Didi Conn
| Didi Conn | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Edith Bernstein July 13, 1951 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Frankie Conn (1975 – April 21, 1978)[1] (divorced) David Shire (1982–present) |
| Children | 1 |
Didi Conn (born Edith Bernstein; July 13, 1951) is an American film, stage and television actress. Conn was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of a clinical psychologist.[2]
Career
Conn made her debut as an actress in the 1960s. Her notable characters since the 1970s, when she first became prominent, include:
- Laurie Robinson in You Light Up My Life, 1977 (for which Kasey Cisyk provided the character's singing voice)
- "Frenchy" in the feature films
- Grease, 1978, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
- Grease 2, 1982, starring Maxwell Caulfield and Michelle Pfeiffer
- Helen on the 1976–77 television series The Practice
- Denise Stevens Downey on the TV show Benson, 1981–85, with Robert Guillaume
- Stacy Jones on the children's TV show Shining Time Station, 1989–93 [3]
Conn provided the voice for Raggedy Ann in the animated feature Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure (1977) directed by Richard Williams. Conn's "childlike" voice is one of her trademarks. She has occasionally appeared as a celebrity guest on game shows like Match Game, The $20,000 $25,000 and $100,000 Pyramids, Chain Reaction, and Go.
In 2013, she starred as "Pearl" in the play A Heap of Livin' by Elliot Shoenman, at The Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles.
Activism
Conn's son Daniel was diagnosed with autism.[4] On November 13, 2008, Conn was named national celebrity spokesperson for Autism Speaks.[5] Before that, Conn was a spokesperson for the National Alliance for Autism Research, now part of Autism Speaks. She has performed at benefits for Foundation for Educating Children with Autism (FECA).[6]
On September 27, 2008, Conn performed with David Shire and Lynne Wintersteller at a benefit performance for Barack Obama in Nyack, New York.[7]
She also recorded a video for It Gets Better.
Personal life
"Didi" was her childhood nickname. She attended Midwood High School. Her brother is opera singer Richard Bernstein.
She married her first husband Frank Conn in 1975 and they divorced in 1978. She has been married to composer David Shire since 1982, with whom she has a son, Daniel Shire, who has been diagnosed with autism. Conn is also stepmother to Matthew Shire, a Los Angeles screenwriter.
Notable roles on film and television
- 2011: Gigantic ... Herself
- 2008: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit .... Nurse (2 episodes, 2008) "Authority"
- 2008: Oh Baby! .... David's Mom
- 2006: Helen at Risk (V) .... Helen
- 2005: Shooting Vegetarians .... Patrice
- 2003: Stanley .... Mrs. Goldberg (1 episode, 2003)
- 2002: Frida .... Waitress
- 2000: Thomas & the Magic Railroad .... Stacy Jones
- 1996: The Flintstones Christmas in Bedrock (V) (voice) .... Additional Voices
- 1994: L.A. Law .... Ms. Tressman (1 episode, 1994)
- 1993: A Flintstone Family Christmas (TV) (voice) .... Stella
- 1990: Shining Time Station: 'Tis a Gift (TV) .... Stacy Jones
- 1989: Shining Time Station .... Stacy Jones / ... (Main role, 1989–1995)
- 1989: Mr Jones & Friends (1 episode, 1991)
- 1987: Highway to Heaven .... Birdy Belker / Wanda ... (Ghost Rider / All That Glitters - 1987)
- 1987: Cagney & Lacey .... Roswell (1 episode, 1987)
- 1985: Star Fairies (TV) (voice) .... Spice
- 1985: Hotel .... Patty Maloney (1 episode, 1985)
- 1981: Benson .... Denise Florence Stevens Downey (72 episodes, 1981–1984)
- 1984: ABC Weekend Specials .... Dimples (1 episode, 1984) - Bad Cat (1984) TV episode (voice) .... Dimples
- 1983: The Love Boat .... Jenny (1 episode, 1983)
- 1983: The Magic Show .... Cal
- 1982: Grease 2 .... Frenchy
- 1982: American Playhouse .... Receptionist (1 episode, 1982)
- 1981: Violet .... Violet
- 1980: The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang .... Cupcake (24 episodes, 1980–1981)
- 1980: Semi-Tough .... Kiki (1 episode, 1980)
- 1979: Almost Summer .... Donna DeVito
- 1978: Grease .... Frenchy
- 1978: Murder at the Mardi Gras (TV) .... Julie Evans
- 1978: Three on a Date (TV) .... Eve Harris
- 1977: You Light Up My Life .... Laurie Robinson
- 1977: Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure (voice) .... Raggedy Ann
- 1976: The Practice .... Helen (18 episodes, 1976–1977)
- 1975: The Rookies .... Young Woman (1 episode, 1975)
- 1975: Keep on Truckin' (TV series)
- 1975: Happy Days .... Joyce (1 episode, 1979)
- 1973: Genesis II (TV) .... TV Actress
- 1962: The Jetsons TV series .... Additional Voices (unknown episodes)
References
- ↑ Frank H. Conn Biography IMDB
- ↑ Didi Conn Biography (1951-) from FilmReference.com
- ↑ "Didi Conn Biography (1951-)". filmreference.com. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
- ↑ I Was the Queen of Denial on Autism CNN.com, April 1, 2009
- ↑ Didi Conn Named a National Celebrity Spokesperson for Autism Speaks, Autism Speaks, e-Speaks, November 14, 2008
- ↑ "Devereux Millwood gala goes retro - Devereux". devereux.org. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
- ↑ Sept 27, 2008 Obama Benefit performance, Nyack News & Views, September 21, 2008
External links
- Didi Conn at the Internet Movie Database
|