Erin Gray (born 7 January 1950)[1] is an American model, casting agent, and actress whose roles include Colonel Wilma Deering in the science fiction television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Kate Summers-Stratton in the situation comedy Silver Spoons.
Early Life[]
Gray was born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, now state of Hawaii, the daughter of Diane and Daniel Gray. When Gray was eight, her parents separated.[2] Gray lived with her grandparents in Palm Springs, California, for a few years. Eventually she and her mother moved to Larkspur, California.
Gray attended Redwood High School[2] and finished her last semester at Pacific Palisades High School. She briefly attended college at UCLA, majoring in mathematics,[2] but she left school to pursue a career in modeling and moved to New York.
Career[]
Gray started her career in modeling. She entered her first contest and won a modeling assignment in St. Louis when she was 14 years old. Commercials followed in Los Angeles. She also appeared on television in 1967 as a dancer in Malibu U. However, she decided to move to New York City to further her modeling career. "By 1975, Gray was one of the nation's top TV models, earning $100,000 a year."[2] Having developed an interest in acting, she auditioned for parts during her frequent trips to Los Angeles.[3][4][5][6]
In 1978, she landed her first starring role on the miniseries Evening in Byzantium. Following good notices, Gray was put on a seven-year contract at Universal Studios, which led directly to her taking the role of Colonel Wilma Deering in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, at first for a theatrically released movie, then for a weekly TV series.[7] Gray, wearing a Spandex jumpsuit, was popular with the show's predominantly young male audience.[8]
Gray was aware of the sexiness of her tight uniform. Her character, the female lead, also had a high profile in the show, second only to Gil Gerard in the starring role and representing an early example of a strong female character in a science fiction setting. Gray was seen as an important role model for female viewers, as she explained to an interviewer:
I was the first female colonel. I enjoyed being that kind of role model for young women watching the show. A woman can be a colonel! A woman can be in charge! Those were new ideas then.[9]
Shortly after Buck Rogers, Gray appeared in the first season Magnum, P.I. episode, "J. "Digger" Doyle", in which she played security expert Joy "Digger" Doyle. The role was intended to become recurring, and even possibly spun off into a separate series, but neither happened, and it remained the character's only appearance in the series.[10] In 1982, Gray played the role of Lilah in the summer feature film Six Pack as Kenny Rogers's love interest. Gray's role as Kate Summers in the TV sitcom Silver Spoons lasted for several years in the 1980s.[7] When that show ended, she took regular film and TV work.
In 2010, Gray and Gil Gerard returned to Buck Rogers by playing the characters' parents in the pilot episode of the Buck Rogers web series.[11] Among her work in commercials[12] was a 2010 spot for Pup-Peroni dog treats.[13]
Gray is now a casting agent[12][14] whose agency, Heroes for Hire, specializes in booking sci-fi and fantasy stars for personal appearances, speaking engagements, and charity events.[7][15] Gray also teaches tai chi.[12][16][17]
In 1998, Gray wrote the book Act Right with Mara Purl; it contains advice for novice television and movie actors.[18] A revised edition was published in 2002.[19]
Gray guest-starred in the 2014 webisode "Lolani" from the web series Star Trek Continues as Commodore Gray, an episode that also starred Lou Ferrigno. Commodore Gray reappears in 2016, with the seventh episode "Embracing the Winds."
