# Cheryl Ladd

Cheryl Ladd (born Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor; July 12, 1951) is an American actress, singer, and author best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the ABC television series Charlie's Angels, whose cast she joined in its second season in 1977 to replace Farrah Fawcett-Majors. Ladd remained on the show until its cancellation in 1981. Her film roles include Purple Hearts (1984), Millennium (1989), Poison Ivy (1992), Permanent Midnight (1998), and Unforgettable (2017).

## Early life

Ladd was born Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor on July 12, 1951, in Huron, South Dakota, the second daughter of Dolores (née Katz), a waitress, and Marion Stoppelmoor, a railroad engineer. After high school, she traveled with the band The Music Shop and played in venues in the United States Midwest before settling in Los Angeles in 1970.

## Career
### Early roles

Ladd originally came to Hollywood to begin a career in music (she was known as "Cherie Moor" when she was the singing voice of Melody on Hanna-Barbera's Josie and the Pussycats animated series, and she also sang on the 1970 album of the same name). However, she soon began to land non-singing roles in commercials and episodic television, including guest appearances on shows such as on The Rookies, The Partridge Family, Police Woman, The Muppet Show, Search and Happy Days.

### Charlie's Angels (1977–1981)

Ladd's big acting break came in 1977, when she was cast in the ABC television series Charlie's Angels, replacing star Farrah Fawcett, who left the show after only one season to pursue a movie career. To make the transition easier for audiences, producers cast Ladd as Fawcett's character's younger sister, Kris, instantly making her a part of the "Angels family". In the years to come, this practice of replacing Angels became a common event for the show. However, Ladd remained a part of the main cast for four seasons, until the show's cancelation in June 1981.
While starring in the highly rated Charlie's Angels, Ladd took advantage of her newfound popularity to further her musical career, guest starring in musical-comedy variety series and specials, performing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl XIV in January 1980, and releasing three albums. She had a top-40 Billboard Hot 100 single and a gold record.

### Later career

Following Charlie's Angels, Ladd remained a familiar face on television and has starred in more than 30 made-for-television films, including as Grace Kelly, the Philadelphia heiress who became a Hollywood glamour girl and then a European princess, in a biopic that was begun shortly before Kelly's death. She also appeared in a number of feature films, such as Purple Hearts (1984), Millennium (1989), Poison Ivy (1992) (featuring Drew Barrymore, who later starred in the film adaptations of Charlie's Angels) and Permanent Midnight (1998). Ladd had the lead role in the television series One West Waikiki (1994–96) and made guest appearances in other TV shows such as Charmed, Hope and Faith and CSI: Miami. From 2003 until the show's cancellation in 2008 Ladd played Jillian Deline, the wife of the lead character Ed Deline (James Caan), in 29 episodes of the television drama series Las Vegas.
In 1996, Ladd published a children's book titled The Adventures of Little Nettie Windship. In 2005, she published Token Chick: A Woman's Guide to Golfing With the Boys, an autobiographical book which focused on her love of golf. For several years, Ladd hosted a golf tournament sponsored by Buick.
In September 2000, Ladd starred on Broadway, taking over the title role from Bernadette Peters in a revival of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun. She played the role until January 2001, when Reba McEntire took over.
On April 17, 2010, Ladd — along with her co-angel Jaclyn Smith — accepted the 2010 TV Land Pop Culture Award for Charlie's Angels.
Ladd has continued to appear in a number of TV productions, including the 2011 Hallmark Channel movie Love's Everlasting Courage, guest starring in the NCIS episode "Thirst" (as the love interest of medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard), and the series Chuck, playing Sarah Walker's mother.
On September 8, 2022, Ladd was announced as a contestant on season 31 of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with Louis Van Amstel. They were eliminated in the third week of the competition, placing 14th.

