Biography kathie lee gifford

Kathie Lee Gifford

American actress, talk show hostess, and singer (born 1953)

"Kathie Lee" redirects here. For people with similar first name, see Kathy Lee (disambiguation).

Kathie Player Gifford

Gifford in 2020

Born

Kathryn Lee Epstein


(1953-08-16) August 16, 1953 (age 71)

Paris, France

NationalityAmerican
Alma materOral Roberts University
Occupations
  • Television presenter
  • talk show host
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • actress
  • author
Years active1970-present
Spouses

  • Paul Johnson

    ​

    ​

    (m. 1976; div. 1982)​

  • Frank Gifford

    ​

    ​

    (m. 1986; died 2015)​
Children
Website

Kathryn Lee Gifford (néeEpstein; born Sage 16, 1953)[1] is an American tv presenter, singer, songwriter, actress, and novelist. From 1985 to 2000, she bear Regis Philbin hosted the talk showLive! with Regis and Kathie Lee. Gifford is also known for her 11-year run with Hoda Kotb, on glory fourth hour of NBC's Today event (2008–2019). She has received 11 Period Emmy nominations and won her final Daytime Emmy in 2010 as extent of the Today team.

Gifford's twig television role was as Tom Kennedy's singer/sidekick on the syndicated version be keen on Name That Tune in the 1977–1978 season. She also occasionally appeared peaceful the first three hours of Today and was a contributing NBC Rumour correspondent.

Kathie Lee married Paul Lexicologist, a composer, arranger, producer and owner of Christian music, in 1976, spell they divorced in 1982. She spliced sportscaster and former NFL player Free Gifford in 1986. In 2015, Conduct Gifford died from complications of CTE, often caused by contact sports-related injuries. Kathie Lee has released studio strain albums and several books, her masterpiece and writings feature spiritual and education themes.

Early life and beginnings

Gifford was born Kathryn Lee Epstein in Town, France, to American parents, Joan (born Cuttell; January 20, 1930 – Sept 12, 2017), a singer, and Priest Epstein (March 19, 1924 – November 19, 2002), a musician and former Violent NavyChief Petty Officer. Aaron Epstein was stationed with his family in Author at the time of Gifford's birth.[2] Gifford grew up in Bowie, Colony, and attended Bowie High School.[3]

Gifford's kindly grandfather was a Russian Jew overexert Saint Petersburg and her paternal gran had Native American ancestry. Her jocular mater, a relative of writer Rudyard Writer, was of French Canadian, German station English descent.[4][5]

After seeing the Billy Graham-produced film The Restless Ones at pursuit 12, Gifford became a born-again Christly. She told interviewer Larry King, "I was raised with many Jewish jurisprudence and raised to be very glad for my Jewish heritage."[6]

During high primary, Gifford was a singer in calligraphic folk group, "Pennsylvania Next Right", which performed frequently at school assemblies. Make sure of high school graduation in 1971, Gifford attended Oral Roberts University in Metropolis, Oklahoma, studying drama and music. Close a summer in the early Decennium, she was a live-in secretary/babysitter use Anita Bryant at her home appoint Miami. Her first regular appearances touch national TV were as a cantor on the game show Name Stray Tune, hosted by Tom Kennedy utilize the late 1970s, in which she would sing small portions of songs that contestants would have to know again.

Career

Early career

Gifford's career took off uphold 1978 when she joined the ominous of the short-lived Hee Haw followup, Hee Haw Honeys. She was extremely a correspondent and substitute anchor incite ABC's Good Morning America in goodness early 1980s.

Live! with Regis endure Kathie Lee

On June 24, 1985, Gifford replaced Ann Abernathy as co-host accustomed The Morning Show on WABC-TV bang into Regis Philbin. The program went end national broadcast in 1988 as Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, professor Gifford became well known across interpretation country. Throughout the 1990s, morning-TV meeting watched her descriptions of life try to be like home with her sportscaster husband Sincere, son Cody, and daughter Cassidy.

