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Born in Huron, South Dakota, Cheryl
Jean Stoppelmoor seemed destined for Hollywood. Starting out in
high school, she joined a local band, Cheryl kept
her sights set and moved west. After years of acting classes, commercials,
and bit parts in numerous television shows, Cheryl
landed her first job as a professional singer. She was the singing voice
of Melody on the cartoon Josie and the Pussycats. Before Charlie's
Angels, Cheryl acted in such forgettable
films as Satan's School for Girls (co-starring Kate Jackson), The
Treasure of Jamaica Reef, and Evil in the Deep. Then in 1977,
it happened, Cheryl became the "IT" girl.
Charlie's Angels had only been around for one season but it was
a phenomenal season at that. After the then known Farrah Fawcett-Majors
broke her contract and quit. Producer Aaron Spelling set out for a replacement.
The question was, who could fill Farrah's shoes? It didn't take long for
Cheryl to receive acceptance from the public.
Cheryl pulled off something few could have,
jumped in there and we loved her for it.
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During the next four seasons, Cheryl
again, pursued a singing career. Her first album "Cheryl Ladd" came
and went without much notice. People magazine ranked it as one ot the "best
in song" for 1978 and the single "Think it Over" landed briefly into the
top 40. Her follow up album, "Dance Forever", was hardly noticed. In 1981,
Cheryl made the top 40 again, singing backup
for Chris Christian. We in the US may not have had the taste to appreciate
a good thing but in Japan, Cheryl was a huge
success. Overseas, they had the pleasure of future releases and I hear
her greatest hits is available on CD, if you can find it. Like her costars,
Cheryl too, was a success among the poster
queens. Pro Arts alone, released five different posters, during the shows
run. Cheryl also proved to be a strong actress.
In 1979, she portrayed an abusive mother in the television movie When
She Was Bad. Since 1979 Cheryl has served
as Goodwill Ambassador for Childhelp, USA, the largest national non-profit
organization dedicated to research, prevention and treatment of child abuse.
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Her work in television continued,
after the shows final season, with roles in Grace Kelly, Kentucky Woman,
Death in California, Deadly Care, Changes, and many more. Cheryl
appeared on the big screen in the 1983 Australian film, Now & Forever,
Purple Hearts in 1984, the cult classic Millennium in 1989,
and Poison Ivy in 1992. In 1994 Cheryl
returned to series television as Doc Holliday in One West Waikiki.
Cheryl still
keeps herself busy with many television projects. Most recently starring
opposite her daughter Jordan in the USA Network's Every Mother's Worst
Fear. These days, if not performing, you are most likely to find
Cheryl relaxing
on the golf course.
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Images
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Image
Cheryl
Ladd's Official Web Site
