Karen Akers

Karen Akers (born October 13, 1945) is an American actress and singer, who has appeared on Broadway, and in cabaret and film.

Early years Born on October 13, 1945, in New York City, and is a graduate of Hunter College. a musical directed by Tommy Tune and based on the Federico Fellini film 8½, as Luisa Contini, the wife of promiscuous film director Guido Contini (played by Raúl Juliá). The show opened May 9, 1982, and had a successful run of 732 performances, closing February 4, 1984. Akers won a Theatre World Award for her performance. She was one of three actresses in the show nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, with the award eventually going to fellow cast member Liliane Montevecchi.

Beginning in 1985, Akers appeared in such feature films as Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo (as a celluloid chanteuse), and in Heartburn (as the mistress of Jack Nicholson's character).

In the mid-1980s Akers performed in the one-woman show An Evening With Karen Akers.

She appeared on Broadway in Grand Hotel,

Akers is bilingual, singing in French and in English.

Personal life Akers married Jim Akers in 1968, a union which yielded two sons, and ended in divorce.

As of April 2000, Akers was living in London.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1985 The Purple Rose of Cairo Kitty Haynes Also on the soundtrack, uncredited, performing "One Day at a Time". 1986 Heartburn Thelma Rice 1988 Vibes Hillary (final film role)

Television Year Title Role Notes 1984 Hart to Hart Raquel Moskowitz Episode: "Whispers in the Wings" 1985 The Equalizer Cynthia Episode: "China Rain" 1987 Cheers Sally Episode: "My Fair Clavin" 1991 Today Herself Episode: 5 November 1991 1983–1997 Great Performances Herself Episodes: "Ellington: The Music Lives On" (1983) "Ira Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall" (1997)

DVD Concert Films 2005: Karen Akers: On Stage at Wolf Trap

Partial discography 1981: Presenting Karen Akers - Blackwood Records BLWD 001 1982: Karen Akers - Rizzoli/Blackwood Records 1001 1987: In A Very Unusual Way - Rizzoli Records 1004/71004 reissue 1999 In A Very Unusual Way - Cabaret 5002 1994: Just Imagine - DRG 5231 1996: Under Paris Skies - Cabaret Records 5019 1997: Live from Rainbow and Stars - DRG 1450 2001: Feels Like Home - DRG 1465 2004: If We Only Have Love - DRG 1383 2006: Like It Was - DRG CD 91498 2008: Simply Styne - DRG 1506