Wendie Jo Sperber

Wendie Jo Sperber

Infobox actor
name = Wendie Jo Sperber
birthdate = birth date|1958|9|15|mf=y
birthplace = Hollywood, California, U.S.
deathdate = death date and age|2005|11|29|1958|9|15|mf=y
deathplace = Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
yearsactive = 1978-2003
spouse = Richard Velasquez (m. [http://imdb.com/MarriedInYear?1983 1983] div. 1994) 2 children

Wendie Jo Sperber (September 15, 1958November 29, 2005) was an American actress, best known for her performances in the films "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" (1978), "Bachelor Party" (1984) and "Back to the Future" (1985) as well as the television sitcom "Bosom Buddies" (1980–1982).

Biography

Sperber was born in Hollywood and aimed for a performing-arts career from high school onward. She attended the summer Teenage Drama Workshop at California State University, Northridge, during the 1970s, and began her screen career at a young age when she was cast in the small role of "Kuchinsky," in Matthew Robbins' 1978 teen comedy "Corvette Summer," alongside Mark Hamill. She appeared in Robert Zemeckis' period comedy "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," as the irrepressible "Rosie Petrofsky." Sperber was overweight, but was able to move quickly on screen ("Entertainment Weekly" described Rosie Petrofsky as "a screaming Beatlemaniac who, among other things, climbed through elevator shafts and leapt from a moving car"), [cite web | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,318371,00.html |date = 1990-10-12 | title = One Fun Babe | publisher = "Entertainment Weekly". | accessdate = 2007-01-25] and her “girl-next-door” appearance helped her to overcome the stigma of her weight.

She played the title role in the made-for-television feature "Dinky Hocker" and engaged in physical comedy in Steven Spielberg's "1941". Zemeckis, who also worked on "1941", brought Sperber back to the big screen in 1980 with a role in his comedy "Used Cars," but it was on television that year that Sperber finally began to receive more serious attention. She was cast in the role of "Amy Cassidy;" a character that was funny, romantic, and exuberant— in the series "Bosom Buddies," starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari. Following its cancellation in 1982, Sperber appeared in the comedy "The First Time," and worked a year on the series "Private Benjamin". She then resumed her feature work in the Tom Hanks theatrical vehicle "Bachelor Party", directed by Neal Israel. Israel used her again in "Moving Violations" in 1985. That same year, she appeared as Linda McFly in Zemeckis' highly successful "Back to the Future."

Sperber's roles grew larger in the wake of "Back to the Future," and over the next decade she starred in the series "Babes" (a comedy about three zaftig women; her costar Susan Peretz would also lose her fight with breast cancer several years later), and had a major supporting part in the series "Hearts Afire," as well as numerous big-screen comedies interspersed with the occasional drama. By her own account, however, she preferred comedy if given the choice. As she told "TV Guide" in 1990, “I'm an actress who likes to say something funny—everybody laughs and your job is done.”

In 1983, Sperber married Richard Velasquez and had a son, Preston, in 1986, and a daughter, Pearl, in 1990. Pearl also goes by the name "Daphne." The marriage ended in divorce in 1994.

In 1997, Sperber was diagnosed with breast cancer, which seemed to go into remission following treatment. She revealed in April of 2002, though, that the cancer had reappeared and spread throughout her body. She continued to work in television and movies during this period, including episodes of "Unhappily Ever After", "Home Improvement", "Will & Grace", "Grounded for Life", and the movies "Desperate But Not Serious" (1999) and "Sorority Boys" (2002). Her last work was lending her voice to “Roger & Me,” an episode of "American Dad" in 2006, which aired after her death. The producers of the show renamed her character as Wendie Jo in honor of the actress.

Involvement in social issues

In addition to her work on TV and movies, Sperber also was the founder of weSPARK Cancer Support Center, an independent organization formed in 2001 to advance and help support individuals and their families fighting various forms of cancer through free emotional support, information and social events/activities. In addition to being the founder, Sperber also served on the board of directors and wrote the quarterly newsletter.

Each year, weSPARK has put on an extravagant benefit show called weSPARKLE to raise funds for the organization. The event has been attended by many of Sperber's friends and colleagues, including Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, John Ritter, and Eric McCormack.

In 1998, Sperber also helped the United States Postal Service unveil and promote a breast-cancer stamp.

Documentary film

Sperber is the subject of the documentary "The Show Must Go On", directed by Beth Murphy. The film follows the actress through her treatments to battle breast cancer during the production of the 2004 weSPARKLE event.

