Monday, May 7, 2012

Who is Katharine Hope McPhee?

Who is Katharine Hope McPhee? The entertainment and music world knows Katharine McPhee as an American pop singer, songwriter, actress, model, and television personality. She gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of the Fox reality show American Idol in 2006, eventually finishing as the runner-up.


Her self-titled debut album was released on RCA Records on January 30, 2007 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200; it has sold 381,000 copies to date.[3] The album's first single, "Over It", was a Pop Top 30 hit and was certified gold in 2008.[4]
Her second album, Unbroken, was released on Verve Forecast Records on January 5, 2010 and debuted at #27 on the Billboard 200. The album featured the single "Had It All", which peaked at #22 on the Billboard AC chart. It has sold 45,000 copies to date.[5] Her third album, the holiday-themed Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You, was released on October 12, 2010. The album debuted at #11 on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart while the single "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" peaked at #16 on the Billboard AC chart. The album has sold 23,000 copies to date.[5]
McPhee has also established an acting career, for example co-starring in The House Bunny in 2008 as the hippie sorority sister Harmony, and co-starring in the upcoming NBC series Smash.

Early life

McPhee was born March 25, 1984 in Los Angeles, California, McPhee moved with her family to Sherman Oaks at age 12. McPhee has been singing since the age of two. Her mother, Patricia Burch McPhee (stage name Peisha Arten), a vocal coach and accomplished cabaret singer, recognized her daughter's musical talent and decided to train her. Her father, Daniel McPhee, is a television producer. McPhee has an older sister, Adriana. McPhee is of Irish, Scottish, and German descent.[6] McPhee attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, where she performed in school plays and musicals. She graduated in 2002. She attended Boston Conservatory for three semesters, majoring in musical theater. She left college on the advice of her manager and returned to Los Angeles to try out for television pilots.
McPhee has struggled with eating disorders in the past. She told People magazine that at age 13 she began starving herself and exercising compulsively, and she became bulimic at age 17.[7] McPhee gained weight in college due to her binging. After seven years of illness, she finally entered a three-month rehabilitation program after successfully passing her American Idol audition; her rehab stint ended just before the Idol semifinals started in February 2006.[8] During her run on American Idol, she lost 30 lb (14 kg) due to eating better as part of her treatment. Now, as she told Teen Vogue in May 2007, "I eat whatever I crave—I'm just really careful about portions." McPhee and her sister appeared on debut of The Dr. Keith Ablow Show on September 18, 2006, to discuss her struggles with bulimia and her childhood fear of her father.[9] On the show, McPhee stated that she was misdiagnosed with a learning disability during her middle school years but was finally correctly diagnosed with a vision problem that caused her to have trouble reading in class. McPhee claimed she was known as the "pretty, but stupid" girl in school because she had trouble reading.

American Idol


McPhee was persuaded by now-husband Nick Cokas and her parents to try out for the television series competition, American Idol. She auditioned in San Francisco and sang "God Bless the Child", originally performed by Billie Holiday.
After the first round of Hollywood week, she sang "I'll Never Love This Way Again" by Dionne Warwick which earned favorable comments from the judges. During the second round, she performed in a group, singing "I Can't Help Myself" by The Four Tops, forgetting the words, but the judges decided to advance the entire group. During the third round, she sang a capella of "My Funny Valentine" and advanced to the top 40. She was mad when fellow group member Crystal Stark didn't make the top 24. When she was told that she would be advancing, she kissed all three judges on the lips.
McPhee's run on American Idol led to the use of the term "McPheever". The inclusion of producer David Foster and singer Andrea Bocelli as guest mentors for Top 6 Week turned out to be a fortuitous introduction for McPhee, as she has worked on various music projects with both men post-Idol.
In May 2006, McPhee visited her alma mater Notre Dame High School for her hometown celebration.[10] Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa visited the school and proclaimed the day Katharine McPhee Day.

Performances and results (during voting weeks)