Personal Life[]
Gray has been married twice. She met Ken Schwartz in high school[2] and their marriage lasted from 1968 to 1990, during which they had one son, Kevan Ray Schwartz, born in 1976. Ken Schwartz, a successful real estate executive, remained in New York with their young son when Gray first started working in Buck Rogers, and eventually moved to Los Angeles to work as her manager when her acting career flourished.[2]
Gray married Richard Hissong in 1991, and their daughter Samantha was born the same year. Samantha plays Buck Rogers' girlfriend, Maddy, in the pilot episode of James Cawley's Buck Rogers Internet video series.[20]
Gallery[]
Filmography[]
Film[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Evening in Byzantium | Gail McKinnon | Television film |
| 1979 | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Colonel Wilma Deering | |
| Winter Kills | Beautiful Woman Three | ||
| The Ultimate Impostor | Beatrice "Bucky" Tate | Television film | |
| 1980 | Coach of the Year | Paula DeFalco | |
| 1982 | Six Pack | Lilah | |
| Born Beautiful | Betsy Forrest | Television film | |
| 1987 | Breaking Home Ties | Carol | |
| 1988 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace | Captain Terry O'Malley | |
| Addicted to His Love | Jenny Barrett | ||
| 1989 | The Princess and the Dwarf | Unknown | |
| 1990 | Laker Girls | Julie Lawrence | Television film |
| 1992 | Les Danseurs du Mozambique | Kathryn Saint | |
| 1993 | Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday | Diana Kimble | |
| Official Denial | Annie Corliss | Television film | |
| 1994 | A Dangerous Place | Audrey | |
| Honor Thy Father and Mother: The True Story of the Menendez Murders | Pamela Bozanich | Television film | |
| T-Force | Mayor Pendleton | ||
| 1995 | Crowfoot | Nora | Television film |
| 2000 | The Last Producer | Dee Freeman | |
| Woman's Story | Laurel Warner | ||
| Delicate Instruments | Jessica Livingston | Short film | |
| 2001 | Serial Intentions | Virginia Madden | |
| Touched by a Killer | Liza Collins | ||
| Social Misfits | Sharon Cox, Mitsy's Mom | ||
| 2002 | Clover Bend | Betty Clayton | |
| Special Weapons and Tactics | The Mayor | Short film | |
| 2003 | Manfast | Gloria Day | |
| 2005 | Caught in the Headlights | Mrs. Jones | |
| 2006 | Siren | Sharon Cox | |
| 2007 | Jane Doe: How to Fire Your Boss | Laura Sands | |
| The Wedding Video | Carol | ||
| Nuclear Hurricane | Jane | Television film | |
| 2008 | Loaded | Susan Price | |
| My True Self | Mrs. Ellen Fields | ||
| Ghouls | Liz | Television film | |
| 2009 | Hunter Prey | Clea | |
| 2010 | Elf Sparkle and the Special Red Dress | Josette Peacock | Television film |
| 2011 | Dreams Awake | Hope Emrys | |
| 2012 | Nesting | Mrs. Deegan | |
| I Married Who? | Ethel Swift | Television film | |
| 2014 | Christmas in Palm Springs | Mayor Tomlin | |
| 2016 | A Perfect Christmas | Patricia | Television film |
| 2017 | In-World War | Mother | |
| 2019 | Finding Grace | Judge Ariel Harper | |
| A Christmas Princess | Queen |
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Maude | Model | Uncredited; episode: "The Game Show" |
| 1978 | Police Story | Laurie Tice | Episode: "Day of Terror... Night of Fear" |
| 1979 | The Rockford Files | Margaret "Alta" Hatch | Episode: "With the French Heel Back, Can the Nehru Jacket Be Far Behind?" |
| B.J. and the Bear | Samantha Evans | Episode: "Cain's Cruiser" | |
| 1979–1981 | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Colonel Wilma Deering | Main role |
| 1980 | Vegas | Jennifer Stallings | Episode: "Black Cat Killer" |
| The Love Boat | Maggie Cook, Agent to Mr. Swaggart | Episode: "Maggie Cook" | |
| 1980–1982 | Fantasy Island | Laura Jensen / Carla Marco | 2 episodes |
| 1981 | Magnum, P.I. | Joy 'Digger' Doyle | Episode: "J.'Digger' Doyle" |
| 1982 | The Fall Guy | Bonnie Carlson | 2 episodes |
| Simon & Simon | Vicki Whittaker | Episode: "Matchmaker" | |
| 1982–1987 | Silver Spoons | Kate Summers-Stratton | Main role |
| 1985 | Code of Vengeance | Nadine Flowers | Episode: Code of Vengeance |
| 1986 | Hotel | Vanessa Clark | Episode: "Façades" |
| 1987 | Starman | Jenny Hayden | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Murder, She Wrote | Andrea Dean | Episode: "Wearing of the Green" |
| 1989 | The Hitchhiker | Leslie | Episode: "Together Forever" |
