Making people laugh is only one facet of Valerie Harper's career, which extends from the stage to television and feature films. A native of Suffren, New York -- "I was born to suffer" -- Harper began her career as a dancer with the corps de ballet at Radio City Hall during its spectacular heyday. She gradually moved into acting, working in everything from industrial shows to regional theatre to the Second City comedy troupe of Chicago. Eventually, she made it to Broadway in productions of "Dear Liar", the Tony Award winning "Story Theatre", "Something Different" and "Metamorphosis". Stardom came with television, including four Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for her work in Mary Tyler Moore and Rhoda, in which she played the title role. Harper has won Harvard's Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year, and her "Rhoda's Wedding" episode set that year's ratings record. Since retiring Rhoda Morganstern to the eternity of re-runs, Harper has been active on stage and in movies. Her feature films include Chapter Two, Freebie and the Bean and The Last Married Couple in America. In television she has starred on all three networks in movies of the week, including Farrell for the People (NBC), Don't Go to Sleep (ABC) and An Invasion of Privacy (CBS). A strong supporter of women's rights, Harper is preparing a film with Tony Cacciotti -- her partner in TAL Productions -- on the subject of domestic violence, based on a true story.
Is a graduate of the Erhard Seminars Training (AKA est). Daughter, Cristina, born 1983 Ex-stepdaughter, Wendy Schaal, is an actress. Valerie was born at Good Samaritan Hospital, Suffern, N.Y. She and her then husband actor Richard Schaal were also a writing team and wrote a script for the series Love, American Style called "Love and the Visitor", back in the early 70's. In the fall of 1987, she was abruptedly fired by Lorimar from her NBC TV-Series Valerie's Family. She didn't show for filming one day. The series decided to continue on without her as "Valerie's Family" with Sandy Duncan playing Sandy Hogan replacing Valerie Harper's "Valerie Hogan" character. Ms. Harper went to court with Lorimar over breach of contract and in the fall of 1988 was awarded 1.4 million dollars plus 12.5% of the profits of the show that continued on without her until 1991. Measurements: 36-26 1/2-40 (while on Mary Tyler Moore), 35 1/2-24-36 (trimmed down for her Rhoda spin-off). (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 206-207. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387