Film and television work

Film

*"My Dinner with Jimi" (2003) as Louella
*"Sorority Boys" (2002) as Professor Bendler
*"Pissed" (2000) as Wendy
*"Desperate But Not Serious" (1999) as Landlady
*"Big Packages" (1996)
*"The Return of Hunter" (1995) (TV) as Lucille
*"" (1995) as Woman With Kitten
*"Mr. Write" (1994) as Roz
*"Love Affair" (1994) as Helen
*"Back to the Future Part III" (1990) as Linda McFly
*"The Image" (1990) (TV) as Anita Cox
*"Delta Fever" (1987) as Claire
*"Stewardess School" (1986) as Jolean Winters
*"Back to the Future" (1985) as Linda McFly
*"Moving Violations" (1985) as Joan Pudillo
*"Bachelor Party" (1984) as Dr. Tina Gassko
*"The First Time" (1983) as Eileen
*"Used Cars" (1980) (as Miss Wendie Jo Sperber) as Nervous Nona
*"1941" (1979) as Maxine Dexheimer
*"Dinky Hocker" (1979) (TV) as Susan 'Dinky' Hocker
*"Corvette Summer" (1978) as Kuchinsky
*"I Wanna Hold Your Hand" (1978) as Rosie Petrofsky

Television

*"American Dad" as Old Lady/Wendie Jo (Voice) in "Roger & Me" (2006)
*"Grounded for Life" as Mrs. Robinson in "The Letter(s)" (2005)
*"8 Simple Rules" as Alice in 4 episodes (2002–2005)
*"Hearts Afire" as Mavis Davis (1992–1993)
*"Will and Grace" as April in "My Fair Maid-y (1999)
*"Married... With Children" as Sandy, Al's old girlfriend from high school, from the episode "I Who Have Nothing" (1991)
*"Babes" as Charlene Gilbert (1990–1991)
*"Designing Women" as Estelle Rhinehart in the episode "The Women of Atlanta" (1989)
*"Women in Prison" as Pam (1987–1988)
*"Private Benjamin" as Pvt. Stacy Kouchalakas (1982–1983)
*"Bosom Buddies" as Amy Cassidy (1980–1982)

Notes

fnb|1 As is often the case in Hollywood, Sperber's age was a matter of contention at the time of her death. Some reports stated she “died in her 40s.” According to an Associated Press report on December 1, 2005: "Her publicist first said that Sperber was 46, but later said she was 43 based on an Internet resource. The Associated Press reported in September that Sperber was 47." Her year of birth was widely published as 1962, but her California birth record shows her birthdate as September 15, 1958, thus she was in fact 47 at the time of her death.

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0818274|name=Wendie Jo Sperber
* [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,318371,00.html "One Fun Babe"] , a 1990 "Entertainment Weekly" profile of Sperber that discusses her role on the sitcom "Babes".
* [http://www.principlepictures.com/html/spark.html The Show Must Go On] documentary about Wendie Jo Sperber
* [http://www.myspace.com/wendiejosperber Wendie Jo MySpace Page]
*


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Wendie Jo Sperber — (* 15. September 1958 in Hollywood; † 29. November 2005 in Los Angeles) war eine US amerikanische Schauspielerin. Leben Wendie Jo Sperber wirkte in den achtziger und neunziger Jahren in vielen Fernsehserien und Kinofilmen mit, wenn auch zumeist… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Wendie Jo Sperber — (15 de septiembre de 1958 29 de noviembre de 2005) fue una actriz estadounidense, mejor conocida por sus actuaciones en las películas I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978), Bachelor Party (1984), y Regreso al futuro (1985), así como en la televisión en… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Wendie Jo Sperber — est une actrice américaine née le 15 septembre 1958 à Hollywood, Californie (États Unis), décédée le 29 novembre 2005 à Sherman Oaks (Californie). Sommaire 1 Biographie 2 Son Cancer …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Sperber — steht für: Sperber (Art), der Vogel Accipiter nisus Accipiter, Gattung von Vögeln Simson Sperber, Leichtkraftrad des Herstellers Simson zwei Automobilmodelle der Norddeutschen Automobilwerke in Hameln SMS Sperber (1860), ein Kanonenboot der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Sperber — may refer to:People* Alfred Margul Sperber, husband of Rose Ausländer * Brian Sperber * Dan Sperber, French linguist * Devorah Sperber American artist * Julius Sperber * Klaus Nomi (born Klaus Sperber ) * Manès Sperber * Murray Sperber * Wendie… …   Wikipedia

  • Sperber — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Sperber: Dan Sperber Klaus Sperber Manès Sperber Wendie Jo Sperber Sportavia RF 5B Sperber Monique Canto Sperber Catégorie : Homonymie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Спербер, Уэнди Джо — Уэнди Джо Спербер Wendie Jo Sperber Дата рождения: 15 сентября 1958(1958 09 15) …   Википедия

  • Liste der Biografien/Sp — Biografien: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bosom Buddies — infobox television show name = Bosom Buddies caption = Title screen format = Comedy runtime = 24 25 Minutes creator = Chris Thompson starring = Tom Hanks Peter Scolari Wendie Jo Sperber Donna Dixon Holland Taylor Telma Hopkins Lucille Benson… …   Wikipedia

  • McFly family — The McFly family is a fictional family found in the Back to the Future series of films. It includes both the ancestors and descendants of the series central character, Marty McFly. Throughout the trilogy of films, viewers are introduced to a… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”