| Hunter | Kate Lawson | Episode: "On Air" | |
| 1990 | L.A. Law | Rochelle Peters | Episode: "Ex-Wives and Videotape" |
| Jake and the Fatman | Jill Crockett | Episode: "I Know That You Know" | |
| 1991 | Evening Shade | Madeline Hall | Episode: "Wood and Ava and Gil and Madeline" |
| The New Lassie | Maggie Sullivan | Episode: "Leeds, the Judge" | |
| 1992 | Superboy | Samantha Meyers | Episode: "Cat and Mouse" |
| Dark Justice | Chelsea Manning | Episode: "The Specialist" | |
| 1993 | Almost Home | Jennifer | Episode: "Sleeping with the Enemy" |
| Bonkers | Shirley | Episode: "Quibbling Rivalry" | |
| 1993–1996 | Silk Stalkings | Connie Bayliss / Jillian Borson | 2 episodes |
| 1994 | Burke's Law | Brenda Palmer | Episode: "Who Killed the Anchorman?" |
| Heaven Help Us | Unknown | Episode: "The Belle's Farewell" | |
| 1995 | Renegade | Donna MacKenzie | Episode: "Dead Heat" |
| 1997–1998 | Baywatch | Chief Monica Johnson | 5 episodes |
| 1999–2000 | Port Charles | Nicole Devlin | |
| 2000 | Profiler | Congresswoman Karen Archer | 3 episodes |
| 2007 | The Wedding Bells | Candy Heller | Episode: "Wedding from Hell" |
| 2011 | The Guild | Madeleine Twain | 5 episodes |
| 2013 | TableTop | Herself | Episode: "Unspeakable Words" |
| 2014 | Star Trek Continues | Commodore Gray | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Mystery Science Theater 3000 | Martha Masters | Episode: Reptilicus |
| 2018 | The Thundermans | "Nana" Thunderman | Episode: Make it Pop Pop |
Video Game[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Ghostbusters: The Video Game | Spider Witch / Additional Voices | Voice |
References[]
- ↑ "UPI Almanac for Monday, 7 January 2019". United Press International (7 January 2019). Archived from the original 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019. "Actor Erin Gray in 1950 (age 69)"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Calio, Jim (7 July 1980). "Buck Rogers Wouldn't Dare Tell Erin Gray What She's Heard for 14 Years from Ken Schwartz: Go Fly a Kite". People. Archived from the original 18 October 2012.
- ↑ "Erin Gray Biography". Quotesquotations.com (7 January 1952). Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ↑ "Erin Gray - Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" (24 October 2009). Archived from the original 24 October 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ↑ Lee, Helen. "Sci-Fi TV Talent Profile - Erin Gray, Actor". BellaOnline.com.
- ↑ "Siren - Erin Gray". SirentheMovie.com. Archived from the original 15 January 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Kelly, Suzanne (6 September 2010). "Conventions: Another day at the office for celebs". CNN. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
- ↑ "Erin Gray Talks the Impact 'Buck Rogers' Had on Her Life". Closer Weekly (10 September 2019). Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ↑ "Erin Gray". Filmbug.com. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ↑ "15 Backdoor Pilots That Never Became TV Shows". MentalFloss.com (15 February 2015). Retrieved 4 February 2019.
- ↑ "Buck Rogers Returns". PressRepublican.com (9 November 2009). Archived from the original 4 January 2013.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Erin Gray interview with Movie Mikes". DeskofBrian.com (10 October 2010). Archived from the original 10 December 2010.
- ↑ Keller, Joel (7 September 2010). "Is That Really Erin Gray of 'Silver Spoons' in a Pup-Peroni Commercial?". TVSquad.com. Archived from the original 1 January 2011.
- ↑ "Erin Gray to bring a Sci-Fi Star Lineup to Hayden Black’s The Cabonauts on Dailymotion". Business Wire (10 June 2009).
- ↑ "Heroes for Hire website". HeroesforHire.info. Archived from the original 4 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ↑ Anderson, Martin (8 January 2008). "The Den of Geek interview: Erin Gray". DenofGeek.com.
- ↑ "Biography page". Erin Gray's official website. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
- ↑ Gray, Erin (20 March 1998). "Act Right: Everything You Need to Know That They Didn't Teach You in Acting Class". Amazon.com. Haven Books.
- ↑ Gray, Erin (1 October 2002). "Act Right: A Manual for the On-Camera Actor". Amazon.com. Haven Books.
- ↑ McKinstry, Lohr (9 November 2009). "Buck Rogers returns". Press Republican. Archived from the original 4 January 2013.