Week # Theme Song choice Original artist Result
Top 24 (12 Women) Free Choice "Since I Fell for You" Lenny Welch Safe
Top 20 (10 Women) Free Choice "All in Love is Fair" Stevie Wonder Safe
Top 16 (8 Women) Free Choice "Think" Aretha Franklin Safe
Top 12 Stevie Wonder "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" Stevie Wonder Safe
Top 11 The 1950s "Come Rain or Come Shine" Sy Oliver (with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra) Safe
Top 10 Songs from The 21st Century "The Voice Within" Christina Aguilera Bottom 2
Top 9 Country "Bringing Out the Elvis" Faith Hill Safe
Top 8 Songs by Queen "Who Wants to Live Forever" Queen Safe
Top 7 The Great American Songbook "Someone to Watch Over Me" Gertrude Lawrence Safe
Top 6 Great Love Songs "I Have Nothing" Whitney Houston Top 2
Top 5 One Song From the Year They Were Born (1984)
One Song on the Billboard Charts at the time		 "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)"
"Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"		 Phil Collins
KT Tunstall		 Safe
Top 4 Elvis Presley "Hound Dog"/"All Shook Up"
"Can't Help Falling in Love"		 Big Mama Thornton / Elvis Presley Bottom 2
Top 3 Clive Davis's choice
Judge's Choice (Simon Cowell)
Contestant's Choice		 "I Believe I Can Fly"
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
"I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues"		 R. Kelly
Judy Garland
Duke Ellington		 Safe
Finale Contestant's Choice
Contestant's Choice
Coronation Song		 "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
"My Destiny"		 KT Tunstall
Judy Garland
Katharine McPhee		 Runner-Up

Music career

2006: Post Idol

Simon Fuller
On June 6, 2006, Sony BMG and 19 Entertainment announced that McPhee had signed to American Idol series creator Simon Fuller's 19 Recordings Limited and Sony BMG's RCA Records.[11]
McPhee performed at the J.C. Penney Jam: Concert for America's Kids[12] in June 2006, soloing with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and performing a duet with Andrea Bocelli on "Somos Novios". The concert was telecast on CBS August 22, 2006 and J.C. Penney sold an exclusive CD/DVD of the concert.
McPhee's Idol single, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/My Destiny" was released on June 27, 2006 by RCA Records. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "My Destiny" peaked at #60.[13] 32 weeks after its release, Somewhere Over the Rainbow/My Destiny had climbed to #4 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales charts.[14] It was the second highest best-selling single of 2006 after Taylor Hicks' "Do I Make You Proud". "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/My Destiny" remained on the chart for more than 58 weeks.
In July, McPhee missed the first three weeks of the American Idol Tour due to laryngitis and bronchitis.[15] She joined the tour beginning with the July 28 show in Washington, D.C., singing only two songs "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" instead of the usual 4 on doctor's orders to conserve her voice. At the August 1 concert in Charlotte, North Carolina, McPhee suffered a hairline fracture of her foot when she tripped backstage and was fitted with a walking boot cast.[16] Once she recovered from the foot injury, she added "Think" to her concert set.
McPhee recorded a duet with Andrea Bocelli on "Can't Help Falling In Love" for his Under the Desert Sky album, which was released as a CD/DVD package on November 7, 2006.

2007–2008: Katharine McPhee

McPhee's self-titled debut album, Katharine McPhee was released on January 30, 2007 and sold 116,000 copies its first week, debuting at #2 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart.[17]
The first single from the album was "Over It", which was officially released on the same day as the album and peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, "Love Story", was released on May 22, 2007, but failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100.
During the 2007 Christmas holiday season, McPhee released a Christmas single "O Come All Ye Faithful".
On January 11, 2008, it was reported by Billboard.com that McPhee had been released from her contract with RCA Records, through speculation that the label was dissatisfied with lack of overall sales of her debut album. A spokesperson for the label stated, "She is going to record her next album on her own."[18]
McPhee appeared on Idol judge Randy Jackson's album Randy Jackson's Music Club, Vol. 1, which was released on March 11, 2008. McPhee recorded a duet of "Real Love" with fellow American Idol 5 contestant Elliott Yamin. "Real Love" was released as a second single due to the high popularity of the song on Itunes.
On March 12, 2008, McPhee returned to the American Idol stage during the Top 12 results night of the seventh season of the competition. She performed the Beatles song "Something", with producer David Foster, on piano. After the performance, Foster indicated that he and McPhee were collaborating on her second studio album (though it ended up that he was not part of the finished product).
McPhee took part in the David Foster tribute concert Hit Man: David Foster & Friends, which was filmed by PBS, in May 2008.[19] She soloed on "Somewhere" and performed a duet of "The Prayer" with Andrea Bocelli. A CD/DVD of the concert was released in November 2008. The show was shown several times on PBS starting in December 2008 under their "Great Performances" title.
David Foster recorded a new song entitled, "I Will Be There With You" for Japan Airlines (JAL), with McPhee on vocals. Starting about June 2008, it was used to promote the introduction of new aircraft to JAL's US flights.[20]
On July 16, 2008, McPhee released a cover of the song "I Know What Boys Like", featuring the other cast members of the movie The House Bunny.
McPhee recorded a cover of the song "Connected" for the Mattel movie Barbie and the Diamond Castle. McPhee's version of the song was produced by Room For Two and a music video was also recorded to be featured on the movie's DVD. The video and song are available on the movie's website.[21] The soundtrack CD and movie DVD and Blu-ray were released for sale in September 2008.
McPhee took part in the concert Chris Botti: Live In Boston, which was filmed by PBS, in September 2008.[22] She sang "I've Got You Under My Skin" accompanied by Chris Botti on trumpet. The concert was shown several times on PBS starting in January 2009. The CD/DVD and Blu-ray were released March 31, 2009.
McPhee recorded the song "Let Your Heart Sing" for the soundtrack CD of the Disney movie Tinker Bell. The movie DVD and the soundtrack CD were released in October 2008.[23]

