Tall, good-humored American leading actor, primarily on TV. Henner began in musical theater, originating the supporting role of Marty in a production of "Grease" at the University of Chicago and leaving school to tour with the national company. She didn't appear in the eventual Broadway production of the musical, but did make it to the Great White Way in "Over There!" in 1974. Henner made it onto TV shortly thereafter and achieved a career breakthrough when she was cast as Elaine Nardo on the popular and highly acclaimed sitcom, "Taxi" (1978-83).
The red-haired, green-eyed Henner, with her straightforward, slangy speech style and slightly sharp but warmly open-faced expression, has typically played gutsy proletariat roles modeled to some extent on her highly successful role in "Taxi". Elaine was a single mother of two, an aspiring art curator and the first female cabbie at her garage, and Henner has subsequently played in TV-movies as a successful businesswoman swept up by romance in "Love With a Perfect Stranger" (1986) and a tough police lieutenant in "Ladykillers" (1988). Having acted in support of Burt Reynolds in the risque feature, "The Man Who Loved Women" (1983) and opposite him in the routine rowdiness of "Cannonball Run II" (1984), she reteamed with him for a lesser but still enjoyable sitcom run as his down-to-earth spouse on "Evening Shade" (1990-94). Probably Henner's most interesting feature to date has been Wim Wenders' affectionate but suitably atmospheric neo-noir "Hammet (1982), but she has also acted in the bombs "Rustler's Rhapsody" and "Perfect" (1985) as well as the enjoyable comedies "L.A. Story" (1991) and "Noises Off" (1992).
Family
-
Brother: Lorin Henner.
-
Brother: Tom Henner.
-
Father: Joseph Henner. born in 1917; died of a heart attack in December 1969 at age 52
-
Mother: Loretta Henner. born in 1921; died in May 1978 at age 58
-
Sister: Christal Henner.
-
Son: Joseph Marlon Lieberman. born November 12, 1995
-
Son: Nicholas Morgan Lieberman. born on May 12, 1994
Significant Others
-
Husband: Michael Brown. met in college when he dated her roomate; engaged as of June 2004; married December 21, 2006 in Los Angeles
-
Companion: John Travolta. first met when they appeared together in touring company of Grease ; had on and off relationship from 1972 until 1985
-
Companion: Judd Hirsch. began brief relationship at end of first season of Taxi in 1979
-
Companion: Tony Danza. dated in 1978 during first season of Taxi
Education
-
Madonna High School, Chicago, Illinois
-
University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Milestones
-
1971 Turned down opportunity to recreate role of Marty in the NYC production of Grease
-
1972 Left the University of Chicago after three years to travel with the national company of Grease ; stayed with the company for a year; first met Jeff Conaway (who had lead role of Danny Zuko) and John Travolta
-
1974 Made Broadway debut in the musical, Over Here! , starring Ann Reinking and Patty and Maxine Andrews; supporting cast also included Treat Williams and Travolta
-
1976 Performed in a Broadway revival of the musical, Pal Joey
-
1977 Earliest TV roles included a part as Janet, a college student, in the CBS sitcom pilot, Off Campus
-
1977 Made feature film debut in a small role of a stripper in Between the Lines
-
1978 Played Elaine Nardo on the popular ABC sitcom (with NBC for its last season), Taxi
-
1979 First worked with Burt Reynolds on the NBC variety special, The Celebrity Football Classic ; he was color commentator and she was the celebrity interviewer
-
1981 First TV-movie, Dream House
-
1982 Returned to films after four years to play first leading role in a feature in Wim Wenders s Hammett
-
1983 First acted with Burt Reynolds in the feature, The Man Who Loved Women
-
1985 Received a CableACE Award nomination for her role in Grown Ups , a Broadway on Showtime production
-
1988 Returned to the theater in a production of Carnal Knowledge staged at the Pasadena Playhouse; co-starred with Gregory Harrison, Valerie Mahaffy and David Marshall Grant
-
1990 First feature film in five years, Chains of Gold
-
1994 Hosted syndicated daytime talk show, Marilu
-
1997 Returned to Broadway replacing Ann Reinking in the role of Roxie Hart in the revival of Chicago
-
2000 Headlined the national tour of the revival of Annie Get Your Gun
-
Appeared in the Broadway production of Social Security , directed by Mike Nichols
-
Co-starred as Ava Evans Newton opposite Burt Reynolds on the popular CBS sitcom, Evening Shade
-
First performed onstage while still a child; appeared in musical productions for Chicago s Center Stage Group
-
Originated supporting role of Marty in the musical, Grease , at the University of Chicago s Community Theatre