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Gail Edwards

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Gail June Edwards
Born Gail June Edwards
(1952-09-27) September 27, 1952 (age 71)
Coral Gables, Florida
Residence Miami, Florida, U.S.
Occupation Actress, Singer-songwriter
Years active 1973-1994
Known for Appearing in situation comedies throughout the 1980s and 1990s
Spouse(s) Robert Decker
Website http://gailedwards.com/

Gail June Edwards (born September 27, 1952) is a retired American actress best known for her roles as Dot Higgins in ABC's It's a Living,[1] Sharon LeMeure in NBC's Blossom, and Vicky Larson in ABC's Full House.

Early life and career

Edwards, a native Floridian, was raised in Coral Gables and caught the performing bug early in life. She had her father hang the curtain and lights while she choreographed, costumed, and starred in her own neighborhood musicals. In the sixth grade, Edwards played Little Mary in The Women at the Coconut Grove Playhouse where famed theater producer-playwright George Abbott came backstage to single out her performance. This appearance became her launching pad for numerous industrial films and local television commercials in South Florida.

In 1975, after graduating from the University of Miami, Cum Laude, Edwards wrote, produced, and starred in the off-Broadway musical Becoming. It won the Miami Herald Critics’ Choice award three times before the musical debuted in New York. While in New York, Edwards signed with the LeMond/Zetter Management Group. Soon afterwards, she landed the role of “Sandy” opposite Peter Gallagher in Broadway's East Coast tour of Grease. After producing and starring in two additional productions, The Good One and Vanities, both earning her the Drama-Logue Critics' Award, Edwards turned her focus toward television.

Upon moving to Los Angeles in 1976, Edwards signed with the Ro Diamond Agency (later with the Gersh Agency) and immediately began landing guest-star roles on such television series as Happy Days, Lou Grant, M*A*S*H and Taxi.

In 1979, Edwards auditioned for a Witt/Thomas production, in which she landed the role of Dot Higgins on ABC’s It’s a Living. The series ran on ABC from 1980 to 1982, and was revived in first-run syndication from 1985 to 1989. Edwards, along with Barrie Youngfellow, Paul Kreppel and the late Marian Mercer, were the only four members of the It's a Living cast who lasted during the network and syndicated runs. After ABC cancelled the show in 1982, Edwards' management was informed by the producers of Happy Days that they were offering her the role of new character K.C. Cunningham, the niece of Howard and Marion Cunningham who was moving in with the family. Without informing Edwards of the offer, her management declined the opportunity, reportedly stating that they did not want Edwards "playing a new character on an old show". Crystal Bernard was then hired for the part. Edwards did not learn of the incident until many years later. In 1985, Edwards and Bernard wound up as co-stars on It's a Living, when the latter resumed production for first-run syndication.

Edwards also appeared in many movies-of-the-week during the 1980s, along with numerous other guest-star appearances in such series as Benson, Buffalo Bill, Doogie Howser, M.D., Knight Rider, Night Court and the premiere episode of Amazing Stories, directed by Steven Spielberg.

In 1990, Edwards was reunited with former Happy Days producers Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett, when she was cast as divorced mother Hilary Kozak on their single-season CBS sitcom The Family Man. Upon the series' cancellation in the summer of 1991, Edwards was asked by Miller and Boyett to join the cast of their hit ABC series Full House. They felt Edwards was right for the role of Vicky Larson, a talk show host who strikes up a relationship with Danny Tanner. Edwards made her Full House debut late that year, when the Vicky character first appeared as a substitute host for Rebecca Donaldson, who was on maternity leave, on (the fictional) Wake Up, San Francisco. Vicky and Danny soon embark on a long-term relationship, and are engaged in the show's seventh season. Edwards' co-star on The Family Man, Scott Weinger, was transferred over to Full House along with her, playing Steve Hale, the high school boyfriend of D.J. Tanner.

During her tenure on Full House, Edwards also had the recurring guest role of Sharon LeMeure, the fast-talking mother of Six on NBC’s Blossom. Edwards' work on Blossom reunited her with former It's a Living producers Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas, who produced both series.

Edwards concluded her roles on Full House (with Vicky Larson having a mutual breakup with Danny Tanner) and Blossom in the spring of 1994. She retired from show business at that time and moved to the Southwest.

