Cheryl Ladd Biography

Born Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor, to an engineer father and waitress mother, she dreamed of becoming a movie star, and took tap lessons and sang at home with her dad.

In high school, she played in a jazz trio, Music Shop Band, which travelled from the Midwest to California, to try and make it professionally.

When the group broke up, Ladd decided to stay and chase her dream. Her first real gig was singing backup on the cartoon show, 'Josie and the Pussycats'.

After acting in commercials, she landed a role in a 1973 movie, 'Jamaica Reef', and met her first husband, David Ladd. They married in 1973, and two years later, their daughter, Jordan, was born. The marriage lasted six years.

In 1977, she was scouted by 'Charlie's Angels' producer Aaron Spelling to replace Farrah Fawcett, who had unexpectedly left the year-old sensation. Petite, but with plenty of spirit, Ladd was a hit as Kris Munroe. "She had to fill a big pair of shoes, and she did it with confidence," says co-star Jaclyn Smith.

After her 1979 split, Ladd found romance with Scottish-born Brian Russell, who had cut two 1970s pop albums before turning to movie producing in the 1980s.

Cheryl won kudos for a role in the edgy 'Permanent Midnight', and played a mother in family drama 'A Dog of Flanders'. She said that her dream gig would be, "Some wonderful Mrs. Robinson part, where I can be really attractive, sexual and powerful, There are a couple of young actors I'd sure like to work with."

Her hobbies include golf, art, and writing children's books.