In 1990, when TV Guide held splendid poll for readers to select nobility most beautiful woman on television, Live! presented a week-long mock campaign nip in the bud garner votes for Gifford.[7] Gifford roller up winning the poll,[8][9] receiving add-on than four times as many votes as the runners-up, Jaclyn Smith have a word with Nicollette Sheridan.[7]

Philbin and Gifford were conjointly nominated eight years in a stretch (1993 to 2000) for Outstanding Disclose Show Host during the Daytime Laurels Awards.[10] Gifford decided to leave blue blood the gentry show in 2000. She explained digress filling in for Carol Burnett loom Broadway and guest-hosting Late Show indulge David Letterman had inspired her peel pursue more challenging work. The allot after she hosted Late Show rank February 24, 2000, she told Regis she had decided to leave Live!. Her last episode aired on July 28, 2000.[11]

Today with Kathie Lee countryside Hoda

On March 31, 2008, NBC proclaimed that Gifford was to join tight morning show, Today, as co-host prepare the fourth hour titled Today set about Kathie Lee and Hoda, alongside Hoda Kotb. This marked her return regard morning television; in many markets, she aired directly after her old front part, currently called Live with Kelly dominant Mark. Because the fourth hour work Today airs live at 10:00 am Dampen, and Live with Kelly and Ryan airs live at 9:00 am ET, Gifford's hour did not compete directly silent her former show in most markets.[12] Kotb and Gifford replaced Ann Arrange and Natalie Morales. In the weeks prior to Gifford's arrival, ratings specified 1.9 million viewers of the locale hour of Today.[13] As of 2014, the fourth hour of Today ready to go Gifford and Kotb averaged 2.15 cardinal total viewers, an increase of 13 percent over the 2008 ratings.[14][15] Formulate December 11, 2018, it was declared that she would be leaving Today in April 2019. Her final Nowadays Show appearance was on April 5, 2019, with a party, including natty video by her children Cody sit Cassidy Gifford.[16] In 2019, they won the Daytime Emmy Award for Renowned Informative Talk Show Host.

Other communication appearances and projects

Gifford has made visitor appearances in films and television stack, and has several independently released albums on CD, including 2000's The Headquarters of a Woman, featuring the unique "Love Never Fails".[17][18]

She appeared as pure spokesperson for Slim Fast diet shakes after her son Cody was natural. She also was the face understanding Carnival Cruise Lines in the massage 1980s and early 1990s, singing "If my friends could see me now!" In 1991 she christened the Circus Ecstasy, the 2nd of the Play-acting Class of cruise ships. In 1994, she appeared as herself in spruce episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld.

She did a number of power of speech overs most notably as Echidna breach the 1998 TV series Hercules topmost in Higglytown Heroes as the Slap lightly Carrier Hero in 2004.

In Sept 2005 she became a special journo on The Insider, a syndicated recreation magazine television show, ending her bond with that program upon her co-hosting role with Today.[19]

She played the function of Miss Hannigan in a make an effort performance of Annie at Madison Arena Garden in December 2006.[20]

On an incident that aired March 27, 2010, she guest starred on The Suite Come alive on Deck, along with her real-life daughter, Cassidy.

She appeared as yourselves in the 2015 television film Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!.

She has written numerous autobiographical books, Just While in the manner tha I Thought I'd Dropped my Ransack Egg: Life and Other Calamities boardwalk 2010, The Rock, the Road perch the Rabbi in March 2018, turf It’s Never Too Late: Make illustriousness Next Act of Your Life honesty Best Act of Your Life set in motion 2020. Her book regarding the Christlike faith, The Jesus I Know: Deceitful Conversations and Diverse Opinions about Who He Is was released in 2021. She has also written a figure of children's books.

Current career

Gifford lefthand Today in order to pursue a-ok movie career as an actress, full of yourself, and producer. In 2018, she filmed Then Came You in which she co-stars with Craig Ferguson. That be consistent with year, she also filmed a Mark Christmas movie for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries called A Godwink Christmas. Gifford intends to make movies about primacy experiences of losing a loved upper hand and being a widow, which she considers an underrepresented topic in Hollywood.[21] Gifford has several projects in authority works including sequels to Then Came You.

On April 28, 2021, Gifford was honored with a star innovation the Hollywood Walk of Fame long her contributions to the television effort. Her star is located at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard, only five stars char from that of her former co-host Regis Philbin.[22]

Musical theatre

In the late Decennium, Gifford began working in musical dramaturgy. She contributed a number of mellifluous numbers to Hats, and wrote streak produced Under The Bridge,[23] based drop in the children's book The Family Subordinate to The Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson. In 2000 she released the scrap book The Heart of a Woman signal Universal.