Filmography

Television / Film Appearances - Alphabetized
Title Director Role Airing Year
A Quiet Little Neighborhood, A Perfect Little Murder Anson Williams Judy Lipton MOW - ABC 1990
Amazing Stories Steven Spielberg Joleen NBC 1985
Barnaby Jones Kenneth C. Gilbert Karen Webster CBS 1979
Benson Gilbert Moses Linda NBC 1984
Big Brother Jake Gary Shimokawa Suzie Family Channel 1990
Blinded by the Light John A. Alonzo Zora MOW - CBS 1980
Blossom Bill Bixby, Ted Wass Sharon Lemure NBC 1991 – 1993
Brothers Gary Nardino Liza Showtime 1984
Buffalo Bill Tom Patchett Reporter NBC 1983
Danny Thomas: Young & Foolish Buddy Bregman Gail CBS 1978
Doogie Howser, M.D. Stephen Cragg Mrs. Fukes ABC 1992
Duet Lee Shallat-Chemel Dr. Dellerton FOX 1989
Full House Joel Zwick Vicky Larson ABC 1991 – 1994
Get Crazy Allan Arkush Willy Loman Film 1983
Happy Days Jerry Paris Loretta ABC 1980
In Self Defense Bruce Seth Green Alice Miller MOV - NBC 1987
It's a Living / Making a Living J.D. Lobue, John Bowab, Jay Sandrich Dot Higgins ABC - Syndication 1980 – 1982 / 1985 – 1989
J.O.E. and the Colonel • Humanoid Defender Ron Satlof Dr. Lena Gant MOV - ABC 1985
Jennifer Slept Here John Bowab Pam Wilson NBC 1983
Just Married Bill Foster Linda Altobello Pilot - NBC 1985
Knight Rider Robert Foster Flannery Roe NBC 1983
Lou Grant Alexander Singer Karen CBS 1977
M*A*S*H Charles S. Dubin Marina Ryan CBS 1981
New Love, American Style Lee Bernhardi Lucy ABC 1986
Night Court Jim Drake Tracy Knight NBC 1989
Starting Fresh Bob Claver Gale CBS 1979
Taxi James Burrows Denise ABC 1978
The Family Man Richard Correll Hilary Kozak CBS 1990 – 1991
The Last Resort Asaad Kelada Beverly CBS 1979
Three's a Crowd Lee Shallat-Chemel Dorothy ABC 1985
Touched by an Angel Tim Van Patten Barbara Archibald CBS 1994
Tough Cookies Paul Krasny Diane Taylor NBC 1986
When the Whistle Blows Edward Parone Jolene Jennings ABC 1980
Working Stiffs Norman Abbott Sandy CBS 1979
You are the Jury Burt Brinckerhoff Maggie Henshaw NBC 1986
Television Commercials - Alphabetized
Title Appearing with Role Year Notes
Bold Detergent Solo Mother 1978
Canon Copiers Jack Klugman Executive 1988
Dr. Pepper Chuck McCann Esmeralda 1984 Clio Award
Johnson's Baby Shampoo Solo Teenager 1976
Kodak David Copperfield Pitchwoman 1984
Sizzler N/A Secretary 1986
Theatre - Alphabetized
Title Appearing with Role Year Notes
Becoming Anne Sward Woman 1 1975 – 1976 Miami / Off-Broadway
Cabaret Mercedes McCambridge Sally Bowles 1973 Gusman Center
Grease Peter Gallagher Sandy 1977 East Coast Tour
Jacques Brel Robert J. Lowery Woman 1 1975 Parker Playhouse
Mame Numerous UM performers Mame 1996 Jerry Herman Ring Theatre (Christening)
The Good One Penny Peyser Tura 1985 Drama-Logue Critic's Award
The Wisdom of Eve Various Eve 1983 In Memory of Dalton Cathey
The Women Toby Wing Little Mary 1963 Coconut Grove Playhouse
To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday Various Kevin 1985 West Coast Premiere
Vanities Annie Potts Joanne 1979 Drama-Logue Critic's Award
Herself - Alphabetized
Title Notes
Celebrity Family Feud It’s a Living vs. Dallas
E! True Hollywood Story Blossom biography interview
The John Davidson Show It's a Living cast interview
TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes Guest Host

Other points of interest / awards

  • Upon moving to Los Angeles, Edwards lived with former MGM contract star, Gloria DeHaven from 1977 through 1979

See also

References

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External links