## Personal life

She married fellow actor David Ladd (son of Alan Ladd) in 1973. They have a daughter, actress Jordan Ladd. Ladd took his surname as her own, keeping it after their divorce in 1980.
Ladd has been married to music producer Brian Russell since 1981 and has a stepdaughter, Lindsay Russell. Ladd is a celebrity ambassador for the child abuse prevention and treatment non-profit Childhelp.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1971 | Chrome and Hot Leather | Kathy | |
| 1974 | The Treasure of Jamaica Reef | Zappy | |
| 1982 | Now and Forever | Jessie Clarke | Feature film, Australia |
| 1984 | Purple Hearts | Deborah Solomon | |
| 1989 | Millennium | Louise Baltimore | |
| 1990 | Lisa | Katherine | |
| 1992 | Poison Ivy | Georgie Cooper |
| 1996 | A Tangled Web | Lucinda Michaels |
| 1998 | Permanent Midnight | Pamela Verlaine | |
| 1999 | A Dog of Flanders | Anna | |
| 2007 | Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story | Herself | Uncredited |
| 2008 | Holiday Baggage | Sarah Murphy | |
| 2012 | Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups | Mrs. Claus | |
| 2014 | The Perfect Wave | Mrs. McCormack (Mom) | |
| 2017 | Unforgettable | Helen / Lovey | |
| 2017 | Camera Store | Alma | |
| 2021 | A Cowgirl's Song | Erin Mays | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1970–1971 | Josie and the Pussycats | Melody Valentine (singing voice) | 16 episodes |
| 1972 | The Rookies | Girl | Episode: "The Good Die Young" |
| 1972 | Alexander Zwo | Nelly | Episode: "Das gestohlene Ich" |
| 1972 | The Ken Berry 'Wow' Show | Herself | 5 episodes |
| 1972–1973 | Search | Amy Love | 3 episodes |
| 1973 | Harry O | Teenage Girl | Episode: "Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On" |
| 1973 | Ironside | Gwen | Episode: "A Game of Showdown" |
| 1973 | Satan's School for Girls | Jody Keller | Television film; co-starred with future "angel" colleague Kate Jackson |
| 1973 | The Partridge Family | Johanna Houser | Episode: "Double Trouble" |
| 1974 | The Streets of San Francisco | Susan Ellen Morley | Episode: "Blockade" |
| 1974 | Happy Days | Cindy Shea | Episode: "Wish Upon a Star" |
| 1975 | Switch | Jill Lorimer | Episode: "Death by Resurrection" |
| 1977 | Police Woman | Kate | Episode: "Silky Chamberlain" |
| 1977 | Police Story | Buffy | Episode: "Prime Rib" |
| 1977 | Code R | Ruth Roberts | Episode: "The Aliens" |
| 1977 | The Fantastic Journey | Natica | Episode: "The Innocent Pray" |
| 1977 | The San Pedro Beach Bums | Herself | Episode: "Angels and the Bums" |
| 1977–1981 | Charlie's Angels | Kris Munroe | Main role |
| 1978 | The Muppet Show | Guest | Episode: "Cheryl Ladd" |
| 1979 | Carol Burnett & Company | Guest | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1979 | The Cheryl Ladd TV Special | Herself - Host and singer | TV special |
| 1979 | When She Was Bad | Betina "Teeny" Morgan | TV movie |
| 1980 | The Cheryl Ladd Special: Souvenirs | Herself - Host and singer | TV special |
| 1983 | Kentucky Woman | Maggie Telford | TV movie |
| 1983 | Grace Kelly | Grace Kelly | TV movie |
| 1983 | The Hasty Heart | Margaret | TV movie |
| 1985 | Romance on the Orient Express | Lily Parker | TV movie |
| 1985 | A Death in California | Hope Masters | Miniseries |
| 1986 | Crossings | Liane DeVilliers | Miniseries |
| 1987 | Deadly Care | Ann Halloran | TV movie |
| 1988 | Bluegrass | Maude Sage Breen | Miniseries |
| 1989 | The Fulfillment of Mary Gray | Mary Gray | TV movie |
| 1990 | Jekyll & Hyde | Sara Crawford née Lanyon | TV movie |
| 1990 | The Girl Who Came Between Them | Laura | TV movie |
| 1990 | Crash: The Mystery of Flight 1501 | Diane Halstead | TV movie |
| 1991 | Changes | Melanie Adams | TV movie |
| 1991 | Locked Up: A Mother's Rage (aka The Other Side of Love) | Annie Gallagher | TV movie |
| 1993 | Dead Before Dawn | Linda | TV movie |
| 1993 | Broken Promises: Taking Emily Back | Pam Cheney | TV movie |
| 1994 | Dancing with Danger | Mary Dannon | TV movie |
| 1996 | Kiss and Tell | Jean McAvoy | TV movie |
| 1996 | The Haunting of Lisa | Ellen Downey | TV movie |
| 1996 | Vows of Deception | Lucinda / Lucy Ann Michaels | Television film |
| 1994–1996 | One West Waikiki | Dawn 'Holli' Holliday, M.E. | 21 episodes |
| 1997 | Ink | Mercedes | Episode: "The Black Book" |
| 1998 | Every Mother's Worst Fear | Connie Hoagland | Television film; co-starred with daughter Jordan Ladd |
| 1998 | Perfect Little Angels | Elaine Friedman | Television film |
| 1999 | Jesse | Mary Anne Myers | Episode: "Crazy White Female" |
| 1999 | Michael Landon, the Father I Knew | Lynn Noe Landon | TV movie |
| 1999 | Intimate Portrait | Herself - Cheryl Ladd | 1 episode |
| 2000 | Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place | Berg's Mom | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Her Best Friend's Husband | Jane Thornton | Television film |
| 2003 | Charmed | Doris Bennett | Episode: "The Day the Magic Died" |
| 2003–2008 | Las Vegas | Jillian Deline | 29 episodes |
| 2004 | Hope and Faith | Mary Jo Johnson Fairfield | Episode: "9021-Uh-Oh" |
| 2004 | Eve's Christmas | Diane Simon | Television film |
| 2006 | Though None Go with Me | Elizabeth Bishop | Television film |
| 2009 | CSI: Miami | Amanda Collins | Episode: "Bolt Action" |
| 2011 | Love's Everlasting Courage | Irene | TV movie |
| 2011 | NCIS | Mary Courtney | Episode: "Thirst" |
| 2011 | Chuck | Emma | Episode: "Chuck Versus The Baby" |
| 2014 | Anger Management | Joanne | Episode: "Charlie Gets Tied Up with A Catholic Girl" |
| 2015 | Ray Donovan | Tina Harvey | Episode: "Breakfast of Champions" |
| 2015 | Garage Sale Mystery: The Wedding Dress | Helen Whitney Carter | TV movie |
| 2016 | The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story | Linell Shapiro | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Ballers | Mayor of Las Vegas | Episode: "Bull Rush" |
| 2017 | Royal New Year's Eve | Abigail | TV movie |
| 2018 | Malibu Dan the Family Man | Pamela Marshall | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | The Christmas Contract | Renee Guidry | TV movie |
| 2019 | Grounded for Christmas | Susan | TV movie |
| 2020 | Christmas Unwrapped | Janet Cohen | TV movie |
| 2022 | Dancing With The Stars | Contestant | Placed 14th/16 |
| 2023 | A Christmas for the Ages | Joan | TV movie |