2009–2010: Unbroken


McPhee in 2009.
It was announced on January 27, 2009 that McPhee signed a new record deal with Verve Forecast Records (part of the Verve Music Group under Universal Music Group). "The album she is working on will show many new sides to her talents as an interpreter and a songwriter, and show everyone just how special she is," Verve Music Group president/CEO Bruce Resnikoff says.[1]
For her second effort, titled Unbroken, McPhee worked with producer John Alagia. The BMI song repertoire indicates that she worked with a large range of writers including Richard Marx, Troy Verges, Alex James, and Barry Dean.
The first single from the album, "Had It All" was released to McPhee's myspace page and made available for purchase on iTunes on August 25, 2009. The single was released to AC and Hot AC radio on September 21. The official music video for the song premiered on Vevo on October 13, 2009. The song is also a track on the Now That's What I Call Music, Vol 32 compilation CD that was released November 3, 2009.[24]
A Christmas single "I'll Be Home for Christmas" was released November 17, 2009 for purchase on iTunes and to AC radio.
Unbroken was released January 5, 2010 and debuted at #27 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 15,000 copies its first week.[25]
McPhee took part in the United Negro College Fund's "An Evening of Stars" concert that was a tribute to singer/songwriter Lionel Richie. McPhee sang You Are. The concert was filmed September 12, 2009 and broadcast nationwide in syndication and on BET the weekend of January 23–24, 2010. A 2-disc DVD of the concert is available through a donation to the United Negro College Fund.
On February 1, 2010, McPhee joined over 75 other musicians for a remake of "We Are the World", retitled "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", which marked the 25th anniversary of the iconic song and for which proceeds will go to Haitian earthquake relief.[26] McPhee was part of the group chorus.
During the week of February 8, 2010, in the pre-taped Hollywood Week portion of Season 9 of American Idol, contestant Didi Benami was shown singing "Terrified", a song on the Unbroken album and written by Idol judge Kara DioGuardi. As a result of the exposure on Idol, digital downloads of the song (the album version featuring Jason Reeves) rose nearly 10,000% from the week before, selling about 20,000 copies for the week, for a total of 22,000 sold at that point.[27]
On May 4, 2010, a new version of the Unbroken song "Terrified" featuring actor Zachary Levi (the original album version featured singer Jason Reeves) premiered on Entertainment Weekly's website and was made available for purchase on iTunes. The accompanying music video premiered on May 7, 2010 on the music video website Vevo.
On May 5, 2010, a Billboard list of the most successful American Idol contestants, based on album and single sales and radio play, ranked McPhee at number 16, ahead of fellow runners-up Bo Bice, Blake Lewis, Diana DeGarmo, and Justin Guarini, as well as season 5 champion Taylor Hicks, but behind fellow season 5 contestants Elliott Yamin, Kellie Pickler, and Chris Daughtry.[28]
A music video for the song "Say Goodbye" from Unbroken was released on Vevo on October 4, 2010.

2010–2011: Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You

McPhee released a Christmas album titled Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You on October 12, 2010. The album debuted at #11 on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart and sold 1,000 copies in its first week.[29]
Country singer Chelsea Field's song "Love's Never Leavin'", a song that McPhee cowrote with singer-songwriter Richard Marx and producer Trey Bruce, was made available for purchase on iTunes on November 9, 2010, with 100% of the proceeds to benefit the Tammany Humane Society in Covington, LA.[30]
One of the Christmas album's songs "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was released to radio in November 2010 and peaked at #16 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart.
A music video for the song "It's Not Christmas Without You"[31] from McPhee's Christmas album was premiered on Vevo on December 10, 2010.

