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Kathie Lee Gifford

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Date of birth: 16 August 1953,
Birth Place: Paris, France

Biography

Bubbly, with an All-American persona and easy manner, Kathie Lee Gifford rose from singing on game shows and a "Hee Haw" spinoff to become the co-host of a successful morning talk show as well as a bestselling author and symbol of apple pie motherhood. 5Born Kathie Epstein in Paris, France, where her father was serving in the military, Gifford grew up in various locales in the US before settling in Maryland, which she represented in the Junior Miss pageant. After studying for several years at Oral Roberts University--she has been a born-again Christian for most of her life--Gifford set out for Los Angeles at age 20, and, after a few lean years, became one of the resident singers on the syndicated game show "Name That Tune", billed as Kathie Lee Johnson, due to a brief marriage to singer Paul Johnson. A year later, she made appearances on the syndicated "Hee Haw" comedy series, before moving on to its spinoff, "Hee Haw Honeys". 5Although still singing in clubs, Gifford made a radical career change, auditioning for and winning the job of Los Angeles correspondent for ABC's "Good Morning, America", which was then under the jurisdiction of the network's entertainment division. For several years, Gifford interviewed celebrities in Hollywood and reported on California lifestyles and trends. She moved back East with her marriage to football great and broadcaster Frank Gifford, and became a roving correspondent for "GMA". In 1985, she was asked to become co-host with Regis Philbin of "The Morning Show" on WABC New York. Within a year, the show was a success, and, by 1988, it was syndicated nationally by Buena Vista TV as "Live With Regis & Kathie Lee". Although Philbin did more of the talking, Gifford was no wallflower, and besides participating in the interviews, she frequently discussed her marriage and, especially, her children, Cody and Cassidy. Gifford even teamed with her oldest on a children's book. 5The ratings success of "Live With Regis & Kathie Lee" led to other duties for the pair, including the hosting job for the Miss America Pageant (1991- ). Gifford has continued her singing career as well, performing in Atlantic City and elsewhere, often in an act with Philbin. She also sang on numerous telethons and hosted and conceived three successful TV specials: "Kathie Lee Gifford's Celebration of Motherhood" (1993), "Kathie Lee: Looking for Christmas" (1994), and "Kathie Lee: Home For Christmas" (1995). In addition, she was for many years the on-camera singing spokesperson for Carnival Cruise lines and published a bestselling autobiography, "I Can't Believe I Really Said That!" 5Gifford became the center of controversy in 1995 and into 1996 when she threatened not to renew her "Regis & Kathie Lee" contract due to differences with the show's producer, Michael Gelman. Gifford alleged that she had been told to tone down her frequent banter about her children, and that her suggestions for show guests and content were not taken seriously. After several months in the gossip columns, the quarrel settled into an apparent truce. Later, she found herself embroiled in yet another controversy, this time over the manufacturing of her clothing line. It had been alleged that the clothes were manufactured in Honduran factories by children earning little wages. Further allegations of worker exploitation followed after a factory in NYC was discovered. Gifford worked with government officials to try to address the situation

Filmography

Spinning Out of Control (2001) (TV) .... Amanda Berkeley
Model Behavior (2000) (TV) .... Deirdre Adams

Hercules: Zero to Hero (1999) (V) .... Echidna
Dudley Do-Right (1999) .... Kathie Lee
"Hollywood Squares" (1998) TV Series .... Guest Regular
"Hercules" (1998) TV Series (voice) .... Echidna
... aka "Disney's Hercules" (1998) (USA)
Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special (1997) (TV) (voice) .... Jill
First Wives Club, The (1996) .... Herself
"Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" (1995) TV Series (voice) .... Jill
Regis and Kathie Lee: Mom's Dream Come True (1995) (TV) .... Hostess
Musical Christmas at Walt Disney World, A (1993) (TV) .... Herself
"Summer Stories: The Mall" (1992) (mini) TV Series .... Cameo (segment "First Impressions")

"Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" (1989) TV Series .... Host (1989-2000)
... aka "Live with Regis & Kelly" (2001) (USA: new title)
... aka "Live with Regis" (2000) (USA: new title)
Regis & Kathie Lee: Special Edition (1988) (TV) .... Hostess
"Good Morning America" (1975) TV Series .... Substitute Host (1982-1987)

"Hee Haw Honeys" (1978) TV Series (as Kathie Lee Johnson) .... Kathie Honey
"Name That Tune" (1977) TV Series .... Featured Singer
"Days of Our Lives" (1965) TV Series .... Nurse's Assistant (1977)
... aka "Cruise of Deception: Days of Our Lives" (1990) (USA: new title) (summer title)
... aka "DOOL" (1965) (USA: informal short title)
... aka "Days" (1965) (USA: abbreviated title)
"Name That Tune" (1974/II) TV Series (as Kathie Lee Johnson) .... Featured Vocalist
... aka "$100,000 Name That Tune, The" (1976) (new title)

Links

Contact

Fan Mail:

c/o William Morris Agency
1325 Avenue Of The Americas
New York, NY 10019
USA