Rhonda Shear

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Rhonda Shear
Beauty pageant titleholder
Born Rhonda Honey Shear
(1954-11-12) November 12, 1954
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Years active 1970–present
Title(s) Miss Louisiana USA 1975
Major
competition(s)
Miss USA 1975
Spouse Van Fagen (2001-present)

Rhonda Shear (born November 12, 1954) is an American television personality, comedian, and actress.

Early life

Shear was born Rhonda Honey Shear in New Orleans, Louisiana, to a Jewish American family. She attended Loyola University, earning a B.A. in Communications.[1] Before she became famous, she earned titles in several beauty contests, including holding the titles of Miss Louisiana USA 1975 for Miss USA and that of Miss Louisiana for both the Miss World and the Miss International pageants.[2] Among her other titles was Queen of the Floral Trail Society. While she sported the latter title, she posed fully clothed for Playboy, but the organizers of that title were opposed to her appearing in that magazine, and took the title away from her. Shear gained notoriety after this episode.[3] In 1977, after graduating from Loyola University, Shear moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a career in Hollywood.[4]

Career

Shear is best known for her role as a host of the USA Network's 1980s and '90s weekend B-movie show, USA Up All Night. From 1991 to 1998 (Over 450[5] episodes), she hosted in-studio and on-location segments that typically aired on Friday nights, replacing comedian Caroline Schlitt (the Friday night host for the show's first few years). She also occasionally hosted the show with her Saturday counterpart, Gilbert Gottfried, in addition to making appearances on his edition. Her trademark manner of speaking the show's title, by raising her voice an octave when saying the word "Up", became a catch phrase. Shear also briefly hosted a comedy program called Spotlight Cafe, hosted previously by comic Judy Tenuta.

In June 1991, Shear posed in Playboy magazine's Funny Girls pictorial. In October 1993, she appeared in her own Playboy pictorial titled "Rhonda Is Up All Night".

Shear also co-starred in numerous sitcoms from playing the Fonz's girlfriend on Happy Days to the sexy neighbor on Married... with Children, before making her mark as a comedian. She then made her way into stand-up comedy, headlining as a successful comedian in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York, and eventually touring across the country with her popular "Comedy PJ Party", an on-stage slumber party with a number of comedic talents.

Shear Intimates LLC

In 2001, Rhonda Shear, with her husband Van Fagan, started a new career as the designer and entrepreneur behind Shear Enterprises, LLC and Rhonda Shear Intimates. Shear began designing from her home office in 2003 with just 3 employees soon launching the Rhonda Shear Intimates line at HSN. She was later picked up on shopping networks around the world, including The Shopping Channel (Canada) and Ideal World Shopping (U.K.). Rhonda Shear Intimates has continued to grow and is now represented in over 40 countries with over 25 employees in her St. Petersburg, Florida offices (her home since 2005). In 2010, Shear designed the Ahh Bra, and the product was an overnight success. The Ahh Bra is now the #1 selling bra worldwide with over 25 million sold internationally. In 2011 the company had 72 million dollars in sales.[6] As of 2013, she has added cosmetics, swim wear, fragrance, and Boomer Hottie.[7]

Charity Work

In 2011, Shear was the event chair and a sponsor for American Cancer Society's Making Strides: Put on Your Pink Bra Event. Between speaking engagements, creating a giant flying bra for the RedBull Flugtag, and helping with fundraising events, Shear got the chance to meet with women struggling in treatment or following surgery who needed bras that were affordable, feminine, and comfortable. She was struck by their stories, strength, and sense of community. Shear stays connected by donating product every month to women's shelters around the country and continuing her work nationwide with various charitable organizations that fund research and empower women.[8]

Credits

Filmography

  • Quadroon (1971)[9]
  • J.D.'s Revenge (1976)
  • Galaxina (1980)
  • Party Games for Adults Only (1984)
  • Doin' Time (1985)
  • Basic Training (1985)
  • Spaceballs (1987)
  • The Roller Blade Seven (1991)
  • Legend of the Roller Blade Seven (1992)
  • Return to Frogtown (1993)
  • Tender Loving Care (1995)
  • Assault of the Party Nerds 2: The Heavy Petting Detective (1995)
  • Earth Minus Zero (1996)
  • Don't Quit Your Day Job (1996 video game)
  • The Fanatics (1997)
  • Desperation Boulevard (1998)
  • Prison-A-Go-Go! (2003)
  • You Are All Going to Die (2013)

Discography

  • Your Bedtime Buddy (1996)