2011–present: New deal with Columbia Records

On June 9, 2011, it was announced that McPhee had signed a new record deal with Columbia Records (part of the Columbia/Epic Label Group under Sony Music Entertainment), in conjunction with Columbia teaming with NBC to distribute the music for NBC's TV series Smash.[2]

 Discography

Main article: Katharine McPhee discography

 Acting career

Through 2008: Small roles, guest roles, and The House Bunny

McPhee was cast (during the time she had dropped out of college and was auditioning in Los Angeles) in a mall-based MTV soap opera pilot, You Are Here, playing the older sister of a more popular younger sister. MTV never aired the pilot and did not pick up the series.[32]
McPhee had a small role as Paramount Girl in the 2007 musical film Crazy, based on the life of Hank Garland.[33] McPhee filmed the role in early 2005, before she auditioned for American Idol.
In early 2007, McPhee guest-starred in the web series, lonelygirl15 as an unnamed character in the episode "Truth Or Dare".[34]
McPhee made a cameo appearance as herself on the ABC show Ugly Betty in the episode "I'm Coming Out".[35] The episode was broadcast Feb 1, 2007.
McPhee made her studio acting debut in the comedy The House Bunny (working title I Know What Boys Like), co-starring as one of the few members of a misfit sorority. The movie starred Anna Faris as a Playboy Bunny who took the girls under her wing. It was directed by Fred Wolf for Columbia Pictures and produced by Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions. The film was released in August 2008 and also co-starred Emma Stone and Rumer Willis.

2009–2010: Guest roles and The Pink House TV pilot

McPhee guest starred on the CBS show CSI: NY in the episode "Prey" as a singer and stalker victim who murdered her stalker. The episode was broadcast April 8, 2009.[36][37]
McPhee joined forces with fellow actresses Alyson Hannigan, Jaime King, Minka Kelly and Emily Deschanel in a video slumber party made available in October 2009 and featured on FunnyorDie.com and other Internet platforms in a comedic take to promote regular breast cancer screenings for the organization Stand Up To Cancer.[38]
McPhee guest starred on the NBC comedy Community in the episode "Basic Genealogy" as Chevy Chase's character's ex-stepdaughter and potential love interest for Joel McHale's character. The episode was broadcast March 11, 2010.[39]
McPhee made a TV pilot for a new comedy series for NBC called The Pink House. McPhee played Emily, a down-to-earth Midwestern girl new to Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles.[40] The pilot was shot as a possible pickup for the Fall 2010 season and was produced by Conan O'Brien's production company, with O'Brien as executive producer.[41] Shooting took place April 9, 2010.[42] The pilot was not picked up by NBC.[43]
In May 2010 McPhee was featured on MTV's new show When I Was 17 (the episode premiered on May 22 and was repeated throughout the week). The show is a documentary about how life has changed since people were seventeen. Jonas Brother Kevin Jonas and Poison vocalist Bret Michaels were also featured on the episode.

2011–present: Smash TV series and movie roles

On July 31, 2010, McPhee tweeted to her fans that she had been in upstate New York working on the feature film Peace, Love, and Misunderstanding which stars Jane Fonda.[44] At this time, there are no details on what role she's playing (though it's likely a small one since she's not currently listed on the cast list on IMDB). McPhee appears to have completed filming her part after about a week according to a follow-up tweet,[45] though filming continued through the end of August. The movie is set to come out in 2011.[46][47]
McPhee will co-star in director David Ellis' shark thriller indie film Shark Night 3D, which filmed in Shreveport, Louisiana for about eight weeks from early September to the end of October 2010. The movie is about a group of college friends who spend a weekend at a lake house, only to find dangerous sharks lurking beneath the surface. The film stars Sara Paxton. The budget is $28 million, and it is scheduled to be released September 2, 2011.[48][49][50][51]
In 2009, McPhee was cast in a lead role in the independent romantic-comedy You May Not Kiss the Bride.[52] The budget was set at $6 million. The movie filmed for 5 weeks in March and April 2009 in Oahu, Hawaii. McPhee played the role of Masha, alongside Dave Annable.[53] The film debuted at the 14th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival that was held April 6–10 2011[54] The film is set to debut September 2, 2011 in one theater in Hawaii in a very limited initial US release and then open overseas in Russia, Romania, Hungary, Canada, and Latin America.[55]
On April 28 2011, McPhee tweeted that she had just recorded a voiceover for an episode of the Fox animated series Family Guy, playing the voice of Mother Maggie. No word yet on when the episode airs.[56]
It was announced on February 13, 2011 that McPhee had landed a co-starring role in the NBC TV pilot Smash,[57] also starring Debra Messing, Megan Hilty, Anjelica Houston, Christian Borle, and Brian d'Arcy James.[58] On May 11, 2011, it was reported that NBC had picked up Smash as a series.[59][60] The series, set as a musical drama, follows a group of characters who come together to put on a Broadway musical inspired by Marilyn Monroe. Steven Spielberg will be an executive producer. The idea was originally developed at Showtime by NBC Entertainment president Robert Greenblatt.[57][61] NBC will debut the series mid-season of the 2011–12 television season.[62]

