Wendy Schaal


Wendy Schaal is an American actress known for her work in Joe Dante films, such as Innerspace, The 'Burbs, and Small Soldiers. Her other film credits include starring in Where the Boys Are '84, Creature, Going Under, and Munchies. She had many roles on television series in the 1980s, most notably as Vicki Allen on It's a Living and Marilyn Kelsy on Airwolf. Since 2005, she has primarily worked in voice acting, most notably voicing Francine Smith on the animated comedy television series ''American Dad!''

Early years

Schaal was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Lois Schaal and actor Richard Schaal. Schaal's father was married to actress Valerie Harper from 1964 to 1978, during which time Harper was her stepmother. From birth until she was five, Schaal lived with her parents in Crete, Illinois. She moved with her mother to Newport Beach, California after her parents divorced. Schaal studied acting with Viola Spolin in Chicago when she was nine years old, later moving to Wisconsin and then California when she was 11. When she was 14, a trip to New York to be with her father and Harper soon led her to California again when her father and stepmother chose to settle in Hollywood.
Schaal earned an Associate of Arts degree from Los Angeles City College, acting and working in set construction. After she attended an acting workshop led by her father, she began to work on television.

Career

Schaal's early work on television included roles on Fish, Little House on the Prairie, Phyllis, Rhoda, and Welcome Back, Kotter. In 1981, Schaal joined the cast of the ABC-TV series Fantasy Island, portraying Julie, the niece of the program's central character, Mr. Roarke. Her other roles on TV included Bonnie Hornback in AfterMASH, Debbie Pepper in Good Grief, Vickie Allen in It's a Living, and Liz Dooley in Nearly Departed. She also provides the voice of Francine Smith in the cartoon series ''American Dad!''

Personal life

Schaal was married to Stephen M. Schwartz on September 4, 1977, but divorced in October 1987. They have one son.

Union activism

On March 30, 2012, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists completed a merger of equals forming a new union SAG-AFTRA. As a result of this merger, a group of actors including Schaal, fellow voice actors Michael Bell, Clancy Brown, Schaal's former stepmother Valerie Harper, and other actors including former SAG President Edward Asner, Martin Sheen, Ed Harris, and Nancy Sinatra immediately sued against the current SAG President Ken Howard and several SAG Vice Presidents to overturn the merger and separate the two unions because of their claims that the election was improper. The plaintiffs dropped their lawsuit several months later.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1976Welcome Back, KotterGirl in HallwayEpisode: "Sadie Hawkins Day"
1976RhodaJanRecurring role
1977FishPeggy DunnaganEpisode: "Fish's Job"
1979FamilySarahEpisode: "Malicious Mischief"
1979Little House on the PrairieChristie NortonEpisode: "Annabelle"
1980–1981It's a LivingVicki AllenMain cast
1981–1982Fantasy IslandJulieMain cast
1982Strike ForceMandyEpisode: "Chinatown"
1982Happy DaysLorraineEpisode: "Since I Don't Have You"
1982–83The Love BoatElaine Hamilton / Milicent FinleyS6 E7/
1983AfterMASHBonnie HornbackRecurring role
1984Fatal VisionColette MacDonaldMiniseries
1984Cover UpRebeccaEpisode: "Midnight Highway"
1985Knight RiderJamie DownsEpisode: "The Nineteenth Hole"
1985Finder of Lost LovesEmma TateEpisode: "Connections"
1985The A-TeamKarenEpisode: "Lease with an Option to Die"
1986MacGyverKaren BlakeEpisode: "Deathlock"
1986AirwolfMarilyn KelsyEpisode: "Hawke's Run"
1986Amazing StoriesSheenaEpisode: "Boo!"
1987Gung HoKellyEpisode: "Love Me Tender"
1987DuetElectraEpisode: "Satin Doll"
1987My Two DadsChristineEpisode: "Sex, Judge, and Rock & Roll"
1988Full HouseVivianEpisode: "Sisterly Love"
1988Night CourtDianeEpisode: "Harry and the Tramp"
1989Nearly DepartedLiz DooleyMain cast
1989Dear JohnLisaEpisode: "Sisters"
1990–1991Good GriefDebbie LapidusMain cast
1992Northern ExposureTammy TamboEpisode: "My Mother, My Sister"
1993Red Shoe Diaries'Lilac' BossEpisode: "Hotline"
1994Runaway DaughtersMrs. Mildred CahnTelevision film
1995Murder, She WroteZuleika BrownEpisodes: "Nan's Ghost: Parts 1 & 2"
1995Hope and GloriaNurse NancyEpisode: "Money You Should Mention"
1995The John Larroquette ShowBrendaEpisode: "An Odd Cup of Tea"
1997FriendsJeannineEpisode: "The One with All the Jealousy"
1997Star Trek: VoyagerCharleneEpisode: "Real Life"
1997Fired UpSusanEpisode: "Are We Not Friends?"
1998Beyond Belief: Fact or FictionMomEpisode: "The Woods"
2000The X-FilesMartha CrittendonEpisode: "Chimera"
2001Boston PublicMrs. Callie WebbEpisode: "Chapter 15"
2001The HuntressHelena BarsamianEpisode: "Undercover"
2001Six Feet UnderVicki DimasRecurring role
2002ProvidenceNancy NeimanEpisode: "Limbo"
2002BoomtownDarlene BeechemEpisode: "The Freak"
2005–presentAmerican Dad!Francine Smith Main cast
2013; 2017; 2018Family GuyFrancine Smith
Various		Episodes: "Bigfat", "The Peter Principal", "Con Heiress"

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014Family Guy: The Quest for StuffFrancine Smith
2022Warped Kart RacersFrancine Smith Archived recordings