Dottie West became her idol and she later played the late country singer's life in a TV movie, Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story (1995) (TV).
After many years of suffering from injuries, between skiing and dancing, she cannot participate as a finalist on "Dancing with the Stars" (2005/I).
After the death of her parents, David Jacobs (creator of "Dallas" (1978)) and producer Michael Filerman had approached her on one of her movies, Bud and Lou (1978) (TV), in which she wasn't doing any singing/dancing and 2 weeks later, asked her to star in a pilot called, "Knots Landing" (1979). In fact, ever since she guest-starred in several television shows, she was looking for a television show to star in, perhaps a situation comedy and instead she ended up on a dramatic series.
Appeared alongside Bill Bixby on the pilot of a 1970s trashy game show "Cop Out" that has never aired.
Best known by the public for her starring role as Karen Fairgate MacKenzie on "Knots Landing" (1979).
Born at 1:25am-PWT.
Danced on stage with Gregory Hines.
Daughter of makeup artist Jack Dusick.
Even during the final season of "Knots Landing" (1979) when other actors/actresses were required to be "absent" for 4 episodes, she offered to appear without pay.
Game show legends Chuck Barris and Bill Cullen became favorites of hers.
Graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, California, in 1960.
Had a clause in her "Knots Landing" (1979) contract that her character would never be a grandmother.
Had met Lucille Ball's family when she was a young adult, who worked for them, and after Ball's death, continues to be friends with Lucille's daughter and son, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr..
Has a cat named Kit Ten.
Has lived in a Los Angeles house from 1963-2001.
Has twice been nominated for Broadway's Tony Awards: in 1974 as Best Actress (Musical) for "Seesaw" and in 2001 as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for "A Tale of the Allergist's Wife".
Her ex-husband James Farentino died in 2012.
Her family is Russian-Polish.
Her father had worked for MGM Studios in the 1950s and 1960s.
Her father worked with popular actors Clint Eastwood and Richard Chamberlain before his death in early 1970.