Marilu Henner, born Mary Lucy Denise Henner in 1952, is an American actress, producer, author, and radio host. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised on the Northwest Side in the Logan Square neighborhood. Henner is the third of six children. Her mother, Loretta Callis (born Nikoleta Kalogeropoulos), was of Greek descent and ran the Henner Dance School for over 20 years. Loretta also served as president of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts. Her father, Joseph Henner (formerly Pudlowski), of Polish heritage, passed away from a heart attack at age 52, while her mother died from complications related to arthritis at age 58.
Henner began dancing at the age of two and started teaching dance at her family's studio by 14. She choreographed school productions and remained active in performance arts throughout her education. Henner attended the University of Chicago, where she studied in Hyde Park and became involved in local theater.
While a student at the University of Chicago, Henner originated the role of Marty in the 1971 Kingston Mines Theater production of the musical Grease. When the show was picked up for Broadway, Henner was invited to reprise her role. However, she chose instead to tour with the National Touring Company of Grease, performing alongside John Travolta, who played Doody.
Henner gained widespread recognition for her role as Elaine O’Connor Nardo in the hit television sitcom Taxi, which aired from 1978 to 1983. Her performance in this role made her a familiar face to American audiences and defined a significant part of her acting career.
Beyond acting, Henner has appeared in a variety of television roles and reality-based programming. She served as host for the television series America’s Ballroom Challenge. Additionally, she competed on The Celebrity Apprentice during its first season, where she was eliminated in the eighth episode by then-host Donald Trump.
Marilu Henner is also an accomplished author, having written several books focusing on health, diet, and memory improvement. One of her most prominent works, Total Health Makeover, promotes a non-dairy diet, regular exercise, and healthy eating habits. Through her books and public appearances, Henner has become a vocal advocate for wellness and lifestyle transformation.
| Birth Date: | 6 Apr, 1952 |
| Age: | 68 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Chicago |
| Education: | University of Chicago |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | American actress |
| Spouse: | Frederic Forrest[1980-1982] Robert Lieberman[1990-2001] |
| Net Worth 2021: | 12 million |
