Cheryl Ladd – Wikipedia

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American actress

Cheryl Ladd (born Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor; July 12, 1951) is an American actress, singer, and author best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the ABC television series Charlie’s Angels, whose cast she joined in its second season in 1977 to replace Farrah Fawcett-Majors. Ladd remained on the show until its cancellation in 1981. Her film roles include Purple Hearts (1984), Millennium (1989), Poison Ivy (1992), Permanent Midnight (1998), and Unforgettable (2017).

Early life[edit]

Ladd was born Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor on July 12, 1951, in Huron, South Dakota,[1][2] the second daughter of Dolores (née Katz), a waitress, and Marion Stoppelmoor, a railroad engineer.[2] After high school, she traveled with the band The Music Shop and played in venues in the United States Midwest before settling in Los Angeles in 1970.[3]

Early roles[edit]

Ladd originally came to Hollywood to begin a career in music (she was known as “Cherie Moor” when she was the singing voice of Melody on Hanna-Barbera’s Josie and the Pussycats animated series, and she also sang on the 1970 album of the same name).[4] However, she soon began to land non-singing roles in commercials and episodic television, including guest appearances on shows such as on The Rookies, The Partridge Family, Police Woman, The Muppet Show, Search and Happy Days.[5]

Charlie’s Angels (1977–1981)[edit]

Ladd (middle) in Charlie’s Angels

Ladd’s big acting break came in 1977, when she was cast in the ABC television series Charlie’s Angels, replacing star Farrah Fawcett,[6] who left the show after only one season to pursue a movie career. To make the transition easier for audiences, producers cast Ladd as Fawcett’s character’s younger sister, Kris, instantly making her a part of the “Angels family”. In the years to come, this practice of replacing Angels became a common event for the show. However, Ladd remained a part of the main cast for four seasons, until the show’s cancelation in June 1981.[7]

While starring in the highly rated Charlie’s Angels, Ladd took advantage of her newfound popularity to further her musical career, guest starring in musical-comedy variety series and specials, performing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl XIV in January 1980, and releasing three albums. She had a top-40 Billboard Hot 100 single and a gold record.[8][5]

Later career[edit]

Following Charlie’s Angels, Ladd remained a familiar face on television and has starred in more than 30 made-for-television films, including as Grace Kelly, the Philadelphia heiress who became a Hollywood glamour girl and then a European princess, in a biopic that was begun shortly before Kelly’s death.[9] She also appeared in a number of feature films, such as Purple Hearts (1984), Millennium (1989), Poison Ivy (1992) (featuring Drew Barrymore, who later starred in the film adaptations of Charlie’s Angels) and Permanent Midnight (1998). Ladd had the lead role in the television series One West Waikiki (1994–96) and made guest appearances in other TV shows such as Charmed, Hope and Faith and CSI: Miami. From 2003 until the show’s cancellation in 2008 Ladd played Jillian Deline, the wife of the lead character Ed Deline (James Caan), in 29 episodes of the television drama series Las Vegas.[10]

In 1996, Ladd published a children’s book titled The Adventures of Little Nettie Windship.[11] In 2005, she published Token Chick: A Woman’s Guide to Golfing With the Boys,[12] an autobiographical book which focused on her love of golf.[13] For several years, Ladd hosted a golf tournament sponsored by Buick.[14]

In September 2000, Ladd starred on Broadway, taking over the title role from Bernadette Peters in a revival of Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun. She played the role until January 2001, when Reba McEntire took over.[15]

On April 17, 2010, Ladd — along with her co-angel Jaclyn Smith — accepted the 2010 TV Land Pop Culture Award for Charlie’s Angels.[16]

Ladd has continued to appear in a number of TV productions, including the 2011 Hallmark Channel movie Love’s Everlasting Courage,[17] guest starring in the NCIS episode “Thirst” (as the love interest of medical examiner Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard),[18] and the series Chuck, playing Sarah Walker’s mother.[10]

On September 8, 2022, Ladd was announced as a contestant on season 31 of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with Louis Van Amstel.[19] They were eliminated in the third week of the competition, placing 14th.

Personal life[edit]

She married fellow actor David Ladd (son of Alan Ladd) in 1973. They have a daughter, actress Jordan Ladd.[20] Ladd took his surname as her own, keeping it after their divorce in 1980.[21]

Ladd has been married to music producer Brian Russell since 1981 and has a stepdaughter, Lindsay Russell.[22] Ladd is a celebrity ambassador for the child abuse prevention and treatment non-profit Childhelp.[23][24]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Television[edit]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Year Title Label Notes
1970 Josie and the Pussycats Capitol Records
1978 Cheryl Ladd The album reached number 129 on the US Billboard 200 chart, with the single “Think It Over” peaking at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track “Walking In The Rain” was used as an ending song for Charlie’s Angels in Japan and was released as a single, while the song “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” was recorded by Dionne Warwick the following year.
1979 Dance Forever The album reached number 179 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The title track was also the closing theme of Charlie’s Angels in Japan and was released as an EP, while the song “Where Is Someone To Love Me” was the theme of a Japanese whisky TV commercial featuring Ladd herself.
1981 Take a Chance Released in Japan
1982 You Make It Beautiful Mini-album released in Tokyo, Japan

Singles[edit]

