Wendy Schaal
Wendy Joy Schaal (born July 2, 1954) is an American actress known for her work in Joe Dante films such as Innerspace, The 'Burbs, and Small Soldiers. Since 2005, she has primarily worked in voice acting, most notably voicing Francine Smith in the animated comedy television series American Dad!
Wendy Schaal | |
|---|---|
 Schaal at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born | Wendy Joy Schaal July 2, 1954 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Spouse(s) | Stephen M. Schwartz
(m. 1977; div. 1987) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) |
|
Early years
Schaal was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Lois Schaal (née Treacy) and actor Richard Schaal.[1] She is the former stepdaughter of actress Valerie Harper.[2] From birth until age 5, Schaal lived with her parents in Crete, Illinois. When she was 5, she moved with her mother to Newport Beach, California, after her parents divorced.[3] Schaal studied acting with Viola Spolin in Chicago when she was 9 years old. She moved to Wisconsin and then California when she was 11. When she was 14, a trip to New York to be with her father and Harper soon led her to California again when her father and stepmother chose to settle in Hollywood.[4]
Schaal earned an Associate of Arts degree from Los Angeles City College,[3] acting and working in set construction. After she attended an acting workshop led by her father, she began to work on television.[4]
Career
Schaal's early work on television included roles on Fish, Little House on the Prairie, Phyllis, Rhoda, and Welcome Back, Kotter. In 1981, Schaal joined the cast of the ABC-TV series Fantasy Island, portraying Julie, the niece of the program's central character, Mr. Roark.[4] Her other roles on TV included Bonnie Hornback on AfterMASH,[5] Debbie Pepper on Good Grief,[5]:404 Vickie Allen on It's a Living,[5]:515 and Liz Dooley on Nearly Departed.[5]:747 She also provided the voice of Francine Smith on the cartoon series American Dad!.[5]:36
Personal life
Schaal was married to Stephen M. Schwartz on September 4, 1977, but divorced in October 1987. They have one son, Adam Victor Schwartz.[1]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Bound for Glory | Mary Jo Guthrie | |
| 1978 | Record City | Lorraine | |
| 1984 | Where the Boys Are '84 | Sandra Roxbury | |
| 1985 | Creature | Beth Sladen | |
| 1987 | Munchies | Marge Mavalle | |
| 1987 | Innerspace | Wendy | |
| 1987 | Batteries Not Included | Pamela | |
| 1989 | The 'Burbs | Bonnie Rumsfield | |
| 1994 | My Girl 2 | Emily Pommeroy | |
| 1995 | Out There | Paige | |
| 1998 | Small Soldiers | Marion Fimple | |
| 2001 | Holiday in the Sun | Jill | |
| 2005 | Inside the CIA | Francine Smith (voice) | Short film |
| 2006 | Loving Annabelle | Senator Tillman |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Welcome Back, Kotter | Girl in Hallway | Episode: "Sadie Hawkins Day" |
| 1976 | Rhoda | Jan | Recurring role (2 episodes) |
| 1977 | Fish | Peggy Dunnagan | Episode: "Fish's Job" |
| 1979 | Family | Sarah | Episode: "Malicious Mischief" |
| 1979 | Little House on the Prairie | Christie Norton | Episode: "Annabelle" |
| 1980–1981 | It's a Living | Vicki Allen | Main cast (13 episodes) |
| 1981–1982 | Fantasy Island | Julie | Main cast (19 episodes) |
| 1982 | Strike Force | Mandy | Episode: "Chinatown" |
| 1982 | Happy Days | Lorraine | Episode: "Since I Don't Have You" |
| 1982–83 | The Love Boat | Elaine Hamilton / Milicent Finley | 2 episodes |
| 1983 | AfterMASH | Bonnie Hornback | Recurring role (5 episodes) |
| 1984 | Fatal Vision | Colette MacDonald | Miniseries |
| 1984 | Cover Up | Rebecca | Episode: "Midnight Highway" |
| 1985 | Knight Rider | Jamie Downs | Episode: "The Nineteenth Hole" |
| 1985 | Finder of Lost Loves | Emma Tate | Episode: "Connections" |
| 1985 | The A-Team | Karen | Episode: "Lease with an Option to Die" |
| 1986 | MacGyver | Karen Blake | Episode: "Deathlock" |
| 1986 | Airwolf | Marilyn Kelsy | Episode: "Hawke's Run" |
| 1986 | Amazing Stories | Sheena | Episode: "Boo!" |
| 1987 | Gung Ho | Kelly | Episode: "Love Me Tender" |
| 1987 | Duet | Electra | Episode: "Satin Doll" |
| 1987 | My Two Dads | Christine | Episode: "Sex, Judge, and Rock & Roll" |
| 1988 | Full House | Vivian | Episode: "Sisterly Love" |
| 1988 | Night Court | Diane | Episode: "Harry and the Tramp" |
| 1989 | Nearly Departed | Liz Dooley | Main cast (6 episodes) |
| 1989 | Dear John | Lisa | Episode: "Sisters" |
| 1990–1991 | Good Grief | Debbie Lapidus | Main cast (13 episodes) |
| 1992 | Northern Exposure | Tammy Tambo | Episode: "My Mother, My Sister" |
| 1993 | Red Shoe Diaries | 'Lilac' Boss | Episode: "Hotline" |
| 1994 | Runaway Daughters | Mrs. Mildred Cahn | Television film |
| 1995 | Murder, She Wrote | Zuleika Brown | Episodes: "Nan's Ghost: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1995 | Hope and Gloria | Nurse Nancy | Episode: "Money You Should Mention" |
| 1995 | The John Larroquette Show | Brenda | Episode: "An Odd Cup of Tea" |
| 1997 | Friends | Jeannine | Episode: "The One with All the Jealousy" (as 'Wendy Schall') |
| 1997 | Star Trek: Voyager | Charlene | Episode: "Real Life" |
| 1997 | Fired Up | Susan | Episode: "Are We Not Friends?" |
| 1998 | Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | Mom | Episode: "The Woods" |
| 2000 | The X-Files | Martha Crittendon | Episode: "Chimera" |
| 2001 | Boston Public | Mrs. Callie Webb | Episode: "Chapter 15" |
| 2001 | The Huntress | Helena Barsamian | Episode: "Undercover" |
| 2001 | Six Feet Under | Vicki Dimas | Recurring role (3 episodes) |
| 2002 | Providence | Nancy Neiman | Episode: "Limbo" |
| 2002 | Boomtown | Darlene Beechem | Episode: "The Freak" |
| 2005–present | American Dad! | Francine Smith (voice) | Main cast (300 episodes) |
| 2013; 2017; 2018 | Family Guy | Francine Smith (voice) Various |
Episodes: "Bigfat", "The Peter Principal", "Con Heiress" |
References
- "Wendy Schaal Biography (1954-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- Gardella, Kay (April 11, 1986). "Harper Believes Family Comedy Mainstay of TV". Toledo Blade. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
Though she has no children of her own, Harper reared her stepdaughter, Wendy Schaal, who is now an actress
- "Identifies with role". The Montgomery Advertiser. Alabama, Montgomery. December 21, 1980. p. 127. Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- Downey, Mike (September 30, 1981). "Wendy Schaal: The New 'Tattoo'". Madison Capital Times. Wisconsin, Madison. Chicago Sun-Times News Service. p. 59. Retrieved December 14, 2020 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
- Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
