Stepfanie Kramer

Stepfanie Kramer (born August 6, 1956) is an American actress and singer. She is "probably best known for her role as the tough-minded detective, Sgt. Dee Dee McCall on the popular NBC TV series "Hunter" [http://stepfaniekramer.com/Biography.html] cite web |title=Biography... |url=http://stepfaniekramer.com/Biography.html |accessdate=2008-09-05 |quote="STEPFANIE KRAMER is probably best known for her role as the tough-minded detective, Sgt. Dee Dee McCall on the popular NBC-TV series "Hunter"."] . An important reason behind "Hunter's" popularity was Stepfanie's energetic portrayal of the witty and colorful detective. As a consequence, Stepfanie now has fans around the globe. [http://stepfaniekramer.com/Biography.html] cite web |title=Biography... |url=http://stepfaniekramer.com/Biography.html |accessdate=2008-09-05] She has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy and won the Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress Award, honored by the First Americans in the Arts organization, in 1995, 2002 and 2003. [http://stepfaniekramer.com/Biography.html] cite web |title=Biography... |url=http://stepfaniekramer.com/Biography.html |accessdate=2008-09-05]

Biography

Stepfanie was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She is part Native American from her mother's side. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469671/bio] cite web |title=Biography for Stepfanie Kramer |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469671/bio |accessdate=2008-09-05] Her family background is very artistic, as her father worked as a classically-trained violinist and her mother as a high-fashion model as well as an artist.cite episode |title=Episode dated 4 December 1986 |series=The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson |serieslink=The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson |airdate=1986-12-04 |season=25]

Professional Life

Stepfanie's professional acting career started in the late 1970s. She guest starred in several popular television shows, such as "Starsky and Hutch", "Dynasty", "Bosom Buddies", and "Knots Landing". Her big break came in 1984, when she landed a starring role in "Hunter", the latest creation of television mogul Stephen J. Cannell. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469671/] cite web |title=Stepfanie Kramer |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469671/ |accessdate=2008-09-05] After a rough start, the show became an international hit, being broadcast for seven consecutive seasons. Stepfanie starred in six of them, a total of 130 episodes. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469671/] cite web |title=Stepfanie Kramer |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469671/ |accessdate=2008-09-05] In an interview with Jay Leno in 1989, Stepfanie admitted that she had not believed the show would be as long-lived as it had become.cite episode |title=Episode dated 21 September 1989 |series=The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson |serieslink=The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson |airdate=1989-09-21 |season=25]

Already in 1986, Stepfanie said that she was working on a rock album with composer Mike Post, who had composed music for "Hunter". She also announced that an album might be published the following year.cite episode |title=Episode dated 4 December 1986 |series=The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson |serieslink=The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson |airdate=1986-12-04 |season=25] That never happened, however, but in 1990, Stepfanie announced her departure from "Hunter" to concentrate on her music career.cite episode |title=Channel 4 News |series=Channel 4 News |serieslink=Channel 4 News (United States) |airdate=1990-05-??] In a television news interview, Stepfanie commented her choice with the following: "This is no mistake. This is absolutely right."cite episode |title=Channel 4 News |series=Channel 4 News |serieslink=Channel 4 News (United States) |airdate=1990-05-??]

It took almost a decade, however, until Stepfanie released any music. She is a trained mezzo soprano [http://stepfaniekramer.com/Biography.html] cite web |title=Biography... |url=http://stepfaniekramer.com/Biography.html |accessdate=2008-09-05] , and during the hype of her TV career, she had showcased her musical abilities on several episodes of "Hunter", as well as on Bob Hope television specials.cite episode |title=Channel 4 News |series=Channel 4 News |serieslink=Channel 4 News (United States) |airdate=1990-05-??] In other words, it was quite obvious that she had the talent, but kickstarting a career in music was perhaps not as easy as she had thought. Stepfanie's first album saw the light of the day on October 12, 1999. The debut album, "One Dream", contains ten adult contemporary songs. [http://www.amazon.com/One-Dream-Stepfanie-Kramer/dp/B00001ZSVL] cite web |title=Stepfanie Kramer: Music |url=http://www.amazon.com/One-Dream-Stepfanie-Kramer/dp/B00001ZSVL |accessdate=2008-09-05] "The Great American Song Book", her second album, came out early in the year 2008. [http://stepfaniekramer.com/index.html] cite web |title=Welcome... |url=http://stepfaniekramer.com/index.html |accessdate=2008-03-30] On it, Stepfanie covers 14 classic songs. She has made them into a cabaret show that she has taken on the road during the spring and summer of 2008. [http://stepfaniekramer.com/updates.html] cite web |title=In Concert with Stepfanie Kramer |url=http://stepfaniekramer.com/updates.html |accessdate=2008-09-05] As a singer, she has performed around the globe. According to Stepfanie's official website, "her listening tastes in music are eclectic and include pop, big band, classical and folk music." [http://stepfaniekramer.com/Biography.html] cite web |title=Biography... |url=http://stepfaniekramer.com/Biography.html |accessdate=2008-09-05 |quote="Her listening tastes in music are eclectic and include pop, big band, classical and folk music."]

