LAS VEGAS Cheryl Ladd

Since achieving enormous success in the late 1970s playing Kris Munroe in the classic series, “Charlie’s Angels,” Cheryl Ladd has been unstoppable. She has starred in over 35 films and television movies.

Last May 5, Ladd unveiled “Token Chick,” an autobiographical book recounting her experiences with the sport of golf. The book follows Ladd’s experience from being introduced to the game by her husband to stories of celebrity and “pro-am” golf tournaments, as well as pointers for players of all skill levels. “Token Chick” is published by Miramax Books.

This summer, Ladd is appearing in national 30-second spots for an educational campaign for women about the importance of seeing a doctor about menopause. Launched by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Ladd is the figurehead of this awareness initiative, hoping to drive women to a new online resource, www.talkingtoyourdoctor.com.

On television, Ladd currently co-stars in NBC’s “Las Vegas” as Jillian, the loving wife of James Caan and mother of Delinda (Molly Sims). Ladd’s other recent guest appearances include the comedy “Hope & Faith,” in which she played Kelly Ripa and Faith Ford’s deceased mother. She also guest-starred on The WB’s “Charmed,” reuniting her with producer Aaron Spelling for the first time since “Charlie’s Angels.” This past Christmas, she also appeared in the Lifetime movie “Eve’s Christmas.” Although she is better known for her dramatic skills, Ladd displayed her flair for comedy playing an earnest but offbeat beer distributor from South Dakota on the 1998 comedy “Jesse,” and as Berg’s mother on the hit “Two Guys and a Girl” – a role that had become a recurring character.

Moving easily between mediums is second nature for this seasoned performer, who starred on Broadway as Annie Oakley in “Annie Get Your Gun.” Her lifelong dream became a reality when she replaced Bernadette Peters in the Tony Award-winning musical.

On the big screen, Ladd was last seen starring opposite Jon Voight and Jack Warden in the Warner Bros.’ remake of the children’s classic, “A Dog of Flanders”, and opposite Ben Stiller in the Artisan Entertainment feature “Permanent Midnight,” based on the turbulent life of Hollywood writer and heroin addict, Jerry Stahl.

Born and raised in Huron, South Dakota, Ladd spent her childhood focused on singing, dancing, acting — and moving on. “My mother says my bags were packed from the time I was three,” says Ladd. “She knew I was headed for either New York or Hollywood.” While in high school, Ladd sang with a local group called “The Music Shop,” which brought her to Los Angeles upon graduation. The band eventually broke up, but Ladd stayed in Los Angeles intent on pursuing her dream of becoming an actress. In just a short time, she got her first professional break as the singing voice of Melody on the cartoon series, “Josie and the Pussycats.”

Armed with talent and perseverance, Ladd quickly added a string of significant credits to her resume, including the comedy-variety series “The Ken Berry WOW Show,” with Steve Martin and Teri Garr. “If that show had hit, I think I would have become a comedienne,” she offers. Instead, Ladd was cast in the role of Kris Munroe on “Charlie’s Angels” and was instantly catapulted into stardom. “The onslaught of attention and instant fame was pretty overwhelming,” says Ladd, who spent four years on the show.
While still on the series, Ladd developed and starred in the TV movie, “When She Was Bad,” which dealt with the harsh realities of child abuse. Ladd is now an ambassador for Childhelp USA, one of the largest national, non-profit organizations dedicated to research, prevention and treatment of child abuse.

Ladd’s numerous television credits include starring roles in the miniseries “Grace Kelly,” and the TV movies “Her Best Friend’s Husband,” “Jekyll and Hyde” (with Michael Caine); “A Death in California,” “Bluegrass,” Danielle Steel’s “Crossings” and “Changes,” “Perfect Little Angels,” “Michael Landon: The Father I Knew” (opposite John Schneider) and “Every Mother’s Worst Fear.” The latter film, about a mother’s search for her teenage daughter who is abducted by someone who met her while surfing the internet was particularly special to Ladd, as it allowed her to star opposite her real-life daughter, Jordan Ladd.

Ladd’s additional feature-film credits include “Poison Ivy,” “Millennium” and “Purple Hearts.”

During her spare time, Ladd is a tireless humanitarian. In addition to being awarded the “Woman of the World Award” from Childhelp USA in 1987, Ladd also had the honor of becoming the first woman to receive the prestigious “Hubert H. Humphrey Humanitarian Award” by the Washington, D.C. Touchdown Club for her continuing philanthropic endeavors.

Remaining an avid golfer, Ladd plays whenever time allows, sporting a respectable index of 14. When she’s not on the golf course, Ladd keeps herself busy developing new projects and writing children’s books with her husband of over 20 years, Brian Russell.