Karen Valentine

Perky brunette actress whose slightly bumbling cheerleader charm evokes a combination of Debbie Reynolds and Sally Field. Among Valentine's earliest TV credits was, in fact, "Gidget Grows Up" (1969), in which she played Field's former role. The same year, Valentine won an Emmy for her best-remembered part, that of student teacher Alice Johnson, forever getting caught in the schoolbus doors in the popular comedy-drama "Room 222" (ABC, 1969-74). The 70s were Valentine's busiest period: she was a regular on the Dinah Shore-hosted chat show "Dinah's Place" and starred in her own sitcom, "Karen".

• Also Credited As:
  Karen Lynne Valentine
• Born:
  May 25, 1947 in Sebastopol, California
• Job Titles:
  Actor

Family

• Mother: Angie Valentine.

Milestones

• 1969 Played Alice Johnson on the TV comedy-drama, "Room 222"
• 1975 Feature film debut in "E'Lollipop"
• 1975 Played Karen Angelo on the sitcom, "Karen"
• 1978 US film debut in the western comedy, "Hot Lead and Cold Feet"
• 1985 Hosted "Our Time", a short-lived series recalling American popular culture of the 1960s
• 1991 Off-Broadway debut in "Breaking Legs"; later headed national tour
• Was a regular on the TV talk and variety show, "Dinah's Place", starring Dinah Shore