Did you grow up watching Charlie’s Angels?
While we love the remake films, we can’t forget the original series that introduced
us to the Angels who fought crime and made our streets safer.
One of the Angels was Kris Munroe, played by Cheryl Ladd.
This was the role that made Cheryl Ladd a household name and made her an icon among
actresses.
She became a sex symbol and now in her seventies, she’s still just as enchanting as ever.
But how did Cheryl Ladd get her start?
And what is she up to today?
If you see her, you’ll be amazed that she’s just as beautiful and charming as ever…
Let’s look back at Cheryl Ladd’s life and career and what she’s up to today…
EARLY LIFE AND CAREER
Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor was born on the 12th of July, 1951, in Huron, South Dakota.
Her mother was a waitress, and her father was a railroad engineer.
With such a humble background – one wouldn’t have expected Cheryl to have become such a
huge star!
She initially wanted to pursue a career in music.
After she graduated high school, she traveled around the country with the band The Music
Shop and performed in nightclubs.
She eventually settled in Los Angeles in 1970 – and it was here that she decided to pursue
a music career full-time.
She was the singing voice of the character ‘Melody’ in the animated series Josie
and the Pussycats.
She also sang on the 1970 album from the show.
It seemed – at the moment - that she was destined to remain behind the scenes and sing
songs for animated characters.
However, someone must have noticed that she also had a talent for performing in front
of the camera.
This, coupled with her good looks made her ideal for acting.
She started getting roles in commercials and TV shows.
She made appearances on shows such as The Partridge Family, The Rookies, The Ken Berry
‘Wow’ Show, Harry O, and Ironside.
She also had a supporting role in the 1971 film Chrome and Hot Leather – in which she
acted under the stage name “Cherie Moor.”
She showed from her early career that she could play a diverse range of roles.
She also showed that she had an aptitude for action roles.
She appeared in a few popular crime series such as Police Woman, Police Story, and Code
R. While she handed yet landed a major role, she was becoming more well-known.
But her biggest role was yet to come…
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CHARLIE’S ANGELS
In 1977, Cheryl Ladd was cast as Kris Munroe in the popular TV series Charlie’s Angels
– replacing Farah Fawcett who left the show after 1 season.
The character Kris was the younger sister of Fawcett’s character.
This was the show that made her a household name.
She remained part of the show for its four seasons until it got canceled in 1981.
This was the show that made Cheryl Ladd popular and helped her get more offers in films and
TV shows.
She also continued her music career, and her newfound popularity brought more interest
to her singing career.
Her performance as Kris Munroe was lauded as was her enchanting beauty.
She soon became a beauty icon and her fanbase continued to grow.
In the short-lived sitcom One in a Million, she’s referenced by one character, Mike,
as being the ideal woman, he’d love to live with!
She’s also referenced as the reason why someone should watch Charlie’s Angels.
Decades later, she’s still remembered as the standout performer from this ensemble
show.
She’s remembered as a multi-talented entertainer with stunning beauty.
She loved her work on Charlie’s Angels and is grateful for the opportunities that the
show has brought her.
Now in her 70s, she’s still happy to discuss the show in interviews.
The show has, of course, gone through many different iterations – and the 2000s and
2010s have brought film spinoffs that revitalized the series.
While newer generations may be more familiar with the recent iterations of Charlie’s
Angels, hardcore fans always remember the original series fondly.
And while Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, Naomi Scott, and others have become stars
as playing one of Charlie’s “Angels,” it’s clear that Cheryl Ladd remains one
of the favorite actresses from the series.
Luckily for Cheryl Ladd, Charlie’s Angels catapulted her to stardom but didn’t typecast
her.
She continued to get work after the show came to an end.
OTHER ACTING ROLES
Cheryl Ladd’s career in television continued following the cancellation of Charlie’s
Angels.
In 1983, she was cast in the lead role of “Maggie Telford” in the TV movie Kentucky
Woman.
This was the final project for the writer and director Walter Doniger.
The story followed a single mother who takes up a job in a coal mine to look after her
young son and her elderly father.
The film depicted the themes of women empowerment that had become popular in the cinema and
television of the 1970s.
Cheryl Ladd received much praise for her performance and the movie showed that she could move away
from her role as Kris Munroe and take on serious and dramatic roles.
The same year she showed audiences that she could also take on the avatar of another starlet.
She played Grace Kelly in the eponymous TV movie which depicted the actress’s career
and her subsequent life as the Princess of Monaco.
She also began appearing in films more often during this decade.
She had lead roles in the films Now and Forever and Purple Hearts.
These were both dramatic roles in which she continued to show her incredible range.
She continued throughout the 80s and 90s to appear in TV movies, TV shows, and feature
films.
On TV shows, she made guest appearances and had short-lived recurring roles.
In the mid-90s, she landed the role of Dawn “Holli” Holliday in One West Waikiki.
This would become her next most-famous role next to Kris Munroe.
She never stopped being in demand as an actress.
While she was always recognized for her role in Charlie’s Angels, she was also now a
respected actress who could do anything.
She had a supporting role in the film Permanent Midnight – a biopic of comedy writer Jerry
Stahl.
The film had an ensemble of major stars including Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Elizabeth Hurley,
and Fred Willard.
She had another supporting role in the drama film A Dog of Flanders.
Once again, she was part of an ensemble of great actors.
There was now a generation of filmmakers who came of age in the 70s and wanted to work
with their idol, Cheryl Ladd!
She made guest appearances in popular TV shows including Charmed, Hope and Faith, and the
TV movies Eve’s Christmas and Though None Go With Me.
She also made a cameo appearance in the feature film Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.
She continued to act regularly in the 2000s.
She won the recurring role of Jillian Deline in the TV series Las Vegas.
She also appeared in major feature films including Baggage, Unforgettable, and Camera Store.
And she hasn’t slowed down at all!
Her latest project was a TV movie called Christmas Unwrapped which was released in 2020.
She’s also starring in the upcoming feature film A Cowgirl’s Song.
A mention should be made of her music career outside of her early career.
She performed a song for an episode of Charlie’s Angels and also performed on an episode of
The Muppet Show.
She also had a TV special where she performed her songs.
She also performed a few songs for the 2012 film Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups.
WHAT’S CHERYL UP TO TODAY
So what else is Cheryl Ladd up to today?
Many would say that she’s completely unrecognizable today.
But why is that?
It’s because even in her seventies, she’s still as youthful and enchanting as ever!
In addition to her acting work, she’s also written 2 books.
She wrote the children’s book The Adventures of Little Nettie Windship.
This book helps children learn about the importance of respecting and protecting the environment.
She also wrote a book called Token Chick: A Woman’s Guide to Golfing with the Boys
– in which she discusses her love of playing golf.
Cheryl’s first husband was actor David Ladd.
They were married from 1973 until their divorce in 1980.
She adopted his surname for her acting career and kept it even after their divorce.
She married Brian Russell in 1981 and remains married to him today.
She has a daughter named Jordan from her first marriage and a stepdaughter, Lindsay, from
her second marriage.
And she’s just as famous as ever.
Not only is she still busy with her career, but she’s often invited for interviews and
other public appearances.
She often meets fans – old and new – who fondly remember her work, especially her role
in Charlie’s Angels.
They discuss how the show inspired them and how they loved her role in it.
That was the show that launched her to stardom and it’s why we expect to continue hearing
from Cheryl Ladd for years to come!
Now, let’s hear from you:
Are you a fan of Cheryl Ladd?
In fact, here’s what we’d like to know:
Do you think her best role was as Kris Munroe in Charlie’s Angels?
Or is there another role of hers that you think deserves more attention?
Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.
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