Television

  • The John Pela Show (dancer, 1970)
  • New Orleans Saints Vs. Atlanta Falcons Match (dancer, 1970)
  • Shape Spa Commercial (herself, 1977)
  • The $1.98 Beauty Show (contestant, 1978)[10]
  • The Gong Show (contestant, 1979)
  • Happy Days (1 episode, 1979)
  • The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1980)
  • The Bob Hope Special (1980)
  • Dance Fever (1981)
  • The Young and the Restless (1982)
  • Two Top Bananas (1982)
  • Dallas (3 episodes, 1982-1985)
  • CHiPs (1 episode, 1982)
  • Hart to Hart (1 episode, 1983)
  • The Fall Guy (1 episode, 1983)
  • The A-Team (1 episode, 1983)
  • Three's Company (1 episode, 1983)
  • Hour Magazine (1984)
  • Eye on L.A. (1984)
  • The Dukes of Hazzard (1 episode, 1984)
  • The New Mike Hammer (2 episodes, 1984)
  • Cheers (1 episode, 1985)
  • The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (1985)
  • The New Love American Style (1986-1987)
  • Hot Seat with Wally George (3 episodes, 1986-1987)
  • Me and Mrs. C (1987)
  • Hard Knocks (1989)
  • The Alan Thicke Show (1990)
  • Full House (1 episode, 1990)
  • Married... with Children (episode "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" 1990)
  • USA Up All Night (Host, 1991–1998)
  • Circus of the Stars (1991)
  • Doctor Doctor (1 episode, 1991)
  • Into The Night (1992)
  • A & E's Comedy on the Road (1992)
  • Larry King Live (guest, 1993)
  • Maury Povich Show (guest, 1993-1994)
  • Entertainment Tonight (1993 and 1995)
  • Joan Rivers Show (1994)
  • Sally Jessy Raphael (1994)
  • VH1 Top 21 Countdown (1994)
  • Rick Dees Show (1994)
  • Christina Show (1994)
  • Bertice Barry Show (1994)
  • Silk Stalkings (1 episode, 1994)
  • WWF Wrestlemania X (guest timekeeper, 1994)
  • Battle of the Sexes (1995)
  • Evening at the Improv (1995-1996)
  • Richard Bey Show (1995)
  • Geraldo (1995-1998)
  • Clint Homes Show (1995)
  • Mike and Maty Show (1995)
  • Good Morning Television (1995)
  • Women Aloud (1995)
  • The Howard Stern Show (guest, 1995)
  • Duckman (1 episode, 1996)
  • Live form Queens (1996)
  • Runaway with The Rich and Famous (1996)
  • Pictionary (guest, 1997)
  • Oddville, MTV (1 episode, 1997)
  • Hard Copy (1998)
  • Unhappily Ever After (1 episode, 1998)
  • Access Hollywood (1998)
  • Bloomberg Report (1998)
  • The X Show (2000-2001)
  • Love Bytes (1 episode, 2001)
  • Home Shopping Network (correspondent, 2003–Present)
  • The Peter Austin Noto Show (9 episodes, 2013)

Awards & Recognitions

  • Miss Louisiana USA
  • Miss Louisiana World
  • Miss Hollywood
  • Miss LA Press Club
  • Miss Golden Globes
  • Best B-Movie Actress (Prison A Go-Go)
  • Voted Tampa Bay’s Best Local Lingerie Boutique
  • Former President of International Bachelor Women
  • Featured Fashion Designer at Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2008, 2009, 2011
  • Winner of HerRoom.com “Undies Awards” 2011 Best Leisure Bra
  • Event Chairperson 2011, American Cancer Society: Making Strides “Put on Your Pink Bra” Event
  • Winner of “Best Female Presenter” 2011 Moxie Awards by ERA
  • Winner of 2012 Enterprising Women Award
  • Winner of 2012 Best Product Award at HSN
  • 3rd Place Winner of 2012 WPO’s of Top 50 Fastest Growing Women Led Companies
  • Winner of Treasure Coast International Film Festival Visionary Award
  • Winner in 2012 Ernst & Young Retail and Consumer Products Category
  • Winner in 2012 Stevie Awards as Most Innovative Company of the Year
  • Winner of 2012 Gulf Coast Business Review Entrepreneur of the Year
  • Winner of Entrepreneur of the Year - Ernst & Young "Retail & Consumer Products"
  • Winner of Stevie Award Bronze - Most Innovative Company of the Year

References

External links

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