Stepfanie has continued to work as an actress. After her departure from "Hunter", she has appeared in several TV shows and movies, even though not as frequently as early in her career. Her most notable movie projects include "Twin Sisters" (1992), "Beyond Suspicion" (1994), "The Dogwalker" (1999), and "" (2006). She also reprised her role as Dee Dee McCall in the two "Hunter" television movies (2002 and 2003). [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469671/] cite web |title=Stepfanie Kramer |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469671/ |accessdate=2008-09-05] Due to their strong ratings, NBC attempted to bring the television show back, but unfortunately the 2003 revival was canceled after only three episodes.

Stepfanie has completed a book reading of the award-winning musical, "A Twist of Fate". [http://www.thedogwalker.com/stepfani.htm] cite web |title=Stepfanie Kramer - Helene |url=http://www.thedogwalker.com/stepfani.htm |accessdate=2008-09-05]

Personal life

On May 24, 1992, Stepfanie was married to Mark Richards. The couple divorced in February, 2001. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469671/bio] cite web |title=Biography for Stepfanie Kramer |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469671/bio |accessdate=2008-09-05] Together they have a daughter, Lily, who was born in 1994. According to Stepfanie's official website, her daughter, Kate Mosley Kramer, is her greatest production ever. [http://stepfaniekramer.com/Biography.html] cite web |title=Biography... |url=http://stepfaniekramer.com/Biography.html |accessdate=2008-09-05]

Filmography

Notable film and TV appearances:

* The Cutting Edge 2: Going for the Gold (2006) (V) .... Kate Mosley-Dorsey
* "Ground Truth" (2006) ... Karen
* "Hunter" .... Lt. Dee Dee McCall (4 episodes, 2003)
** To Protect and Serve (2003) TV Episode .... Lt. Dee Dee McCall
** Dead Heat (2003) TV Episode .... Lt. Dee Dee McCall
** Vaya Sin Dios (2003) TV Episode .... Lt. Dee Dee McCall
** Need to Know (????) TV Episode .... Lt. Dee Dee McCall
* Hunter: Back in Force (2003) (TV) .... Det. Sgt. Dee Dee McCall
* Hunter: Return to Justice (2002) (TV) .... Dee Dee McCall
* "Twice in a Lifetime" .... Delia (1 episode, 2000)
** The Night Before Christmas (2000) TV Episode .... Delia
* The Dogwalker (1999) .... Helene
* "Moloney" .... Rebecca Kitchens (1 episode, 1997)
** Ball and Chain (1997) TV Episode .... Rebecca Kitchens
* Thrill (1996) (TV) .... Teresa Colson
* Abducted: A Father's Love (1996) (TV) .... Loretta Hymens: ... aka Fugitive from Justice
* Deceived by Trust: A Moment of Truth Movie (1995) (TV) .... Sarah Ann Collins
* Beyond Suspicion (1994) (TV) .... Karen Rikehardt
* Twin Sisters (1992) (V) .... Carol Mallory/Lynn Cameron
* Coins in the Fountain (1990) (TV) .... Nikki Taylor
* "Hunter" .... Det. Sgt. Dee Dee McCall (9 episodes, 1984-1990)
** Brotherly Love (1990) TV Episode .... Det. Sgt. Dee Dee McCall
** The Legion: Part 2 (1989) TV Episode .... Det. Sgt. Dee Dee McCall
** The Legion: Part 1 (1989) TV Episode .... Det. Sgt. Dee Dee McCall
** Return of White Cloud (1989) TV Episode .... Det. Sgt. Dee Dee McCall
** City Under Siege: Part 2 (1989) TV Episode .... Det. Sgt. Dee Dee McCall: (4 more)
* Take My Daughters, Please (1988) (TV) .... Jessica Fletcher
* "Favorite Son" (1988) (mini) TV Series .... Stevie Chandler: ... aka Target: Favorite Son
* Bridge Across Time (1985) (TV) .... Angie: ... aka Arizona Ripper : ... aka Terror at London Bridge
* "The A-Team" .... Fire Chief Annie Sanders (1 episode, 1984)
** Fire (1984) TV Episode .... Fire Chief Annie Sanders
** Trash Bags (1985) TV Episode....Cpl. Jodi Barracus
* Hunter (1984) (TV) .... Det. Sgt. Dee Dee McCall
* "Mike Hammer" .... Lisa (1 episode, 1984): ... aka Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (USA: complete title) : ... aka The New Mike Hammer (USA: new title)
** Satan, Cyanide and Murder (1984) TV Episode .... Lisa
* "Riptide" .... Tracy (1 episode, 1984)
** Four-Eyes (1984) TV Episode .... Tracy
* "The Dukes of Hazzard" .... Anna Louise (2 episodes, 1984)
** Undercover Dukes: Part 2 (1984) TV Episode .... Anna Louise
** Undercover Dukes: Part 1 (1984) TV Episode .... Anna Louise
* "We Got It Made" .... Claudia (1 episode, 1983-1984)
** Pilot (1983) TV Episode
* The Man with Two Brains (1983) (as Stephanie Kramer) .... Beautiful Girl Hit by Car
* "Trapper John, M.D." .... Cheryl (2 episodes, 1981-1982)...Beautiful car hit by girl
** Russians and Ruses (1982) TV Episode
** Straight and Narrow (1981) TV Episode (as Stephanie Kramer) .... Cheryl
* "The Devlin Connection" .... Gwendoline Adams (1 episode, 1982)
** Ring of Kings, Ring of Thieves (1982) TV Episode .... Gwendoline Adams
* "Knots Landing" .... Marni (2 episodes, 1981-1982)
** Expose (1982) TV Episode .... Marni
** Secrets (1981) TV Episode .... Marni
* "Bosom Buddies" .... Jennifer (aka Jim) (1 episode, 1981)
** All You Need Is Love (1981) TV Episode (as Stephanie Kramer) .... Jennifer
* "Dynasty" .... Melanie (2 episodes, 1981)
** The Bordello (1981) TV Episode (as Stephanie Kramer) .... Melanie
** Oil (1981) TV Episode .... Melanie
* "Vega$" .... Cathy (1 episode, 1980)
** Sudden Death (1980) TV Episode .... Cathy
* "Married: The First Year" (1979) TV Series .... Cathy Kelly (1979)
* "The Secret Empire" (1979) TV Series .... Princess Tara #2 (unknown episodes, 1979): ... aka Cliffhangers: The Secret Empire (USA: series title)
* "Fantasy Island" .... Contessa Christina Kastronova / ... (2 episodes, 1979)
** Nobody's There/The Dancer (1979) TV Episode .... Dutchess Christina Kastronova
** Seance/Treasure (1979) TV Episode .... Denise Moron
* "The Runaways" (1 episode, 1978)....Pedicurist: aka Operation Runaway
** The Breaking Point (1978) TV Episode
* "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" (1 episode, 1978)....Manicurist: aka The Nancy Drew Mysteries (USA: short title)
** Campus Terror (1978) TV Episode....Manicurist
*"Eight Is Enough" (1 episode, 1978)....Manicurist
** Seven Days in February (1978) TV Episode
*"Starsky and Hutch" .... Manicurist (1 episode, 1977)
** I Love You, Rosey Malone (1977) TV Episode .... Manicurist

Director:
* "Hunter" (2 episodes, 1987-1989)
** Return of White Cloud (1989) TV Episode
** Hot Pursuit: Part 2 (1987) TV Episode

Writer:
* "Hunter" (1 episode, 1989)
** Return of White Cloud (1989) TV Episode (story)

Self:
* "Lifestyle Magazine" .... Herself (1 episode, 2001)
** Mothers and Daughters (2001) TV Episode .... Herself
* "The More You Know" (1989) TV Series .... Herself
* Golden Anniversary of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1987) (TV) : aka Disney's Golden Anniversary of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (USA: complete title)
* Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (1987) (TV) .... Herself
* Battle of the Network Stars XVII (1984) (TV) .... Herself (NBC Team)

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0469671|name=Stepfanie Kramer
* [http://www.stepfaniekramer.com/ Official Stepfanie Kramer Web Site]
* [http://www.hunterandmccall.com/ Hunter & McCall.com A Fan-Based Hunter Web Site]