 Filmography

 Film

Year Film Role Notes
2007 Crazy Paramount Girl Movie; cameo
2008 The House Bunny Harmony Movie; supporting role
2011 Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding TBA Movie; cameo; post-production
Shark Night 3D Beth Movie; co-star; post-production
You May Not Kiss the Bride Masha Movie; co-star; Limited release Sep 2

[edit] Television

Year Film Role Notes
2007 lonelygirl15 Random Girl Web series; guest role; episode: "Truth or Dare"
Ugly Betty Herself Television series; guest role; episode: "I'm Coming Out"
2009 CSI: NY Odessa Shaw / Dana Melton Television series; guest role; episode: "Prey"
2010 Community Amber Television series; guest role; episode: "Basic Genealogy"
2012 Smash Karen Cartwright Television series; lead role; In production
TBA Family Guy Mother Maggie Television series; voice-only; post-production

[edit] Theater

In March 2005, McPhee starred as Annie Oakley in a Los Angeles-based production of the musical Annie Get Your Gun.[63] McPhee was nominated for an L.A. Stage Ovation Award in the category of "Lead Actress in a Musical".[64]
On February 22, 2010, McPhee appeared in the production of 110 Stories, directed by Mark Freiburger at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. She co-starred alongside Ed Asner, Diane Venora, Gail O'Grady, John Hawkes, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and many others. The play was a benefit to help the victims of the recent Haiti earthquake. Proceeds went to the Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles.[65]

 Major product endorsements

McPhee signed a two-year endorsement deal in 2006 with Sexy Hair Concepts to become their first celebrity spokesperson for their hair-care product line.[66]
In 2008, McPhee signed a two-year endorsement deal with Neutrogena to become the new spokesperson for their anti-acne skin-care product line. In March 2008, she filmed her first commercial, which began airing on television in May 2008 and on Neutrogena's skinid.com website.[67]

Beauty lists

In mid-2007, McPhee was named one of the year's 100 Most Beautiful People by People; she was photographed without wearing make-up. She was also voted #2 on FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in The World of 2007 and #47 on Maxim's Hot 100 Women of 2007. At the end of 2007, AOL readers placed her as the Number 1 Sexiest American Idol contestant ever. In 2008 she was voted #38 on FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women in The World and #43 on AskMen.com’s Top 99. In 2009 she was voted number #64 on AskMen.com’s Top 99.

Personal life

On February 2, 2008, the then 23-year-old McPhee married 42-year-old Nick Cokas at Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church.[68]

Philanthropy

In 2006, McPhee founded a charity called McPhee Outreach. The purpose of the charity is to team up with other foundations or organizations and help in any way possible.[69]
The foundation teamed up with The Lollipop Theater Network to provide music outreach (called "Rhythm of Hope") to sick children in Southern California hospitals.[70]
McPhee Outreach teamed up with Global Compassion Services to build a preschool in the poor West African nation of Burkina Faso to help combat that nation's high illiteracy rate.[69]
McPhee is currently a member of the Entertainment Council of the US hunger-relief charity Feeding America (formerly known as America's Second Harvest).[71] Members, who are from various areas of the entertainment world, actively mobilize the public in support of Feeding America via media relations opportunities.
McPhee appeared on the Jan 19, 2010 episode of the NBC reality show The Biggest Loser (its ninth season) in the show's Pound for Pound Challenge segment (an initiative to challenge viewers to get healthy while helping to fight hunger in their own communities). McPhee was shown volunteering at a Los Angeles food bank and meeting with children at a Boys and Girls Club and talking about the importance of helping to fight hunger in America. She was also shown singing part of her song Lifetime from her album Unbroken.
In the summer of 2010, McPhee partnered with Feeding America and ConAgra Foods Foundation to help launch the Hunger-Free Summer Initiative, which aimed to help children at risk of hunger during the summer months.[72] Throughout the month of July, McPhee traveled around the country to various Feeding America food banks to raise awareness.
On December 15, 2010, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital released a video on their website for their Thanks and Giving Campaign that featured McPhee interacting with sick children at the hospital with her song "Lifetime" playing over the soundtrack.[73]

Awards

Nominations

 













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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Who is Francine Joy Drescher ?