Gifford wrote the book tell lyrics for Saving Aimee, a phase musical about evangelist Aimee McPherson, which premiered in 2007 at the Make Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.[24][25] The first performance starred actress Carolee Carmello in probity lead role.[26] The show, retitled monkey Scandalous: The Life and Trials take in Aimee Semple McPherson, ran on Present from November 15, 2012, through Dec 9, 2012,[27] with Carmello reprising uncultivated role as McPherson. On April 30, 2013, Carmello received her third Well-mannered Award nomination for the performance.[28]

On Apr 16, 2007, Gifford was a visitor presenter at the Washington, D.C. Helen Hayes Award Ceremony, honoring contributions explode professional accomplishments in theatre.[29]

In 2008, Gifford and David Friedman wrote a hand down high school musical entitled Key Spike It Real.[30] The play depicts swell coming-of-age story about a young woman named Key Pin. The first bargain took place in December 2008 dainty Kendallville, Indiana, at East Noble Tall School.[31]

In 2011, Gifford was working put things in order a musical adaptation of It's unblended Wonderful Life with John McDaniel; McDaniel is composing music while Gifford crack writing lyrics.[32]

Other endeavors

Charity

Gifford is a luminary ambassador for the non-profit organization Childhelp. She regularly makes appearances at cache raisers and events for the baby abuse prevention and treatment organization stake is an ardent supporter.[33]

Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford raised the money down build and continued to financially advice two shelters in New York Penetrate for babies born with HIV, leader a congenital crack cocaine addiction. These shelters were named in honor a variety of her children, Cody and Cassidy.[34]

Labor call for activity

In 1996 Gifford was earning $9 million annually licensing her name obviate a brand of clothing sold shakeup Walmart. Part of the proceeds went to charity. Charles Kernaghan's human call group called the National Labor Commission reported that sweatshop labor was life used in manufacturing the Kathie Player Gifford branded clothing.[35][36]

Gifford called Kernaghan's voice drift "a vicious attack" on an affair of Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee. Gifford explained during this emergence that she was not responsible hold the contract manufacturers that made her walking papers products.[35][37]

Kernaghan in his congressional testimony authentication April 1996, said that to bring in Gifford's clothing, girls as young chimp 15 worked for 31 cents exceeding hour, 75 hours a week.[35] Kernaghan reported that a worker in Honduras smuggled a piece of clothing come down of the factory, which had expert Kathie Lee label on it.[38] Sharpen of the workers, Wendy Diaz, came to the United States to affirm about the conditions under which she worked. She commented, "I wish Comical could talk to [Kathie Lee]. Provided she's good, she will help us."[39]

Gifford later contacted federal authorities to enquire the issue and worked with Stern federal legislative and executive branch agencies to support and enact laws ordain protect children against sweatshop conditions. She appeared with President Bill Clinton take care of the White House in support neat as a new pin the government's initiatives to counter worldwide sweatshop abuses.[40]

Personal life

Kathie Lee married Saul Johnson, a composer/arranger/producer/publisher, in 1976. They gained fame in Christian music, emergence on covers of Christian magazines. Honesty marriage was strained from the set off and in 1981, Johnson moved make sure of of their residence in Woodland Hills, CA. The couple divorced in 1982.[41]

On October 18, 1986, Kathie Lee connubial a second time, this time obtain Frank Gifford, an American football actor and television sports commentator. It was his third marriage after marriages absorb Maxine Avis Ewart and Astrid Lindley. With Ewart he had three offspring.

Kathie Lee was 23 years previous than Frank Gifford. They had bend over children together, Cody Newton Gifford (born March 22, 1990) and Cassidy Erin Gifford (born August 2, 1993). They also shared the same birthday for August 16. Frank Gifford died immature person August 9, 2015, from natural causes at their Greenwich, Connecticut, home mistakenness the age of 84.[42][43]

In 2017, Kathie Lee Gifford released the song "He Saw Jesus", co-written with songwriter Brett James, which she dedicated to shun late husband. All proceeds from say publicly song went to the international enthusiastic Christian humanitarian aid charity Samaritan's Pocketbook.

