Cheryl Ladd

Über Cheryl Ladd

Cheryl Ladd, born Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor on July 12, 1951, is an accomplished American actress, singer, and author. She gained significant recognition as Kris Munroe on the iconic television series Charlie's Angels. Ladd was brought on board with much fanfare ahead of the second season in 1977 to fill the role previously held by Farrah Fawcett, who had departed the show. She remained a central figure in the series until its conclusion in 1981.

Hailing from Huron, South Dakota, Ladd comes from a family of German heritage and is the second daughter of Dolores, a waitress, and Marion Stoppelmoor (1929–2001), a railroad engineer. She entered into matrimony with actor David Ladd and welcomed a daughter, Jordan Ladd. After their divorce, she chose to retain his surname. Her family also includes her niece Ashley Marie, who is a cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys.

In 1981, Ladd married music producer Bryan Russell, and she has a stepdaughter named Lindsay Russell. Ladd supports the cause of child abuse prevention and treatment as a celebrity ambassador for the non-profit organization Childhelp. Politically, she identifies as a Republican.

Ladd first ventured to Hollywood in 1970 to pursue a career in music, initially performing as "Cherie Moor" and providing the singing voice for the character Melody in Hanna-Barbera's animated series Josie and the Pussycats. Her career soon expanded beyond music, encompassing various non-singing roles in commercials and episodic television, with guest spots on series like The Rookies, The Partridge Family, and Happy Days. The role in Charlie's Angels catapulted her to stardom and allowed her to embrace her musical aspirations further; she appeared in musical comedy variety shows, performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl XIV in January 1980, and released three albums, achieving a Top 40 hit and receiving a Gold record.

In September 2000, she took the lead role in a Broadway revival of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, succeeding Bernadette Peters, and continued in the role until January 2001, when Reba McEntire assumed it. Post-Charlie's Angels, Ladd remained a well-known figure on television, appearing in over 30 made-for-TV movies, including a notable portrayal of Grace Kelly in a biopic initiated shortly before Kelly's death. Her feature film credits include Purple Hearts, Millennium, Poison Ivy (with Drew Barrymore, who went on to star in the film adaptations of Charlie's Angels), and Permanent Midnight.

Ladd starred in the television series One West Waikiki from 1994 to 1996 and made guest appearances on shows like Charmed, Hope and Faith, and CSI: Miami. From 2003 until its cancellation in 2008, she portrayed Jillian Deline, the wife of lead character Ed Deline (played by