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Marilu Henner
Marilu Henner 2011.jpg
Henner in 2011
Born (1952-04-06) April 6, 1952 (age 73)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • author
  • producer
  • host
Years active 1971–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 1980; div. 1982)
Robert Lieberman
(m. 1990; div. 2001)
Michael Brown
(m. 2006)
Children 2

Marilu Henner (born April 6, 1952) is a famous American actress. She is also an author, producer, and host. She started her acting journey in the original musical Grease in 1971. Later, she became well-known for her role as Elaine O'Connor Nardo in the TV show Taxi. This role earned her five Golden Globe Award nominations.

Marilu has also starred in many movies and TV shows. She is known for her amazing memory, called hyperthymesia. This means she can remember almost every day of her life!

About Marilu Henner

Early Life and Family

Marilu Henner was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 6, 1952. Her mother, Loretta Callis, was of Greek descent. Her father, Joseph Henner, had Polish roots. Both of her parents passed away when they were in their 50s. This inspired Marilu to live a very healthy lifestyle.

Starting Her Acting Career

While studying at the University of Chicago, Marilu began acting. She played the role of "Marty" in the first production of Grease in 1971. When the show moved to Broadway, she chose to tour with the show instead. She performed alongside John Travolta in the national tour.

Her first movie was Between the Lines in 1977. She then appeared with Richard Gere in the 1978 film Bloodbrothers.

Becoming a TV Star

Marilu became very popular as Elaine Nardo in the TV show Taxi. She played a single mom who drove a taxi and dreamed of becoming an artist. The show was a big hit from 1978 to 1983.

She also starred in many movies during this time. These included Hammett (1982) and The Man Who Loved Women with Burt Reynolds. She worked with Reynolds again in Cannonball Run II (1984). In 1991, she was in L.A. Story with Steve Martin.

From 1990 to 1994, Marilu starred with Burt Reynolds again in the TV show Evening Shade. She also appeared in Man on the Moon (1999). This movie was about her Taxi co-star, Andy Kaufman. Marilu played herself in the film.

Marilu Henner at the 1991 Emmy Awards
Marilu Henner at the Emmy Awards in 1991

Voice Acting and Hosting

Marilu also used her voice for animated characters. She was the voice of Veronica Vreeland in Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1999). She also voiced this character in the animated movies Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) and Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998).

In 1994, she hosted her own talk show called Marilu. She also hosted America's Ballroom Challenge in 2006 and 2007.

Reality TV and Special Abilities

Marilu competed on The Celebrity Apprentice in 2008. She played for charity and later returned to help another contestant.

She has a rare ability called hyperthymesia. This means she has a superior autobiographical memory. She can remember almost every day of her life since she was 11 years old! Because of this, she was a consultant for the CBS show Unforgettable. The show was about a woman with the same amazing memory. Marilu even guest-starred as the main character's aunt.

Marilu Henner Broccoli Earrings 2010
Marilu Henner in July 2010

In 2016, Marilu joined Dancing with the Stars for season 23. She danced with professional dancer Derek Hough. They finished in sixth place.

Author and Health Advocate

Marilu has written nine books. Her books are about diet, health, and memory. One of her most famous books is Total Health Makeover. In this book, she shares her ideas about healthy eating and exercise. She teaches classes online to help people live healthier lives.

Personal Life

Marilu Henner has two sons. Their names are Nicholas and Joseph. She had them with her second husband, Robert Lieberman.

Her amazing memory was featured on the TV show 60 Minutes in 2010. She shared how she can recall details from almost every day of her life.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Between the Lines Danielle
1978 Bloodbrothers Annette Palladino
1982 Hammett Kit Conger / Sue Alabama
1983 Man Who Loved Women, TheThe Man Who Loved Women Agnes Chapman
1984 Cannonball Run II Betty
1984 Johnny Dangerously Lil Sheridan
1985 Rustlers' Rhapsody Miss Tracy
1985 Perfect Sally
1987 Grand Larceny 'Freddy' Grand
1991 L.A. Story Trudi
1991 Chains of Gold Jackie
1992 Noises Off Belinda Blair / Flavia Brent
1994 Chasers Katie
1998 Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero Veronica Vreeland Voice, direct-to-video
1999 Man on the Moon Herself Uncredited cameo
1999 Titanic Chronicles, TheThe Titanic Chronicles Mrs. Stuart While Voice
2000 Enemies of Laughter Dani
2012 Vamps Angela Horowitz
2016 Imperfections Val
2018 Life with Dog Alice
2020 The Mimic The Assistant Editor
2023 Haunted Mansion Carol Tourist cameo

