Charlene Tilton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charlene Tilton
|
|
|---|---|
Tilton in 2010
|
|
| Born |
Charlene L. Tilton
December 1, 1958 San Diego, California, U.S.
|
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Known for | Lucy Ewing in Dallas |
| Spouse(s) | Johnny Lee (1982–1984) Domenick Allen (1985–1992) |
| Children | 1 |
Charlene L. Tilton (born December 1, 1958) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for playing the character Lucy Ewing on the popular TV show Dallas. This show was a "prime time soap opera," which means it was a TV drama with many ongoing storylines and characters, shown in the evenings.
Contents
Her Acting Journey
Early Roles and Big Break
Charlene Tilton started acting in TV shows like Happy Days and Eight Is Enough. Her first movie role was in Freaky Friday (1976) with Jodie Foster.
In 1978, she got her biggest role as Lucy Ewing in Dallas. Lucy was a clever and sometimes tricky granddaughter in the Ewing family. Charlene acted alongside stars like Jim Davis and Larry Hagman. She was on Dallas from 1978 to 1985 and again from 1988 to 1990.
Dallas Fame
When Dallas was very popular, Charlene earned a lot of money for each episode. She appeared on the covers of about 500 magazines! Her TV wedding in 1981 was watched by 65 million people. This shows how famous she became.
Singing and Other Shows
Charlene is also a singer. She sang in an episode of Dallas in 1978. In 1984, she released a dance-pop song called "C'est la Vie." It was popular in some European countries.
She also appeared on many game shows like Family Feud and Hollywood Squares. She was even a panelist on Match Game.
Later Acting Roles
After Dallas, Charlene acted in movies like Problem Child 2 (1991). She also appeared in commercials for a workout machine called the Abdominizer in the 1990s. She even played herself in an episode of Married... with Children that made fun of her commercial work.
Charlene has also been in funny movies that make fun of other films, like Superhero Movie (2008). In 2005, she was on a British reality TV show called The Farm.
Awards and Recent Work
In 2001, Charlene received a special award for her role as Lucy Ewing on Dallas. It was called the "Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award."
In 2012, she joined the British ice-skating show Dancing on Ice. She skated with Matthew Gonzalez but left the show after five weeks.
Later in 2012, Charlene returned to play Lucy Ewing again in a new Dallas TV series on the TNT network. She also appeared in the TV show The Middle in 2015 and the movie Vengeance: A Love Story. She has also been in several movies for the Lifetime and Hallmark Channel.
Her Life Outside Acting
Family Life
Charlene Tilton was born in San Diego, California, on December 1, 1958. Her mother, Katherine Thacker, was a secretary.
Charlene was married to country singer Johnny Lee from 1982 to 1984. They had a daughter named Cherish Lee in 1982.
Later, Charlene dated cinematographer Cheddy Hart. He sadly passed away in 2009 at age 54.
Helping Others
Charlene is a strong supporter of autism awareness. Autism is a condition that affects how people communicate and interact. She works as an ambassador for "Actors for Autism." This group helps children and adults with autism by offering acting workshops. Charlene started volunteering with them in 2010.
Her Special Friendship with Larry Hagman
A Father Figure
When Charlene was in high school, she met actor Larry Hagman. She looked up to him like a father. A few years later, at age 17, she got the role of Lucy Ewing on Dallas. Larry Hagman played her uncle, J.R. Ewing, on the show.
They had amazing chemistry both on and off screen. They were very close during the show's first eight seasons. When Charlene left the show after her contract ended, Larry Hagman was very sad. She said he helped her come back to the show in 1988. She stayed for two more seasons until 1990.
Lasting Bond
After Dallas ended, Charlene and Larry remained good friends. She cared deeply about his health. In 1995, Larry Hagman had liver cancer and needed a liver transplant. He recovered after the transplant.
Charlene was the only Dallas cast member to attend Larry Hagman's 70th birthday party in 2001. Eleven years later, they worked together again on the new Dallas series.
When Larry Hagman passed away in 2012, Charlene was very sad. She attended his funeral. She shared a heartfelt message about him, saying he was like the father figure she needed. She remembered how he taught her to be professional and work hard, but also to have fun. She called him "one of the best actors the world has ever known" and said he would always be her "Uncle Larry."
Images for kids
-
Tilton in 2010
See also
In Spanish: Charlene Tilton para niños
