A cheerleader, Lois Lane, a Bond girl, a housewife, and a former romantic interest of Richard Dean Anderson. This is a little of who Teri Hatcher is. It’s been a pretty amazing run for the onetime San Francisco 49ers cheerleader, and every time her career seems stalled (or even over), another thing comes around where she completely reinvents herself. She’s a survivor.
Born and raised in northern California, Teri pursued acting while studying math and engineering. She became a 49ers cheerleader at the age of 20, and came to Hollwood to support an actor friend – only to find herself auditioning to be a mermaid on the final season of “The Love Boat.” She got it. From there began a long career on television, an early highlight being her recurring character of Penny Parker on “MacGyver.” She bounced around as a guest star on numerous television shows – including (and famously) “Seinfeld” – before finally having a show of her own, as Lois Lane, no less. “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” became a surprise hit and ran for four seasons on ABC. The exposure was huge for Teri, who continued film work while on break as Lois, and was awarded the coveted role of a Bond girl in “Tomorrow Never Dies” in 1997. As Paris Carver, she even gets to slap 007 in the face.
But just when it seemed her career was going to skyrocket in the late 90s (including a surge as a Web goddess), things didn’t go much of anywhere. During this time, she went through her second divorce, was raising a newborn daughter, and taking parts in forgotten projects. Needless to say, “Desperate Housewives” in 2004 not only saved her, but the role of Susan Mayer showcased her unique acting qualities – so much so that she won a Golden Globe, and is the perennial audience favorite on the show. She has become a model of graceful aging, penned an autobiography Burnt Toast, and has withstood abuse as a child and many publicized romantic breakups in her adult years. Now, she’s the highest paid actress on television, is gorgeous and single. We think she’s proven she can survive just about anything.
Teri Hatcher on the Screen
Her first start was as Amy, the Loveboat Mermaid in the final season of “The Love Boat” from 1985 – 1986. She made some notice as the ditzy Penny Parker on the Richard Dean Anderson series “MacGyver,” and was Sidra (“they’re real and they’re spectacular”) for three episodes on “Seinfeld.” Of course, her parts on “Lois & Clark” and “Desperate Housewives” are her most recognizable, but she’s also done her fair share of movie roles. She’s part of the ensemble in the comedy “Soapdish,” is the leading lady in “Brain Smasher: A Love Story” from 1993, is Stallone’s sister in “Tango & Cash,” Becky Foxx in the LA story “2 Days in the Valley,” 007’s old flame in “Tomorrow Never Dies,” and the lead in the indie “A Touch of Fate.”
Back for another round as Susan Mayer on “Desperate Housewives,” Teri recently split from her boyfriend (and fellow “Housewife” co-star) Stephen Kaye. Her latest big screen role is in the sports drama “Resurrecting the Champ,” and she’s the voice of Dakota Fanning’s mother in the upcoming animated fantasy “Coraline.”
Teri Says
On being a celebrity:
“All I know is that I’m on that show every week and I’m, like, a big deal on the Internet. What more could I want?”
On her career:
“I couldn’t have been a bigger has-been. Two years ago I was crying on my kitchen floor thinking I’ll never be able to pay my mortgage.”
On the secret to life:
“My advice: be healthy, reach your own goals and don’t be afraid to impersonate a SNL star.”
More Teri Hatcher in “Desperate Housewives”
