In 1977, Henner was cast in her breakthrough role as Elaine O\'Connor Nardo in the ABC/NBC sitcom Taxi, a role she played to 1983 and received five Golden Globe Award nominations. She later has had co-starring roles in films such as Hammett (1982), The Man Who Loved Women (1983), Cannonball Run II (1984), Johnny Dangerously (1984), Rustlers\' Rhapsody (1985), L.A. Story (1991), and Noises Off (1992). She returned to television with a starring role in the CBS sitcom Evening Shade (1990–94), and later had leading roles in many made-for-television movies.\n', '

Henner was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Loretta Callis (born Nikoleta Kalogeropoulos), who died of arthritis at age 58 and Joseph Henner (whose surname was originally Pudlowski), who died of a heart attack at age 52. Her maternal grandparents were Greek and her paternal grandparents were Polish. Henner was raised on the northwest side of Chicago in the Logan Square neighborhood. She is the third of six children.[citation needed] Her mother was president of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts and ran the Henner Dance School for 20 years.[citation needed] Henner took her first dance class at age two then went on to teaching dance at her family\'s studio when she was 14 and choreographed shows at local high schools and colleges until leaving the Chicago area during her third year of college.[citation needed]\n', '

While a student at the University of Chicago in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Henner originated the role of "Marty" in the Kingston Mines production of Grease in 1971. When the show was discovered and moved to Broadway, she was asked to reprise the role; however, she chose instead to play "Marty" in the national touring company alongside John Travolta, who played "Doody". Additional Broadway credits for Henner include Over Here!, with Travolta, revivals of Pal Joey, Chicago, Social Security, and The Tale of the Allergist\'s Wife. Her first film appearance was in the 1977 sleeper-hit Between the Lines, co-starring then-unknowns Jeff Goldblum, Lindsay Crouse, John Heard, and Jill Eikenberry. Her second role was opposite Richard Gere in the 1978 film Bloodbrothers.\n', '

Return to Marilu Henner Autograph Profile