Who is Francine Joy  Drescher? The entertainment and acting world knows her as Fran Drescher. Drescher is an American film and television actress, comedian, screenwriter, director, producer, author, singer, talk show host, political lobbyist and health activist.
Drescher made her screen debut with a small role in the 1977 blockbuster filmSaturday Night Fever prior to appearing in films such as the biopic American Hot Wax (1978), and Wes Craven's horror film Summer of Fear (1978). In the 1980s, she gained recognition as a comedic actress in the films The Hollywood Knights (1980), Doctor Detroit (1983), This Is Spinal Tap (1984), and UHF (1989) while establishing a television career with guest appearances on several series. In 1991, Drescher garnered her first leading role in the short-living CBS sitcom Princesses and, in 1993, achieved wider fame as Fran Fine in her own sitcom vehicle The Nanny, for which she was nominated for two Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Comedy Television Series during the show's run. She received further recognition for her performances in Jack (1996) and The Beautician and the Beast (1997) and reinforced her reputation as a leading sitcom star with Living With Fran (2005–2006) and Happily Divorced (2011).
A uterine cancer survivor, Drescher is an outspoken healthcare advocate and LGBT rights activist, and is noted for her work as a Public Diplomacy Envoy for Women's Health Issues for the U.S. State Department. Divorced from writer and producer Peter Marc Jacobson, she currently lives in Malibu, California.

Early life

Drescher was born September 30, 1957 in Flushing, Queens, New York, the daughter of Sylvia, a bridal consultant, and Morty Drescher, a naval systems analyst.[1] Her Ashkenazi Jewish family is of South-East Central European origin (her great-grandmother was born in FocÅŸani, Romania).[2] She has an older sister, Nadine.
Drescher was a first runner-up for "Miss New York Teenager" in 1973, as revealed in her first autobiography "Enter Whining" released December 29, 1995, and on her interview on William Shatner's Raw Nerve, which first aired on January 27, 2009. She attended Hillcrest High School in Jamaica, Queens, where she met her future husband, Peter Marc Jacobson, whom she married in 1978, at age 21. They divorced in 1999.[3] Jacobson was Drescher's constant supporter in her show-business career, and he wrote, directed and produced her signature television series, The Nanny.

Career

Early careers

Her first break was a small role as the dancer Connie in the blockbuster movie Saturday Night Fever (1977) in which she delivered the line "Are you as good in bed as you are on the dance floor?" to John Travolta. A year later, she began to gain more attention in films such as American Hot Wax (1978), and Wes Craven's Summer of Fear (1978). She also took on a rare dramatic role in the Milos Forman 1981 film, Ragtime.
During the 1980s, Drescher found moderate success as a character actress with memorable roles in films such as The Hollywood Knights, Doctor Detroit, The Big Picture, UHF, Cadillac Man, and This is Spinal Tap.

The Nanny and later film roles

Drescher and Jacobson created their own television show, The Nanny in 1993. The show aired on CBS from 1993 and ended in 1999, and Drescher became an instant star. In this sitcom, she played a charming and bubbly woman named Fran Fine who casually became the nanny of Margaret ("Maggie"), Brighton, and Grace ("Gracie") Sheffield; with her wit and her charm, she endeared herself to their widower father: stuffy, composed, proper British gentleman, and Broadway producer Maxwell Sheffield (played by British actor Charles Shaughnessy).
Drescher appeared in Jack (1996), directed by Francis Ford Coppola, The Beautician and the Beast (1997) (for which she was also executive producer) and Picking Up the Pieces (2000) co-starring Woody Allen. She also was the voice of "Pearl" in Shark Bait (2006).

Return to television

In recent years, Drescher has made a return to television both with leading and guest roles. In 2005, she returned to TV with the sitcom Living with Fran, in which she played Fran Reeves, a middle-aged mother of two, living with Riley Martin (Ryan McPartlin), a man half her age and not much older than her son. Former Nanny costar Charles Shaughnessy appeared as her philandering ex-husband, Ted. Living with Fran was cancelled May 17, 2006, after two seasons.
In 2003, Drescher appeared in episodes of the short lived sitcom, Good Morning, Miami as Roberta Diaz. In 2006, Drescher guest starred in an episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent; the episode, "The War at Home", aired on US television on November 14, 2006.[4] She also appeared in an episode of the series Entourage and in the same year, gave her voice to the role of a female golem in The Simpsons episode "Treehouse of Horror XVII". In 2007, Drescher appeared in the US version of the Australian improvisational comedy series Thank God You're Here.
In 2008, Drescher announced, that she was developing a new sitcom entitled The New Thirty, also starring Rosie O'Donnell. A series about two old high school friends coping with midlife crises, Drescher described the premature plot of the show as "kind of Sex and the City but we ain't getting any! It'll probably be more like The Odd Couple."[5] The sitcom failed to materialize however.[5] In 2010, Drescher returned to television with her own daytime talk show, The Fran Drescher Tawk Show. While the program debuted to strong ratings, it ended its three-week test run to moderate success, resulting into its shelving.[6][7] The following year, the sitcom Happily Divorced, created by Drescher and her ex-husband Peter Marc Jacobson, was picked up by TV Land for a ten-episode order. It is scheduled to premiere there June 15, 2011.[8]

Personal life

After separating in 1996, Drescher and Jacobson divorced in 1999. They did not have any children. Drescher stated, "I would have been able to conceive but not hold on".[9] Drescher and Jacobson remained friends, and she has worked to support homosexual rights issues after her ex-husband came out.[10] Drescher has stated that the primary reason for the divorce was her need to change directions in life.