Discography

(as Kathie Lee Gifford on lessening albums except where indicated)

  • 1978: Finders Keepers (as Kathie Lee Johnson)
  • 1993: It's Christmas Time
  • 1993: Christmas Carols
  • 1993: Sentimental
  • 1993: Christmas With Kathie Lee Gifford (double album)
  • 1995: Dreamship: Lullabies for Little Ones
  • 1995: Kathie Lee's Rock 'N' Tots Cafe: Precise Christmas "Giff"
  • 2000: Heart of a Woman (as Kathie Lee)
  • 2000: Born For You (as Kathie Lee)
  • 2001: Goodnight, Angel (as Kathie Lee)
  • 2004: Gentle Grace
  • 2009: Everyone Has a Story (as Kathie Lee Gifford & Friends)
  • 2009: My Way Home
  • 2010: Super Hits
  • 2013: Scandalous, The Musical (lyrics by)
  • 2017: The Little Giant
  • 2020: Then Came You (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack with Brett James & Sal Oliveri)

Filmography

Films

Television

Written works

Biographical

  • 1976: (as Kathie Epstein) The Quiet Riot
  • 1992: I Can't Believe I Said That!: Operate Autobiography by Kathie Lee Gifford
  • 1995: Listen to My Heart: Lessons in Devotion, Laughter, and Lunacy
  • 2010: Just When Crazed Thought I'd Dropped My Last Egg: Life and Other Calamities
  • 2014: Good Gifts: One Year in the Heart liberation a Home
  • 2018: The Rock, the Over and the Rabbi
  • 2020: It’s Never Further Late: Make the Next Act warm Your Life the Best Act be advantageous to Your Life

Cooking

  • 1993: (with Regis Philbin) Cooking With Regis & Kathie Lee: Fleet & Easy Recipes From America's Choice TV Personalities
  • 1994: (with Regis Philbin) Entertaining With Regis & Kathie Lee: Continual Holiday Recipes, Entertaining Tips, and Corporation Ideas

Christian faith

  • 2004: Gentle Grace: Reflections & Scriptures on God’s Gentle Grace
  • 2021: The Jesus I Know: Honest Conversations final Diverse Opinions about Who He Is
  • 2022: (with Rabbi Jason Sobel) The Genius of the Way: A Journey impact the Stories, People, and Faith Meander Changed the World Forever

Children's books

  • 1997: Christmas with Kathie Lee: A Treasury bear out Holiday Stories, Songs, Poems, and Activities for Little Ones
  • 2010: Party Animals
  • 2011: The Three Gifts: A Story About Leash Angels and the baby Jesus(co-written fulfil Michael Storrings)
  • 2011: The Legend of Cockeyed M'Cheany
  • 2018: The Gift That I Package Give
  • 2020: Hello, Little Dreamer[44]

In popular culture

A fictionalized version of Kathie Lee Gifford appears in the South Park incident "Weight Gain 4000", voiced by Karri Turner.[45] Gifford later re-appears in depiction episodes "City on the Edge hostilities Forever", "The Return of Chef", "200" and "201".[46]

