Erin Gray

Erin S. Gray (born January 7, 1950) is an American actress who began her career as a model. She has also worked as a casting agent. Her roles include Colonel Wilma Deering in the science fiction television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Kate Summers-Stratton in the situation comedy Silver Spoons.

Early life When Gray was eight, her parents separated. Commercials followed in Los Angeles. She also appeared on television in 1967 as a dancer in Malibu U. However, she decided to move to New York City to further her modeling career. "By 1975, Gray was one of the nation's top TV models, earning $100,000 a year."

In 1978, she landed her first starring role, on the miniseries Evening in Byzantium. Following good notices, Gray was put on a seven-year contract at Universal Studios, which led directly to her taking the role of Colonel Wilma Deering in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, at first for a theatrically released movie, then for a weekly TV series. Gray, wearing a Spandex jumpsuit, was popular with the show's predominantly young male audience.

Gray was aware of the sexiness of her tight uniform. Her character, the female lead, also had a high profile in the show, second only to Gil Gerard in the starring role. Gray was seen as an important role model for female viewers, as she explained to an interviewer:

Shortly after Buck Rogers, Gray appeared in the first season Magnum, P.I. episode, "J. 'Digger' Doyle", in which she played security expert Joy 'Digger' Doyle. The role was intended to become recurring, and even possibly spun off into a separate series, but neither happened, and it remained the character's only appearance in the series. In 1982, Gray played the role of Lilah in the summer feature film Six Pack as Kenny Rogers' love interest. Gray's role as Kate Summers in the TV sitcom Silver Spoons lasted for several years in the 1980s. Among her work in commercials was a 2010 spot for Pup-Peroni dog treats.

Gray is now a casting agent whose agency, Heroes for Hire, specializes in booking sci-fi and fantasy stars for personal appearances, speaking engagements, and charity events. Gray also teaches tai chi.

In 1998, Gray wrote a book, Act Right, with Mara Purl which contains advice for novice television and movie actors. A revised edition was published in 2002.

Gray starred in the 2011 film Dreams Awake (with Alien Nation co-star Gary Graham). She also played the role of Madeline Twain on the web series The Guild.

Gray guest-starred in the 2014 webisode "Lolani" from the web series Star Trek Continues as Commodore Gray, an episode that also starred Lou Ferrigno. Commodore Gray reappears in 2016, with the seventh episode "Embracing the Winds."

Personal life Gray has been married twice. She met Ken Schwartz in high school and married in San Francisco on November 29, 1968, which lasted until 1990, during which they had one son in 1976. Schwartz, a real estate executive, remained in New York with their young son when Gray first started working on Buck Rogers, and eventually moved to Los Angeles to work as her manager when her acting career flourished.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes 1979 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Colonel Wilma Deering Winter Kills Beautiful Woman Three 1982 Six Pack Lilah 1989 The Princess and the Dwarf Unknown 1993 Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday Diana Kimble 1994 A Dangerous Place Audrey T-Force Mayor Pendleton 2000 The Last Producer Dee Freeman Woman's Story Laurel Warner Delicate Instruments Jessica Livingston Short 2001 Serial Intentions Virginia Madden Touched by a Killer Liza Collins Social Misfits Sharon Cox, Mitsy's Mom 2002 Clover Bend Betty Clayton Special Weapons and Tactics The Mayor Short 2003 Manfast Gloria Day 2005 Caught in the Headlights Mrs. Jones 2006 Siren Sharon Cox 2007 Jane Doe: How to Fire Your Boss Laura Sands 2008 Nuclear Hurricane Jane The Wedding Video Carol 2008 Loaded Susan Price My True Self Mrs. Ellen Fields 2009 Hunter Prey Clea 2011 Dreams Awake Hope Emrys 2012 Nesting Mrs. Deegan 2013 Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th Herself Documentary film 2014 Christmas in Palm Springs Mayor Tomlin 2017 In-World War Mother 2019 Finding Grace Judge Ariel Harper A Christmas Princess Queen Alice of Edgemont

