- Didi Conn
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Didi Conn Born Edith Bernstein
July 13, 1951
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.Occupation Actress Years active 1962–present Spouse David Shire (1982–present), 1 child Didi Conn (born Edith Bernstein on July 13, 1951) is an American film, stage and television actress.
Contents
Personal life
Conn was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of a clinical psychologist.[1] "Didi" was her childhood nickname. She attended Midwood High School; her brother is opera singer Richard Bernstein.
She has been married to composer David Shire since 1982, with whom she has a son, Daniel Shire, who has been diagnosed with autism. Conn is also stepmother to Matthew Shire, a Los Angeles screenwriter.
Career
Conn made her debut as an actress in the 1960s. Her notable roles since the 1970s, when she first became prominent, include:
- "Laurie Robinson" in You Light Up My Life, 1977
- "Frenchy" in the feature films
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- Grease, 1978, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
- Grease 2, 1982, starring Maxwell Caulfield and Michelle Pfeiffer
- "Helen" on the 1976 television series The Practice
- "Denise Stevens Downey" on the TV show Benson, 1981–1985, with Robert Guillaume
- "Stacy Jones" on the children's TV show Shining Time Station, 1989–1993[1]
Conn provided the voice for Raggedy Ann in the 1977 animated feature, Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure, directed by Richard Williams. Conn's "childlike" voice is one of her trademarks. She occasionally appeared as a celebrity guest on game shows like Match Game, The $20,000 $25,000 and $100,000 Pyramids, Chain Reaction and Go.
Activism
Conn's son Danny is diagnosed with autism.[2] On November 13, 2008, Conn was named national celebrity spokesperson for Autism Speaks.[3] Before that, Conn was a spokesperson for the National Alliance for Autism Research, now part of Autism Speaks. She has performed at benefits for Foundation for Educating Children with Autism (FECA)[4].
On September 27, 2008, Conn performed with David Shire and Lynne Wintersteller at a benefit performance for Barack Obama in Nyack, New York.[5]
Notable roles on film and television
- 2011: Gigantic ... Herself
- 2008: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit .... Nurse (2 episodes, 2008) "Authority"
- 2008: Oh Baby! .... David's Mom
- 2006: Helen at Risk (V) .... Helen
- 2005: Shooting Vegetarians .... Patrice
- 2003: Stanley .... Mrs. Goldberg (1 episode, 2003)
- 2002: Frida .... Waitress
- 2000: Thomas and the Magic Railroad .... Stacy Jones
- 1996: The Flintstones Christmas in Bedrock (V) (voice) .... Additional Voices
- 1994: L.A. Law .... Ms. Tressman (1 episode, 1994)
- 1993: A Flintstone Family Christmas (TV) (voice) .... Stella
- 1989: Shining Time Station .... Stacy Jones / ... (65 episodes, 1989–1993)
- 1989: Mr Jones & Friends (1 episode, 1991)
- 1990: Shining Time Station: 'Tis a Gift (TV) .... Stacy Jones
- 1987: Highway to Heaven .... Birdy Belker / ... (2 episodes, 1987)
- 1987: Cagney & Lacey .... Roswell (1 episode, 1987)
- 1985: Star Fairies (TV) (voice) .... Spice
- 1985: Hotel .... Patty Maloney (1 episode, 1985)
- 1981: Benson .... Denise Florence Stevens Downey (72 episodes, 1981–1984)
- 1984: ABC Weekend Specials .... Dimples (1 episode, 1984) - Bad Cat (1984) TV episode (voice) .... Dimples
- 1983: The Love Boat .... Jenny (1 episode, 1983)
- 1983: The Magic Show .... Cal
- 1982: Grease 2 .... Frenchy
- 1982: American Playhouse .... Receptionist (1 episode, 1982)
- 1981: Violet .... Violet
- 1980: The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang .... Cupcake (1 episode, 1980)
- 1980: Semi-Tough .... Kiki (1 episode, 1980)
- 1979: Almost Summer .... Donna DeVito
- 1978: Grease .... Frenchy
- 1978: Murder at the Mardi Gras (TV) .... Julie Evans
- 1978: Three on a Date (TV) .... Eve Harris
- 1977: You Light Up My Life .... Laurie Robinson
- 1977: Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure (voice) .... Raggedy Ann
- 1976: The Practice .... Helen (18 episodes, 1976–1977)
- 1975: The Rookies .... Young Woman (1 episode, 1975)
- 1975: Keep on Truckin (TV series)
- 1975: Happy Days .... Joyce (1 episode, 1975)
- 1973: Genesis II (TV) .... TV Actress
- 1962: The Jetsons TV series .... Additional Voices (unknown episodes)
References
- ^ Didi Conn Biography (1951-)
- ^ I Was the Queen of Denial on Autism CNN.com, April 1, 2009
- ^ Didi Conn Named a National Celebrity Spokesperson for Autism Speaks, Autism Speaks, e-Speaks, November 14, 2008
- ^ http://www.devereux.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=16395&news_iv_ctrl=1770
- ^ Sept 27, 2008 Obama Benefit performance, Nyack News & Views, September 21, 2008
External links
- Didi Conn at the Internet Movie Database
Categories:- American Jews
- American film actors
- American stage actors
- American television actors
- People from Brooklyn
- Actors from New York City
- 1951 births
- Living people
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