To millions of fans, she’s still Kris Munroe, the tail kicking, bikini-wearing private detective. But how much do you really know about beloved actress Cheryl Ladd?
All About Cheryl Ladd
From when and where she was born to the public and personal request she had to decline, here are five fast facts about Cheryl Ladd.
Who is Cheryl Ladd?
Born Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor on July 12, 1951, Ladd is the second daughter of Marion and Dolores (nee Katz) Stoppelmoor, a railroad engineer and a waitress, respectively. The family, including Ladd’s siblings, Mary Ann and Seth, resided in Huron, South Dakota.
Song Bird
Ladd was desperate to make her mark in the music industry, and soon after arriving in Hollywood, she was hired to provide the singing voice for the animated character Melody on the Hanna-Barbera series Josie and the Pussycats. However, she eventually began to accept non-singing roles in commercials and primetime programs.
During her tenure on the highly-rated Aaron Spelling vehicle, Charlie’s Angels, Ladd took advantage of her newfound popularity and began to pursue her first love in earnest. She performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl XIV, appeared in several music-comedy variety series, and released three albums.
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Request (Kindly) Denied
In 1978, a listener of Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 radio show, requested a long-distance dedication to Ladd and issued a plea that she accompany him to his high school prom.
Though she would not be able to do so, Ladd did telephone the young man to express both her gratitude and her regrets. The requested song was Ladd’s Think It Over, a single which peaked at #36 on the Billboard Charts.
Tables Turned
In 1977, Ladd famously replaced outgoing actress Farrah Fawcett as one of the triumvirate Angels. Seven years later, Fawcett would assume the lead role in the made-for-TV movie The Burning Bed – it was a part that producers had intended for Ladd, but she had declined the honor.
Usurper
Poison Ivy – an erotic thriller about a diabolical teenager determined to attach herself to a wealthy, embittered family – was but one of the many post-Angels projects that Ladd appeared in. Of particular note, however, is the fact that murderous Ivy, who does away with Ladd’s poor character, was played by Drew Barrymore, an actress who would later star in two Charlie’s Angels films and executive produce a third.
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