Lynda Goodfriend
Lynda Goodfriend is an American actress. Her credits include Blansky's Beauties, Who's Watching the Kids?, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Beaches, Pretty Woman, and Exit to Eden. However, her most notable role was playing Lori Beth Cunningham, Richie's girlfriend then wife, on the TV sitcom Happy Days.
In 2011 she become 'Chair of the Acting Department' in the New York Film Academy.
Early life and education
Goodfriend graduated from Coral Gables High School in Coral Gables, Florida and from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where she received a degree in drama. She studied acting with Lee Strasberg and Sanford Meisner, also attended the Harvey Lembeck comedy workshop.Career
Goodfriend started her career as a professional dancer and singer 'Off Broadway' where she performed alongside John Travolta. On Broadway, she performed in Good News.She played Ethel "Sunshine" Akalino on the short-lived series Blansky's Beauties. After that show left the air, she and co-star Scott Baio joined Happy Days in 1977. She originally played a guest role in the fourth season of Happy Days as Kim in "Time Capsule" and "Graduation ", before returning to the show as Lori Beth in season five.
Goodfriend went on to play several parts in notable Garry Marshall films, playing a tourist in Pretty Woman, as well as cameo and guest star roles in Exit to Eden, Nothing in Common and Beaches. During the mid to late 1980s, Goodfriend appeared in several independent projects, including An All Consuming Passion, a film written and directed by Kathryn Nesmith. Goodfriend directed the teleplay pilot Four Stars that was financed by Garry Marshall, and starred veteran actor Bert Kramer and actress Julie Paris. Most recently, she directed the short film The Perfect Crime in 2009.
Goodfriend started 'The Actors Workout' in North Hollywood, the Theatre District, where she developed two schools plus one Theatre. She became head of 'Young Artists Management' for some years, working with top acting talent. In 2006, she joined the New York Film Academy, as a teacher of acting, later to become 'Chair of the Acting Department' in 2011.