Television

YearTitleRole Notes 1976 Maude Model (uncredited) 1 episode: "The Game Show" 1978 Police Story Laurie Tice 1 episode: "Day of Terror... Night of Fear" Evening in Byzantium Gail McKinnon TV movie 1979 The Rockford Files Margaret 'Alta' Hatch 1 episode: "With the French Heel Back, Can the Nehru Jacket Be Far Behind?" The Ultimate Impostor Beatrice 'Bucky' Tate TV movie B. J. and the Bear Samantha Evans 1 episode: "Cain's Cruiser" 1979–1981 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Colonel Wilma Deering Female lead, entire run (32 episodes) 1980 Vegas Jennifer Stallings 1 episode: "Black Cat Killer" Coach of the Year Paula DeFalco TV movie 1980-1982 Fantasy Island Laura Jensen / Carla Marco 2 episodes: "Face of Love/Image of Celeste", "Skater's Edge/Concerto of Death/The Last Great Race" 1980 The Love Boat Maggie Cook, Agent to Mr. Swaggart Season 4 Episode 9: "Maggie Cook" 1981 Magnum, P.I. Joy 'Digger' Doyle 1 episode: "J."Digger" Doyle" 1982 The Fall Guy Bonnie Carlson 2 episodes: "License to Kill: Parts 1 & 2" Simon & Simon Vicki Whittaker 1 episode: "Matchmaker" Born Beautiful Betsy Forrest TV movie 1982–1987 Silver Spoons Kate Summers-Stratton 5 seasons; 116 episodes 1985 Code of Vengeance Nadine Flowers 1 episode: "Code of Vengeance" 1986 Hotel Vanessa Clark 1 episode: "Façades" 1987 Starman Jenny Hayden 2 episodes: "Starscape: Parts 1 & 2" Breaking Home Ties Carol TV movie 1988 Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace Captain Terry O'Malley TV movie Addicted to His Love Jenny Barrett TV movie Murder, She Wrote Andrea Dean 1 episode: "Wearing of the Green" 1989 The Hitchhiker Leslie 1 episode: "Together Forever" Hunter Kate Lawson 1 episode: "On Air" 1990 L.A. Law Rochelle Peters 1 episode: "Ex-Wives and Videotape" Laker Girls Julie Lawrence TV movie Jake and the Fatman Jill Crockett 1 episode: "I Know That You Know" 1991 Evening Shade Madeline Hall 1 episode: "Wood and Ava and Gil and Madeline" The New Lassie Maggie Sullivan 1 episode: "Leeds, the Judge" 1992 Superboy Samantha Meyers 1 episode: "Cat and Mouse" Dark Justice Chelsea Manning 1 episode: "The Specialist" Les Danseurs du Mozambique Kathryn Saint TV movie 1993 Almost Home Jennifer 1 episode: "Sleeping with the Enemy" Bonkers Shirley 1 episode: "Quibbling Rivalry" Official Denial Annie Corliss TV movie 1993–1996 Silk Stalkings Connie Bayliss / Jillian Borson 2 episodes: "Dead Weight", "Exit Dying" 1994 Honor Thy Father and Mother: The True Story of the Menendez Murders Pamela Bozanich TV movie Burke's Law Brenda Palmer 1 episode: "Who Killed the Anchorman?" Heaven Help Us Unknown 1 episode: "The Belle's Farewell" 1995 Crowfoot Nora TV movie Renegade Donna MacKenzie 1 episode: "Dead Heat" 1997–1998 Baywatch Chief Monica Johnson 5 episodes 1999–2000 Port Charles Nicole Devlin 2000 Profiler Congresswoman Karen Archer 3 episodes: "Paradise Lost", "The Long Way Home", "Mea Culpa"2002Weakest LinkHerselfPlayed for Haven House & National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. 2007 The Wedding Bells Candy Heller 1 episode: "Wedding from Hell" Nuclear Hurricane Jane TV movie 2008 Ghouls Liz TV movie 2010 Elf Sparkle and the Special Red Dress Josette Peacock TV movie 2011 The Guild Madeleine Twain 5 episodes 2012 I Married Who? Ethel Swift TV movie 2013 TableTop Herself 1 episode: "Unspeakable Words" 2014 Star Trek Continues Commodore Gray 2 episodes: "Lolani", "Embracing the Winds" 2016 A Perfect Christmas Patricia TV movie 2017 Mystery Science Theater 3000 Martha Masters 1 episode: "Reptilicus"2018 The Thundermans"Nana" ThundermanEpisode: Make it Pop Pop

Video games Year Title Role 2009 Ghostbusters: The Video Game Spider Witch / Additional Voices