1985 robbery and rape

In January 1985, two armed robbers broke into Drescher and Jacobson's Los Angeles apartment. While one ransacked their home, the other raped Drescher and a girlfriend at gunpoint. Jacobson was also physically attacked, tied up, and forced to witness the entire ordeal. It took Drescher many years to recover, and it took her even longer to admit this to the press. She was paraphrased as saying in an interview with Larry King that although it was a traumatic experience, she found ways to turn it into something positive. In her book Cancer Schmancer, the actress writes: "My whole life has been about changing negatives into positives." She saw her rapist, who was on parole at the time of the crime, returned to prison, sentenced to two life sentences.[9]

Cancer battle

After two years of symptoms and misdiagnosis by eight doctors, Drescher was admitted to Los Angeles's Cedars Sinai Hospital on June 21, 2000, after doctors diagnosed her with uterine cancer. She had to undergo an immediate radical hysterectomy to treat the disease. Drescher was given a clean bill of health and no post-operative treatment has been ordered.
She wrote about her experiences in her second book, Cancer Schmancer.[9] Her purpose for this book was to raise consciousness for men and women "to become more aware of the early warning signs of cancer, and to empower themselves." Drescher says, "I was going to learn what I needed to learn, ask questions, become partners with my doctor instead of having some kind of parent/child relationship."

Cancer Schmancer Movement

On June 21, 2007, the seventh anniversary of her operation, Drescher announced the national launch of the Cancer Schmancer Movement, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all women's cancers be diagnosed while in Stage 1, the most curable stage. She celebrated her tenth year of wellness on June 21, 2010.
Her goal is to live in a time when women's mortality rates drop as their health care improves and early cancer detection increases. More information can be found on her website at cancerschmancer.org.
Her efforts as an outspoken healthcare advocate in Washington DC helped get unanimous passage for H.R. 1245 (also known as Johanna's Law) and she is acknowledged in the Congressional Record.

Politics


In September 2008, Drescher, a Democrat, was appointed as a U.S. diplomat by the U.S. State Department. Her official title is Public Diplomacy Envoy for Women's Health Issues. In traveling throughout the world, she will support U.S. public diplomacy efforts, including working with health organizations and women's groups to raise awareness of women’s health issues, cancer awareness and detection, and patient empowerment and advocacy. Her first trip was in late September and included stops in Romania, Hungary,[12] Kosovo and Poland.

In 2008, Drescher supported Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. She attended a Super Democrat rally for Clinton. Drescher said that she had been considering a run for the United States Senate in 2008 to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton, but ultimately decided against it.[13][14]

Music

On September 28, 2009, she released a single entitled "Eye For An Eye".

Awards

Drescher has been the recipient of the John Wayne Institute’s Woman of Achievement Award, the Gilda Award, the City of Hope Woman of the Year Award, the Hebrew University Humanitarian Award, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Spirit of Achievement Award.
Most recently she was honored with the City of Hope Spirit of Life Award, which was presented to her by Senator Hillary Clinton.
On April 10, 2010, she was guest of honor at the "Dancer against Cancer" charity ball held at the Imperial Palace, Vienna, Austria, where she received the first "My Aid Award" for her achievements in support of cancer prevention and rehabilitation.[15]

 Filmography

Film

Year↓ Film↓ Role↓ Notes
1977 Saturday Night Fever Connie
1978 American Hot Wax Sheryl
Stranger in Our House Carolyn Baker
1980 The Hollywood Knights Sally
Gorp Evie
1981 Ragtime Mameh
1983 Doctor Detroit Karen Blittstein
1984 This is Spinal Tap Bobbi Flekman
The Rosebud Beach Hotel Linda
1988 Rock 'n' Roll Mom Jody Levin
1989 UHF Pamela Finklestein
Love and Betrayal Germaine
1990 Wedding Band Veronica
Cadillac Man Joy Munchack
Wedding Band Veronica
1992 We're Talking Serious Money Valerie
1993 Without Warning: Terror in the Towers Rosemarie Russo
1994 Car 54, Where Are You? Velma Valour
1996 Jack Dolores "D.D." Durante
1997 The Beautician and the Beast Joy Miller Nominated—Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress
2000 Picking Up the Pieces Sister Frida
2003 Beautiful Girl Amanda Wasserman
2005 Santa's Slay Virginia Mason
2006 Shark Bait Pearl voice
2007 The Reef Aunt Pearl
2011 Mindwash. The Jake Sessions Madame LaRue voice

