For five years on nightly network NBC-TV, Erin Gray was the American’s image of the ideal woman. Her “Kate” in Silver Spoons” managed to have it all –marriage, family, and business career. And for two years before that she had redefined our public image of the beauty with brains, when “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” became a hit series, her sleek sophisticated “Colonel Wilma” became a role model, and Erin Gray became a household word.
Erin’s success as the face that launched some of America’s most glamorous beauty products was already legendary before she made the dramatic career change from model to actress. As the original “I’m Worth It” woman for L’Oreal, and the Bloomingdale’s spokeswoman for ten years, she was launched into a starring role in the critically acclaimed television mini-series “Evening In Byzantium” with Glenn Ford. Ms. Gray continued to star in numerous Movies-Of-The Week, “Born Beautiful”, “Starman”, “Coach of the Year,” and Code of Vengeance”, and also starred as Lilah opposite Kenny Rogers in the feature film “Six Pack” directed by Dan Petrie.
In “Silver Spoons”, in which Ms. Gray met and mastered the triple-challenge of the television sitcom-comedy, television, and live audiences, she further honed her “live audience” comedic skills by doing theater, starring in “California Suite” and “Six Room River Views”, and not only achieving, critical success with “Social Security”, but bringing audiences to their feet with standing ovations. In the summer of ’97 Erin starred in the award winning play “La Moure N. D. 58458’ at The Bitter Truth Theater in Los Angeles, as part of the cutting edge NoHo Arts Festival.
Ms. Gray continued to co-star in numerous MOWs such as “Breaking Home Ties” with Jason Robards, “The Avenging Ace”, and “Addicted To His Love”. In four fascinating roles Ms. Gray was again able to express her versatility and range, as a psychotic killer, and “evil Duchess” opposite John Rhys-Davies, a brilliant and twisted femme fatal in “Dark Justice”’ opposite France’s leading comedic actor Thierry L’Hermite in a hilariously funny farce as an American writer who while hiding out in a French Chateau, becomes involved in a murder mystery.
In the mid nineties Erin starred in three feature films, “Jason Goes To Hell,” “Dangerous Place” and T-Force”, as well as, the first movie for the USA/Sci-Fi Networks, “Official Denial”, and the challenging role as the intense prosecutor, Pam Bozanich in the controversial Fox-produced film of the Menendez trial, “Honor Thy Father and \Mother”. Erin also made appearances in guest-starring roles in the CBS MOW “Crowfoot”, the series “Heaven Help Us”, and the very popular “Baywatch”.
In the year 2000 Erin guest starred in recurring roles, as Congresswoman Karen Archer in NBC’c highly acclaimed drama “Profiler”, and the coldhearted Nicole Devlin in ABCs “Port Charles”. And in 2002 Erin was honored with the Entertainer Award at San Diego Film Festival.
Within the last 7 years Erin completed filming 15 independent feature films, “The Last Producer” with Burt Reynolds, “ Clover Bend” with Robert Urich, “Caught In The Headlights,” with Stacey Keach and in the last year, “My True Self,” “Loaded” with Jesse Metcaffe, “Ghouls” with William Atherton, and “Dreams Awake.”
In addition, to raising two beautiful children Erin and her husband Director of Photography, Richard Hissong are producing a series of videos on Erin’s favorite subjects, Chi Kung and Tai Chi. Erin teaches her passion, Tai Chi and Tai Chi Knife, 3 days a week at the Encino Acupuncture Center. Last year Erin was the contributing columnist for a new online magazine, VIVmag where she wrote anecdotal stories sharing Taoist philosophy and teaching Chi Kung exercises.
Erin and friend, Mara Purl co-wrote “Act Right”, a professional guide for actors which just won first place for the Evvy Award given by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association.
Within the last six years, Erin established, Heroes for Hire, a company which books celebrities at personal appearances and speaking engagements, and created wither husband a production company, Wu Wei Entertainment.
Possessing a highly developed sense of public service, Ms. Gray, as spokesperson for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and as board member for Haven House, the oldest battered women’s shelter in the U.S., co-produced and wrote PSAs with Women In Film. For over a decade Erin has been speaking out against domestic violence, a topic that is close to her heart.
Erin also takes time out of her busy schedule to host such programs as Lifetime Cable’s, “Drug & Alcohol Intervention Program”, and to give motivational speeches for such organizations as UPS, AFLAC, and Lady Remington.. Erin is the recipient of 9 community service awards, such as The Leadership Award by the County of LA & The Guardian Angel Award from the Mothers Against Sexual Abuse, The YWCA’s Women of Achievement Award of Distinction, the 1999 Women’s Peace Power Media Award, and the 2002 Woman of the Year Award by the Commission For Women.
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