
1995	Fight for Justice: The Nancy Conn Story	Nancy Conn	Television film
1996	My Son Is Innocent	Margaret Sutter	Television film
1996	For the Future: The Irvine Fertility Scandal	Debbie Challender	Television film
1996	Titanic	Molly Brown	Miniseries
1997–1998	The New Batman Adventures	Veronica Vreeland	Voice, 2 episodes
2000	A Tale of Two Bunnies	Miranda	Television film
2000	Rocket's Red Glare	Meg Baker	Television film
2002	Providence	Georgia	2 episodes
2002	Greg the Bunny	Maggie DeMontague	Episode: "Blah Bawls"
2004	Center of the Universe	Sharon Singleton	Episode: "Alarmed and Dangerous"
2005	Living With Fran	Donna Martin	Episode: "Riley's Parents"
2005	Gone But Not Forgotten	Nancy Gordon	Television film
2005	The Comeback	Herself	Episode: "Pilot"
2006–2007	America's Ballroom Challenge	Host	Reality-competition series
2008	Good Behavior	Sydney Lake	Unsold television pilot
2008	The Governor's Wife	Ann Danville	Television film
2008	My Boys	Pamela Newman	Episode: "John, Cougar, Newman Camp"
2009	ER	Linda	Episode: "And in the End..."
2009	Party Down	Pepper McMasters	Episode: "Pepper McMasters Singles Seminar"
2010	Numb3rs	Regina Landers	Episode: "And the Winner Is..."
2011	Accidentally in Love	Carol	Television film (Hallmark)
2011	Grey's Anatomy	Mrs. Moser	Episode: "Poker Face"
2011	Unforgettable	Aunt Evie	Episode: "Golden Bird"
2012	Holiday High School Reunion	Beverly Hunt	Television film
2012	Hitched for the Holidays	Maxine Greene	Television film
2013	Two and a Half Men	Linda	Episode: "Cows, Prepare to Be Tipped"
2013	The Glades	Joan Longworth	2 episodes
2014	June in January	Diana Blackwell	Television film (Hallmark)
2014	Brooklyn Nine-Nine	Vivian Ludley	5 episodes
2014	Signed, Sealed, Delivered	Glynis Rucker	Guest star; 2 episodes
2014	The Crazy Ones	Paige Roberts	Episode: "The Lighthouse"
2015	A Bone To Pick: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2015	Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2016	In-Lawfully Yours	Naomi	Television film
2016	Three Bedrooms, One Corpse: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2016	Love on a Limb	Zee Roarke	Television film (Hallmark)
2016	Dancing with the Stars	Herself	Contestant on season 23
2016	The Julius House: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2017	Dead Over Heels: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2017	A Bundle of Trouble: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2018	Last Scene Alive: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2018	Reap What You Sew: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2018	The Disappearing Game: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2018	The Neighborhood	Paula	Episode: "Welcome to Thanksgiving"
2019	A Game of Cat and Mouse: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2019	An Inheritance to Die For: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2019	A Very Foul Play: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2020	Heist and Seek: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2020	Reunited and it Feels So Deadly: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2020	Love, Lights, Hanukkah	Ruth	Television film (Hallmark)
2020	Bob Hearts Abishola	Trish Dolan	Episode: "There's My Nigerians"
2021	How to Con a Con: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2021	Til Death Do Us Part: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2021	Honeymoon, Honeymurder: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2021	A Kiss Before Christmas	Rona Bellingham	Television film (Hallmark)
2022	Haunted By Murder: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)
2022	A Kismet Christmas	Grandma Mia	Television film (Hallmark)
2023	NCIS: Los Angeles	Elizabeth Killbride	Episode: "A Farewell to Arms"
2023	Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New	Aida Teagarden	Television film (Hallmark)

Published books

• By All Means Keep On Moving (September 5, 1994)
• Marilu Henner's Total Health Makeover (May 6, 1998)
• The 30-Day Total Health Makeover (March 3, 1999)
• I Refuse To Raise A Brat (October 12, 1999)
• Healthy Life Kitchen (July 10, 2000)
• Healthy Kids: Help Them Eat Smart and Stay Active-For Life! (August 7, 2001)
• Healthy Holidays (Oct 1, 2002)
• Wear Your Life Well: Use What You Have To Get What You Want (April 8, 2008)
• Total Memory Makeover: Uncover Your Past, Take Charge of Your Future (April 24, 2012)

External links

• Official website
• Marilu Henner at the Internet Broadway Database
• Marilu Henner at IMDb
• Marilu Henner at AllMovie
• Marilu Henner at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television