A gifted equestrian as a child, she trained her own horses to ride in saddle club shows and riding contests, and earned the title of "Country Rodeo Queen".
Appeared in several stage productions while attending the University of Kansas and was crowned that university's "Homecoming Queen".
Born and raised in Russell, Kansas, the second of six children to teacher parents.
Has hosted her own celebrity golf and tennis tournaments.
Has two children, Debra Marj Blocker, who became an actress (stage name [Debra Dusay, and Randall Marj Dusay, who died of AIDS in 1993.
Married her childhood sweetheart, John Dusay, and the couple had two children while still living in Kansas City. She began her modeling career there.
Mastering a number of dialects over the years, she is a gifted impressionist who does impressions of various celebrities (including Katharine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Maggie Smith (I)' and Julia Child).
On the Kansas University Advisory Board for the Theatre Arts, she also served as Kansas Film Commission Chairwoman for four years. She has lent her name and support to AIDS support organization Project Angel Food as well as several child abuse prevention organizations.
She was featured in "VH1 and TV Guide's 100 Greatest Moments That Rocked TV" (Episode 2, #80-61) as the #74 entry, for the "Square Pegs" (1982) episode "Muffy's Bat Mitzvah", where she can be seen dancing to the music of rock band Devo. TV Guide also featured this article in print for its "feature" section.
Used to perform on stage in Los Angeles with comedy group called "The Session".
Was a founding member of the late 1960s L.A. comedy improv troupe "The Session" whose pioneer members included Rob Reiner (who formed the troupe), Richard Dreyfuss, Larry Bishop, David Arkin, Phil Mishkin, Richard Mishkin, and Bobbie Shaw Chance.