Television

Year↓ Title↓ Role↓ Notes
1982 Fame Rhonda 1 episode, ″Metamorphosis″
1983 9 to 5 Tapioca 1 episode, "The Oldest Profession"
1985 Silver Spoons Annie 1 episode, "Marry Me, Marry Me: Part 2
227 Mrs. Baker 1 episode, "The Refrigerator"
1985–1986 Who's the Boss Joyce Columbus/Carol Patrice 2 episodes, "Charmed Lives" and "The Heiress"
1986 Night Court Miriam Brody 1 episode, "Author, Author"
Charmed Lives Joyce Columbus 4 episodes
1990 ALF Roxanne 1 episode, "Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades"
WIOU Jo Finc 1 episode, "Pilot"
1991 Princesses Melissa Kirshner 8 episodes
Dream On Kathleen 1 episode, "The Second Greatest Story Ever Told"
1993–1999 The Nanny Fran Fine/Fran Sheffield 145 episodes, also Writer, Producer and Director
Nominated
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1996,1997)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1996,1997)
American Comedy Awards for Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (1996)
Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1997)
TV Guide Awards for Favorite Actress in a Comedy (1999)
TV Land Awards Favorite Nanny (2008)
2003 Good Morning, Miami Roberta Diaz 3 episodes
2004 Strong Medicine Irene Slater 1 episode, "Cinderella in Scrubs"
Director "Like Cures Like"
The Nanny Reunion: A Nosh to Remember herself Hosted by herself and her mother Sylvia Drescher, also Producer
2005 What I Like About You Fran Reeves as her Living with Fran character, Fran Reeves, 1 episode, Girls Gone Wild
2005–2007 Living with Fran Fran Reeves 26 episodes, also Producer
2006 The Simpsons The Female Golem 1 episode, Treehouse of Horror XVII
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Elaine Dockerty 1 episode, The War At Home
2007 Thank God You're Here Herself
2008 Live from Lincoln Center Morgan Le Fay 1 episode, "Camelot"
Entourage Mrs. Levine 1 episode, "The All Out Fall Out"
2010 Glenn Martin, DDS Arlene Stein 1 episode, voice
The Fran Drescher Show Host Talk-Show, also Producer
2011 Happily Divorced Fran also Writer and Producer

Stage

Year↓ Title↓ Notes
2002-2004 The Exonerated Theatres at 45 Bleecker/Bleecker Steet Theatre
2006 Some Girl(s) Lucille Lortel Theatre
2009 Love, Loss, and What I Wore Westside Theatre

 













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Who is Adrienne-Joi Johnson?

Who is Adrienne-Joi Johnson? The entertainment and acting world knows her as A.J. Johnson. Johnson is an American actress, choreographer and fitness coach. Acting since 1988, Johnson has made many guest appearances on sitcoms, television dramas and music videos; she also has numerous supporting roles in films, including House Party and Baby Boy.

Early life

Johnson was born September 3, 1963, she graduated with honors in 1985 from Spelman College, the all-female college in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a past Miss Maroon & White and the first Miss Collegiate Black America. Originally from New Jersey, the former high school homecoming queen is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She was initiated into the organization while attending Spelman College during her undergraduate years.

Career

She has appeared in A Different World, In the Heat of the Night, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Amen, the short-lived Sirens, Chicago Hope, The Jamie Foxx Show, and Touched By An Angel. She has also appeared in TV movies such as A Mother's Courage: the Mary Thomas Story (1989), Clippers (1991), Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story (1992), Love, Lies & Lullabies (1993), and The Beast (1996).
Johnson has appeared in theatrical releases and independent films such as School Daze (1988), House Party (1990), Double Trouble (1992), Sister Act (1992), The Inkwell (1994), High Freakquency (1998), Two Shades of Blue (2000), Tara (2001), Baby Boy (2001), and Skin Deep (2003).

Personal life

In addition to being an actress and dancer, Johnson is also a wellness coach to celebrities and was the host of the VH1 reality fitness competition From Flab to Fab and has made numerous fitness/healthy living television and magazine appearances. Johnson has been the spokesperson for American Cancer Society (having lost her mother to cancer at age 17), weight loss products and has made appearances for Procter & Gamble, GSK Pharmeceuticals and Wal Mart.

Filmography

Television Work

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Film Result
1990 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story Won
1991 Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Female in a comedy-drama film House Party Nominated
2002 Black Reel Awards Theatrical- Best Supporting actress in a Motion Picture Baby Boy Nominated










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