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
| 1970 | Josie and the Pussycats | Capitol Records |
| 1978 | Cheryl Ladd | Capitol Records | The album reached number 129 on the US Billboard 200 chart, with the single "Think It Over" peaking at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track "Walking In The Rain" was used as an ending song for Charlie's Angels in Japan and was released as a single, while the song "I'll Never Love This Way Again" was recorded by Dionne Warwick the following year. |
| 1979 | Dance Forever | Capitol Records | The album reached number 179 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The title track was also the closing theme of Charlie's Angels in Japan and was released as an EP, while the song "Where Is Someone To Love Me" was the theme of a Japanese whisky TV commercial featuring Ladd herself. |
| 1981 | Take a Chance | Capitol Records | Released in Japan |
| 1982 | You Make It Beautiful | Capitol Records | Mini-album released in Tokyo, Japan |

### Singles

| Issued | Title | Label | Release | Catalogue No. |
| 1970 | "Every Beat Of My Heart" b/w "It's All Right With Me" (as a member of Josie and the Pussycats) | Capitol Records | 45 rpm | 2967 |
| | "Inside, Outside, Upside Down" b/w "A Letter To Mama" (Josie and the Pussycats) | Kellogg's Cereal Promo Record | | CP-58 |
| | "Josie" b/w "With Every Beat Of My Heart" (Josie and the Pussycats) | Kellogg's Cereal Promo Record | | CP-59 |
| | "Voodoo" b/w "If This Isn't Love" (Josie and the Pussycats) | Kellogg's Cereal Promo Record | | CP-60 |
| | "It's Gotta Be Him" b/w "I Wanna Make You Happy" (Josie and the Pussycats) | Kellogg's Cereal Promo Record | | CP-61 |
| 1971 | "Stop Look And Listen" b/w "You've Come A Long Way Baby" (Josie and the Pussycats) | Capitol Records | 45 rpm | P-3045 |
| 1974 | "The Family" b/w "Mamma Don't Be Blue" | Warner Bros | 45 rpm | 7821 |
| 1976 | "Country Love" b/w "He's Looking More Everyday Like The Man Who Broke My Heart" | Capitol Records | 45 rpm | 4215 |
| 1978 | "Think It Over" b/w "Here Is A Song" | Capitol Records | 45 rpm | 4599 |
| | "Good Good Lovin'" b/w "Skinnydippin" | Capitol Records | 45 rpm | 4650 |
| | "Skinnydippin'"(Extended Version) (either side) | Capitol Records | 12" Promo Single | SPRO-8894 |
| | "Walking in the Rain" b/w "I'll Come Running" | Capitol Records Japan | 45 rpm | ECR-20516 |
| 1979 | "Missing You" b/w "Thunder In The Distance" | Capitol Records | | 4698 |
| | "Missing You" (Extended Version) (either side) | | 12" Promo Single | SPRO-9096 |
| | "Dance Forever" b/w "Missing You" | Capitol Records Japan | 45 rpm | ECR-20575 |
| 1980 | "Where Is Someone To Love Me" b/w "Just Like Old Times" | | | ECR-17013 |
| 1981 | "Just Another Lover Tonight" b/w "Television" | | | ECR-17205 |
| | "Take A Chance" b/w "Victim Of The Circumstance" | | | ECR-17155 |
| 1982 | "Can't Say No To You" b/w "You Make It Beautiful" (duet with Frankie Valli) | Capitol Records | | B-5115 |
| | "You Make It Beautiful" (duet with Frankie Valli) b/w "Can't Say No To You/Love And Passion/Sakura Sakura" | Capitol Records Japan | EP | ECS-41010 |