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Off Campus Janet Television film
1978 The Paper Chase Susu (pizza girl) Pilot episode
1978–1983 Taxi Elaine O'Connor Nardo Main role; 114 episodes
1981 Dream House Laura Griffith Television film
1983 Super Bowl XVII Pre-Game Show Elaine Nardo Television film
1985 Stark Ashley Walters Television film
1985 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Claire Episode: "Method Actor"
1985 Great Performances Louise Episode: "Grown-Ups"
1986 Who's the Boss? Diane Wilmington Episode: "Angela's New Best Friend"
1986 Love with the Perfect Stranger Victoria Ducane Television film
1988 Channel 99 Susan McDowell Television film
1988 Ladykillers Samantha Flannery Television film
1990–1994 Evening Shade Ava Evans Newton Main role; 98 episodes
1992 Legend of Prince Valiant, TheThe Legend of Prince Valiant Lady Catherine Episode: "The Trap"
1993–1995 Batman: The Animated Series Veronica Vreeland Voice, 4 episodes
1995 Cybill Terry Belmont Episode: "Since I Lost My Baby"
1995 Fight for Justice: The Nancy Conn Story Nancy Conn Television film
1996 My Son Is Innocent Margaret Sutter Television film
1996 For the Future: The Irvine Fertility Scandal Debbie Challender Television film
1996 Titanic Molly Brown Miniseries
1997–1998 New Batman Adventures, TheThe New Batman Adventures Veronica Vreeland Voice, 2 episodes
2000 Tale of Two Bunnies, AA Tale of Two Bunnies Miranda Television film
2000 Rocket's Red Glare Meg Baker Television film
2002 Providence Georgia 2 episodes
2002 Greg the Bunny Maggie DeMontague Episode: "Blah Bawls"
2004 Center of the Universe Sharon Singleton Episode: "Alarmed and Dangerous"
2005 Living With Fran Donna Martin Episode: "Riley's Parents"
2005 Gone But Not Forgotten Nancy Gordon Television film
2005 Comeback, TheThe Comeback Herself Episode: "Pilot"
2006–2007 America's Ballroom Challenge Host Reality-competition series
2008 Good Behavior Sydney Lake Unsold television pilot
2008 The Governor's Wife Ann Danville Television film
2008 My Boys Pamela Newman Episode: "John, Cougar, Newman Camp"
2009 ER Linda Episode: "And in the End..."
2009 Party Down Pepper McMasters Episode: "Pepper McMasters Singles Seminar"
2010 Numb3rs Regina Landers Episode: "And the Winner Is..."
2011 Accidentally in Love Carol Television film (Hallmark)
2011 Grey's Anatomy Mrs. Moser Episode: "Poker Face"
2011 Unforgettable Aunt Evie Episode: "Golden Bird"
2012 Holiday High School Reunion Beverly Hunt Television film
2012 Hitched for the Holidays Maxine Greene Television film
2013 Two and a Half Men Linda Episode: "Cows, Prepare to Be Tipped"
2013 Glades, TheThe Glades Joan Longworth 2 episodes
2014 June in January Diana Blackwell Television film (Hallmark)
2014 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Vivian Ludley 5 episodes
2014 Phineas and Ferb Nana's Friend Voice, episode: "Operation Crumb Cake"
2014 Signed, Sealed, Delivered Glynis Rucker Guest star; 2 episodes
2014 The Crazy Ones Paige Roberts Episode: "The Lighthouse"
2015 A Bone To Pick: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2015 Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2016 In-Lawfully Yours Naomi Television film
2016 Three Bedrooms, One Corpse: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2016 Love on a Limb Zee Roarke Television film (Hallmark)
2016 Dancing with the Stars Herself Contestant on season 23
2016 The Julius House: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2017 Dead Over Heels: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2017 A Bundle of Trouble: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2018 Last Scene Alive: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2018 Reap What You Sew: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2018 The Disappearing Game: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2018 The Neighborhood Paula Episode: "Welcome to Thanksgiving"
2019 A Game of Cat and Mouse: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2019 An Inheritance to Die For: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2019 A Very Foul Play: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2020 Heist and Seek: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2020 Reunited and it Feels So Deadly: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2020 Love, Lights, Hanukkah Ruth Television film (Hallmark)
2020 Bob Hearts Abishola Trish Dolan Episode: "There's My Nigerians"
2021 How to Con a Con: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2021 Til Death Do Us Part: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2021 Honeymoon, Honeymurder: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2021 A Kiss Before Christmas Rona Bellingham Television film (Hallmark)
2022 Haunted By Murder: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)
2022 A Kismet Christmas Grandma Mia Television film (Hallmark)
2023 NCIS: Los Angeles Elizabeth Killbride Episode: "A Farewell to Arms"
2023 Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New Aida Teagarden Television film (Hallmark)

Published Books

  • By All Means Keep On Moving (September 5, 1994)
  • Marilu Henner's Total Health Makeover (May 6, 1998)
  • The 30-Day Total Health Makeover (March 3, 1999)
  • I Refuse to Raise a Brat (October 12, 1999)
  • Healthy Life Kitchen (July 10, 2000)
  • Healthy Kids: Help Them Eat Smart and Stay Active—for Life! (August 7, 2001)
  • Healthy Holidays (October 1, 2002)
  • Wear Your Life Well: Use What You Have to Get What You Want (April 8, 2008)
  • Total Memory Makeover: Uncover Your Past, Take Charge of Your Future (April 24, 2012)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Marilu Henner para niños

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