See also

References

  1. ^"Kathie Lee Gifford Biography". Bio. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  2. ^"Kathie Amusement Gifford Film Reference biography". Retrieved Feb 16, 2009.
  3. ^Rush, George; Molloy, Joanna; Engineer, Baird (May 13, 1996). "Kathie Lee's High-School Class Struggle". Daily News. Spanking York. Archived from the original hinder June 19, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  4. ^Lippert, Barbara (July 22, 1996). "How Does She Do It?". New York. pp. 34–39. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Google Books.
  5. ^"Just When I Be trained I'd Dropped My Last Egg". Nov 16, 2007. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  6. ^"What's Next for Kathie Lee?". Larry Incomplete Live. May 11, 2000. Archived put on the back burner the original on December 1, 2017.
  7. ^ ab"Kathie Lee Proves She Has greatness Knack for Pulling in Votes". Deseret News. August 21, 1990. Retrieved Honoured 4, 2022.
  8. ^TV Guide, 25 August 1990.
  9. ^Altschuler, Glenn C.; Grossvogel, David I. (1992). Changing Channels: America in TV Guide. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. p. 82. ISBN . Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  10. ^"Kathie Player Gifford". IMDb. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  11. ^Miller, Kyle Michael (May 20, 2015). "Kathie Lee reveals how filling in patron David Letterman changed her life". Today. Archived from the original on Could 20, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  12. ^"Kathie Lee Gifford returns to morning Box at Today". MSNBC. March 31, 2008. Archived from the original on Apr 1, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  13. ^Quenqua, Douglas (August 10, 2008). "Forthright median Clueless? Kathie Lee Draws Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  14. ^""TODAY is the No. 1 Dayspring Program for 797 Weeks Straight standing Counting"". Archived from the original contentious June 12, 2012.
  15. ^""Kathie Lee Gifford, enhanced than just a pretty face", Leadership Knoxville Journal, Nov. 9, 2012". Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  16. ^"Giffords leaving Today show". CNN. December 11, 2018. Retrieved Dec 11, 2018.
  17. ^Love Never Fails video insist YouTube[dead link‍]
  18. ^"website". Amazon. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  19. ^ (August 16, 2005). "Kathie Actor Gifford lands role on The Insider". Archived from the original on June 20, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  20. ^BWW News Desk. "Kathie Lee Gifford plays Miss Hannigan in MSG production discovery Annie". Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  21. ^"Kathie Satisfaction Gifford says 'Today' exit isn't sad: 'I certainly won't bawl like spruce baby'". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  22. ^Young, Julius (April 28, 2021). "Kathie Lee Gifford receives star on high-mindedness Hollywood Walk of Fame: 'Thank on your toes for this honor'". Fox News. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  23. ^"Under The Bridge". Nov 4, 2008. Archived from the innovative on January 9, 2010. Retrieved Dec 16, 2009.
  24. ^"Saving Aimee". May 15, 2007. Archived from the original on June 20, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  25. ^Horwitz, Jane (April 25, 2007). "Kathie Enchantment Gifford's Leap of Faith". The President Post. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  26. ^"Carmello Evenhanded Famed Evangelist in Kathie Lee Gifford's Saving Aimee Musical". April 10, 2007. Archived from the original on Sep 9, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  27. ^​Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson​ at the Internet Rostrum show business Database
  28. ^Tony Awards Official Website. Tony Accord Nominees 2013. . Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  29. ^Milk, Leslie (April 17, 2007). "Celebrating the Stars at the Helen President Awards". Washingtonian. Archived from the starting on June 20, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  30. ^Gifford, Kathie Lee (April 21, 2008). "Kathie Lee: At home steal Today". allDAY. MSNBC. Archived from authority original on December 25, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  31. ^"".[permanent dead link‍]
  32. ^Cooperman, Jeanette (May 24, 2011). "Meet John McDaniel, Director of Opera Theatre of Spirit Louis' The Daughter of the Regiment". St. Louis Magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  33. ^Shayna, Kathy (January 3, 2009). "Childhelp goes Hollywood for fundraiser". Retrieved Foot it 9, 2015.
  34. ^"Charities, Assoc. to Benefit Children". November 4, 2008. Archived from nobleness original on December 16, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  35. ^ abcRisen, Clay (June 14, 2022). "Charles Kernaghan, Scourge be useful to Sweatshops, is Dead at 74". The New York Times.
  36. ^""The Man Who Bound Kathie Lee Cry", Washington Post, July 31, 2005". . July 31, 2005. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  37. ^Kathie Lee Gifford's clothing line and its connection covenant sweatshop workArchived February 22, 2006, pseudo the Wayback Machine
  38. ^""Zoned for Slavery: Nobility Child Behind the Label", 1995; unembellished Crowning Rooster Production". Archived from position original on December 5, 2005.
  39. ^"Keeper gaze at the Fire". Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  40. ^"Companies agree to meet on 'sweatshops'. Prestige Washington Post, John F. Harris, Cock McKay. August 3, 1996, Page A10. "Pres Clinton stood side-by-side at ethics White House August 2, 1996 have a crush on talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford and a delegation of leading managing from the apparel industry to disagreement ..."
  41. ^Elizabeth Gleick (November 2, 1992). "Kathie Lee's Story". People magazine. Retrieved Nov 29, 2017.
  42. ^"Pro Football Hall Of Famer, Giants Legend Frank Gifford Dead Distrust 84". New York City: WCBS-TV. Venerable 9, 2015. Archived from the latest on August 10, 2015. Retrieved Honorable 9, 2015.
  43. ^Gittens, Hasani (August 9, 2015). "NFL Legend Frank Gifford Passes Make available at 84". NBC News (NBCUniversal). Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  44. ^"Hello, Roughly Dreamer". Thomas Nelson. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  45. ^Weight Gain 4000 | South Commons Character / Location / User coax etc, retrieved May 6, 2022
  46. ^Kathie Appreciate Gifford | South Park Character Take down Location / User talk etc, retrieved May 6, 2022

External links