Childhood & Early Life
Wendie Malick was born as Wendy Malick on December 13, 1950, in Buffalo, New York, to Ken Malick, a sales executive, and Gigi, a former model. Her paternal grandfather was an Egyptian. Her other ancestry is German, French, and English.
She initially studied at Williamsville South High School and later attended Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware from where she graduated in 1972.
Continue Reading Below
Career
Wendie Malick initially started her career in fashion modeling, working for the Wilhelmina modeling company. She made her acting debut in 1978 with the made-for-television film ‘How to Pick Up Girls’.
In 1982, she was featured in the flick ‘A Little Sex’. The following year, she was cast in the role of Dr. Brigitte Blaine in ABC’s medical drama ‘Trauma Center’.
From 1985 to 1989, Malick had a recurring role in the sitcom ‘Kate & Allie’. During this time, she also made guest appearances in a number of programs including ‘Another World’, ‘Scarecrow and Mrs. King’, ‘Highway to Heaven’, ‘Supercarrier’, ‘The Highwayman’, ‘Hunter’ and ‘Anything But Love’, to name a few.
In 1989, the actress began playing the recurring role of Gayle Buchannon in the series ‘Baywatch.’ Starring David Hasselhoff, the action drama series was about the Los Angeles County lifeguards who watch over the beaches of Los Angeles County in California. The series went on to become one of the most-watched TV shows in the world.
In 1990, Malick joined the cast of the series ‘Dream On’ as Judith Tupper Stone. She also featured in three episodes of ‘The Fanelli Boys’ the same year. Soon after this, she starred in the TV movie ‘Dynasty: The Reunion’.
In the ensuing years, the actress had guest roles in numerous television dramas, such as ‘Civil Wars’, ‘The Human Factor’, ‘NYPD Blue’, ‘Love & War’, ‘Mad About You’ and ‘Tales from the Crypt’, to name a few.
She played Susan Sloan in ‘The American President’, a romantic drama movie about President Andrew Shepherd, a widower who pursues a relationship with lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade.
In the year 1996, Malick appeared as a series regular in the sitcom ‘Good Company’. That year, she also portrayed the character of Pat Collins in the television docudrama flick ‘Apollo 11’.
From 2002 to 2003, the actress contributed her voice to Principal Folsom, a character in the Disney’s animated series ‘Fillmore’. During this time, she also voiced the character Victoria the Tiger in ‘Father of the Pride’ as well as appeared in a recurring role in ‘Frasier’.
Continue Reading Below
Malick next starred in the series ‘Jake in Progress’ as Naomi Clark, a role she played between 2005 and 2006. During this time period, she also had voice work in the series ‘The X's’ and ‘Bratz’ and featured in the films ‘Racing Stripes’ and ‘Waiting’.
She was given the opportunity to play Jane in the sitcom ‘Big Day’ in 2006-07. In 2009, the American actress played Mrs. Brennan in the comedy-drama movie ‘Adventureland’. The same year, she starred in ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’, a romantic comedy by P. J. Hogan, based on Sophie Kinsella’s ‘Shopaholic’ series of novels.
Wendie Malick began voicing Fenghuang in ‘Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness’ in 2011. In 2014, she began contributing to the animated series ‘BoJack Horseman’ as Beatrice Horseman / Young Beatrice.
She was cast as Captain Cole in the police procedural comedy-drama ‘Rush Hour’ in 2016. During this time, she also had recurring roles in ‘Pitch’ and ‘Kulipari: An Army of Frogs’.
From 2016 to 2018, Malick featured as Kathryn in nine episodes of ‘American Housewife.’ During this time, she also had a role in ‘The Ranch’, a fictional web series about the life of a dysfunctional family named the Bennetts that includes two brothers, their father, and his estranged wife. The Netflix series also features Ashton Kutcher, Debra Winger, Danny Masterson, Sam Elliott and Elisha Cuthbert.
Major Works
From 1997 to 2003, Wendie Malick played Nina Van Horn, a shallow former supermodel on NBC’s sitcom ‘Just Shoot Me!’ The show followed a team of employees at the fictional fashion magazine ‘Blush.’ Malick’s performance was much appreciated and she earned two Primetime Emmy Award nominations and one Golden Globe Award nomination. She was also nominated for Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2001.
In 2010, the actress was cast as Victoria Chase, a six-time-divorced soap opera star, in the comedy series ‘Hot in Cleveland.’ The series also starred Jane Leeves, Betty White and Valerie Bertinelli. It won generally positive reviews from critics. In 2012, Malick and her cast mates earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination under the category ‘Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series’.
Family & Personal Life
In 1982, Wendie Malick married actor cum screenwriter Mitch Glazer. The couple divorced in 1989, following which Malick went on to tie the knot with Richard Erickson.
She has no kids. Currently, she is living with her second husband in Santa Monica. She also has a cat, two horses, and three dogs.
Malick is on the board of directors of Planned Parenthood as well as of the Environmental Media Association. She also serves on the advisory board of the non-profit organization The Humane Society of the United States.
Facts About Wendie Malick
Wendie Malick is an avid environmentalist and supports various wildlife conservation efforts, showcasing her passion for protecting the planet.
In addition to her successful acting career, Wendie Malick is also a talented voice actress, lending her voice to various animated TV shows and films.
Wendie Malick is a proud supporter of LGBTQ rights and has been vocal about advocating for equality and acceptance.
Despite her busy schedule, Wendie Malick makes time for her love of painting and has even showcased her artwork in galleries.
Wendie Malick is known for her sense of humor and quick wit, making her a beloved presence on and off the screen.
