Cheryl Ladd

Cheryl Ladd, born Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor on July 12, 1951, in Huron, South Dakota, is an American actress, singer, and author. She is the second daughter of Dolores, a waitress, and Marion Stoppelmoor, a railroad engineer, both of German descent. After completing high school, Ladd toured the United States Midwest performing with a band called The Music Shop before relocating to Los Angeles in 1970.

Ladd initially pursued a music career upon arriving in Hollywood, working under the name Cherie Moor as the singing voice of the character Melody in Hanna-Barbera's animated series Josie and the Pussycats, and contributing vocals to the show's 1970 album. She subsequently transitioned into on-screen work, landing guest appearances in episodic television programs including The Rookies, The Partridge Family, Police Woman, The Muppet Show, Search, and Happy Days.

Her career shifted significantly in 1977 when she was cast in the ABC series Charlie's Angels, joining the show in its second season to replace Farrah Fawcett. Producers introduced Ladd's character, Kris Munroe, as the younger sister of Fawcett's character, easing the transition for audiences. Ladd remained a central cast member for four seasons until the series was cancelled in June 1981. During this period, she expanded her musical output, releasing three albums, charting a top-40 single on the Billboard Hot 100, earning a gold record, performing the National Anthem at Super Bowl XIV in January 1980, and co-hosting the 1979 Emmy Awards alongside Henry Winkler.

Following Charlie's Angels, Ladd built an extensive television career, appearing in more than 30 made-for-television films, including a biopic in which she portrayed Grace Kelly. She held the lead role in the series One West Waikiki from 1994 to 1996 and appeared in 29 episodes of the drama Las Vegas between 2003 and 2008, playing Jillian Deline, the wife of the character Ed Deline, portrayed by James Caan. Her feature film credits include Purple Hearts (1984), Millennium (1989), Poison Ivy (1992), Permanent Midnight (1998), and Unforgettable (2017). Additional television appearances include guest roles on Charmed, Hope and Faith, CSI: Miami, and NCIS, as well as a recurring role in Chuck as Sarah Walker's mother.

In September 2000, Ladd brought her talents to Broadway, taking over the title role in the revival of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun from Bernadette Peters. She held the role through January 2001, when Reba McEntire succeeded her in the part.

Ladd has also worked as an author, publishing the children's book The Adventures of Little Nettie Windship in 1996, followed by Token Chick: A Woman's Guide to Golfing With the Boys in 2005, an autobiographical work centered on her passion for golf. She hosted a Buick-sponsored golf tournament for several years. In April 2010, Ladd and fellow Charlie's Angels cast member Jaclyn Smith accepted the TV Land Pop Culture Award on behalf of the series. In September 2022, Ladd was announced as a contestant on season 31 of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Louis Van Amstel; the pair were eliminated in the third week, finishing in 14th place. Ladd serves as a celebrity ambassador for Childhelp, a nonprofit focused on child abuse prevention and treatment.

In her personal life, Ladd married actor David Ladd, son of actor Alan Ladd, in 1973. The couple have a daughter, actress Jordan Ladd, and divorced in 1980, after which Ladd retained her married surname. Since 1981, she has been married to music producer Brian Russell, and has a stepdaughter, Lindsay Russell.