This fresh-faced, tall blonde lead literally soared to fame as "Supergirl" (1983). Slater later turned in creditable performances in "The Legend of Billie Jean" (1985), as a youth unjustly accused of murder, and "Ruthless People" (1986), as a ditsy kidnapper. After stalling a bit in such mild fare as "Sticky Fingers" (1988) and "Happy Together" (1989), Slater enjoyed her biggest popular success to date in "City Slickers" (1991) as the one female member of the big cattle drive. Her subsequent feature work was in generally forgettable fare, except for the family film "Lassie" (1994).
On the small screen, Slater made her debut as a suicidal teen in the "ABC Afterschool Special" entitled "Amy and the Angel" (1982). She attempted a regular berth on the short-lived ABC drama "Capital News" (1990), as a novice newspaper reporter. Slater, who was also in the cast of Linda Yellen's improvisational TV-movies "Chantilly Lace" (Showtime, 1993) and "Parallel Lives" (Showtime, 1994), has continued to act onstage.
- Also Credited As:
Helen Schlacter, Helen Schlacter
- Born:
December 15, 1963 in Long Island, New York, USA
-
Job Titles:
Pianist, Composer, Writer
Family
-
Daughter: Hannah Nika Watzke. born August 28, 1995
-
Father: Gerald Slater. divorced from Slater s mother c. 1974
-
Mother: Alice Joan Slater. divorced from Slater s father c. 1974
Education
-
The School of Performing Arts, New York, New York, 1982
Milestones
-
1982 TV acting debut in Amy and the Angel , an ABC Afterschool Special starring alongside James Earl Jones, and Matthew Modine
-
1983 Screen debut, opposite Faye Dunaway and Peter O Toole in Supergirl a spin-off of 1978 Superman franchise
-
1985 Cast as a modern day Joan of Arc in the cult classic The Legend of Billie Jean
-
1985 Made Off-Broadway debut in Repsonsible Parties
-
1986 Cast as a sweet-tempered kidnapper in the comedy Ruthless People starred Danny Devito and Bette Midler
-
1987 Co-founded the New York theater group, The Naked Angels, with Gina Gershon
-
1987 Starred opposite Michael J. Fox in the romantic comedy The Secret of my Success directed by Herbert Ross
-
1990 TV series debut as a regular, Capital News
-
1991 Starred opposite Billy Crystal in the comedy City Slickers
-
1991 With her husband, co-founded a theater group in L.A., The Bubalaires
-
1992 Voiced several characters in the FOX series Batman: the Animated Series:
-
1994 Cast in Lassie, Daniel Petrie s updated version of the family classic
-
1994 Co-starred in the Showtime drama Parallel Lives with James Belushi, Liza Minnelli and James Brolin;
-
1996 Stared in Heavenzapoppin ! a short film written and directed by her husband Robert Watzke
-
2004 Starred in Seeing Other People, opposite Jay Mohr, Andy Richter
-
Began performing as a pianist in clubs in L.A.
-
Formed own theater group in Los Angeles, Otis Inspired
-
Made stage debut at age eight in a production of Pinocchio