Issued Title Label Release Catalogue No.
1970 “Every Beat Of My Heart” b/w “It’s All Right With Me” (as a member of Josie and the Pussycats) Capitol Records 45 rpm 2967
“Inside, Outside, Upside Down” b/w “A Letter To Mama” (Josie and the Pussycats) Kellogg’s Cereal Promo Record CP-58
“Josie” b/w “With Every Beat Of My Heart” (Josie and the Pussycats) Kellogg’s Cereal Promo Record CP-59
“Voodoo” b/w “If This Isn’t Love” (Josie and the Pussycats) Kellogg’s Cereal Promo Record CP-60
“It’s Gotta Be Him” b/w “I Wanna Make You Happy” (Josie and the Pussycats) Kellogg’s Cereal Promo Record CP-61
1971 “Stop Look And Listen” b/w “You’ve Come A Long Way Baby” (Josie and the Pussycats) Capitol Records 45 rpm P-3045
1974 “The Family” b/w “Mamma Don’t Be Blue” Warner Bros 45 rpm 7821
1976 “Country Love” b/w “He’s Looking More Everyday Like The Man Who Broke My Heart” Capitol Records 45 rpm 4215
1978 “Think It Over” b/w “Here Is A Song” Capitol Records 45 rpm 4599
“Good Good Lovin'” b/w “Skinnydippin” Capitol Records 45 rpm 4650
“Skinnydippin'”(Extended Version) (either side) Capitol Records 12″ Promo Single SPRO-8894
“Walking in the Rain” b/w “I’ll Come Running” Capitol Records Japan 45 rpm ECR-20516
1979 “Missing You” b/w “Thunder In The Distance” Capitol Records 4698
“Missing You” (Extended Version) (either side) 12″ Promo Single SPRO-9096
“Dance Forever” b/w “Missing You” Capitol Records Japan 45 rpm ECR-20575
1980 “Where Is Someone To Love Me” b/w “Just Like Old Times” ECR-17013
1981 “Just Another Lover Tonight” b/w “Television” ECR-17205
“Take A Chance” b/w “Victim Of The Circumstance” ECR-17155
1982 “Can’t Say No To You” b/w “You Make It Beautiful” (duet with Frankie Valli) Capitol Records B-5115
“You Make It Beautiful” (duet with Frankie Valli) b/w “Can’t Say No To You/Love And Passion/Sakura Sakura” Capitol Records Japan EP ECS-41010

References[edit]

  1. ^ Leszczak, Bob (2015). From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records, 1950-2000. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 181. ISBN 9781442242746.
  2. ^ a b Shindler, Merrill (February 28, 1988). “THE HORSEY SET OPENS ITS RANKS TO CHERYL LADD”. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  3. ^ de Arakal, Byron (October 1981). “Cheryl: From Huron, South Dakota to Hollywood, Cheryl Ladd Quietly Moves Ahead”. Orange Coast Magazine: 19.
  4. ^ “Greatest TV Cartoon Theme Songs #13: Josie and The Pussy Cats”. ToonBarn.
  5. ^ a b de Arakal, Byron (October 1981). “Cheryl”. Orange Coast Magazine. Emmis Communications. pp. 19–24. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  6. ^ Reilly, Sue (September 26, 1977). “Taking Farrah’s Spot”. People. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  7. ^ Mansour, David (2011). From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 79. ISBN 9780740793073. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  8. ^ “Lost in the ’70s: Cheryl Ladd, “Think It Over”“. Popdose. February 12, 2009.
  9. ^ O’Connor, John J. (February 21, 1983). “TV MOVIE: GRACE KELLY”. The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Nededog, Jethro (October 3, 2011). “‘Charlie’s Angels’ Star Cheryl Ladd Gets Maternal on ‘Chuck’“. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  11. ^ Grady, Pam (November 25, 2012). “Cheryl Ladd has pick of litter with ‘Paws’“. SFGate. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  12. ^ Metz, Nina (June 4, 2006). “Guess what’s on the ceiling in Cheryl Ladd’s bedroom”. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  13. ^ “‘Charlie’s Angels’ star Cheryl Ladd is still a total blonde bombshell at 66″. AOL. July 26, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  14. ^ “Happy Playing Two Tours, Nelson Is No Easy Ryder”. Los Angeles Times. October 31, 1997. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  15. ^ “New Star Fills the Balcony, Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly; A Familiar Face Can Rejuvenate a Musical”. The New York Times. 2001. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  16. ^ “2010 TV Land Awards”. SFGate. April 26, 2010. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  17. ^ “Cheryl Ladd as Irene on Love’s Everlasting Courage – Hallmark Channel”. Hallmark Channel. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  18. ^ “NCIS: Thirst”. TV.com. CBS Interactive.
  19. ^ “Dancing with the Stars: Teresa Giudice, Wayne Brady, Selma Blair and More Celebs Join Season 31”. Peoplemag. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  20. ^ Nolasco, Stephanie (February 19, 2019). “‘Charlie’s Angels’ star Cheryl Ladd on her relationship with God: ‘It has gotten stronger and deeper’“. Fox News. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  21. ^ David, Anna (June 9, 1997). “Ladd’s Lass”. People. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  22. ^ Miller, Samantha (September 27, 1999). “Wings of Desire”. People. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  23. ^ “Childhelp’s Celebrity Ambassadors”. Childhelp. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  24. ^ “Childhelp Golf Invitational Raised Over $188,000”. Childhelp. Retrieved March 21, 2018.

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