Kari Michaelsen

Kari Michaelsen
Born (1961-11-03) November 3, 1961
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actress, motivational speaker
Years active Acting (1970s–2001)
Motivational speaking
(1990–present)
Spouse(s) David Waldock
(2002–2009; 1 child)
Website https://michaelsenenterprises.com

Kari Michaelsen (born Kari Markussen on November 3, 1961) is an American actress and motivational speaker. As an actress, she is best known for her role as Katie Kanisky on sitcom Gimme a Break! (1981–1987).

Born in Manhattan, Michaelsen followed her parents into show business. Her father, Arne Markussen, is a singer. Her mother, Roberta Stevenson, was a dancer. She sang on the soundtrack for Sesame Street and was performing in Off-Broadway plays by age 11. In 1975 her family moved to Beverly Hills and Michaelsen (who changed her name from Markussen) soon won guest spots on such shows as Diff'rent Strokes and Eight Is Enough. Her father is of Norwegian heritage.[1]

She graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1979 and studied at University of California, Los Angeles. She retired from television work in 2001. Kari has been doing public speaking and hosting educational seminars since 1990. She married David Waldock, a Mercedes-Benz executive, in July 2002. The couple had a son named Nickolas. Michaelsen and David Waldock were divorced in 2009.[2]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1976 Joy Ride: An Auto Theft Kari Short
1981 Saturday the 14th Debbie
1989 Girl Talk Marcia

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1980 Scared Straight! Another Story TV film
1980 Diff'rent Strokes Ellen Marshall "Little Mother"
1980 ABC Afterschool Special Karala Murtaugh "The Gymnast"
1981 The Choice Teenager TV film
1981 Eight Is Enough Lisa "Vows"
1981 CHiPs Teri "Karate"
1981 The Incredible Hulk Linda "The First: Parts 1 & 2"
1981-86 Gimme a Break! Kathleen 'Katie' Kanisky Main role
1982 Fantasy Island Cassie 1 episode
1983 The Kid with the 200 I.Q. Julie Gordon TV film
1983 ABC Afterschool Special Fran Davies "Have You Ever Been Ashamed of Your Parents?"
1983 Hart to Hart Lisa "Trust Your Hart"
1989 Full House Stacey Fleetwood "Joey & Stacy and... Oh, Yeah, Jesse"

References

  1. ↑ Former Gimme a Break Star Kari Michaelsen Returns to TV as a Talk Show Host People Magazine. December 10, 2001)
  2. ↑ The Get Motivated! tour that barnstormed into St. Louis last week is as American as a get-rich-quick scheme, By Sarah Fenske of the Riverfront Times, May 5, 2011


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