Kari Michaelsen is an American actress cum motivational speaker best known for her appearance in blockbuster movies and television series. She rose to the mainstream after playing the character of Katie Kanisky on the NBC sitcom Gimme a Break! from 1981 to 1987. She also appeared in other notable movies until 2001 when she left the American movie industry in pursuit of a new career. Today, she is an established motivational speaker and has been featured as a guest speaker at high-profile events and educational seminars. Learn more about Kari’s career, and other interesting facts below.
Kari Michaelsen Biography (Age)
Kari Michaelsen came into this world on the 3rd of November 1961 and was born in Manhattan, New York, the United States. She is the daughter of Arne Markussen and his wife Roberta Stevenson. Coming from a family that is well-grounded in show business, Kari was inspired to pursue a career in theatre. Her father was a singer while her mom was a dancer. At a very young age, she was often seen performing at community centers.
She spent her childhood days in Manhattan and in 1975, her family moved to Beverly Hills where she completed her basic education at Beverly Hills High School. After graduating from high school in 1979, she enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in theatre four years later. While she was there, she also featured in various theatre productions that were organized by her school.
Kari Michaelsen kicked off her acting career during her high school days with a minor role in the 1976 film Joy Ride: Auto Theft. Soon after her graduation, she made her professional debut while appearing in the 1980 television film, Scared Straight! Another Story. Later in the same year, she also played minor roles in two television series – Different Strokes and ABC Afterschool Special, wherein she portrayed Ellen Marshall and Karala Murtaugh respectively.
The following year, she made her big-screen debut in the movie Saturday the 14th where she portrayed the role of Debbie. In the same year, she equally scored roles in TV series including The Incredible Hulk, Eight is Enough, The Choice, and CHiPs. She got her breakthrough when she joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Gimme a Break! There, she portrayed the lead role of Kathleen Kanisky alongside Joey Lawrence from 1981 to 1986. Her impressive performance in the series fetched her a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series.
She later appeared in other movies and series such as The Kid with the 200 IQ, ABC Afterschool Special, Hart to Hart, Full House, Girl Talk, among others.
Kari bowed out of the acting scene in 2001 and decided to pursue a career in a different field – public speaking. The actress started featuring as a motivational speaker in 1990, however, she decided to venture into it fully. Since then, she has been hosting educational seminars as well as serving as a guest speaker at other high-profile events.
Kari’s Family
Kari Michaelsen came from a family that is well-grounded in show business. Her parents were both into music and they made waves in their prime. However, it is not known if she is the only child of her parents, as she has never disclosed any detail regarding her siblings to the media. Her father is of Norwegian descent while her mother is American.
The actress is also active in the love game and has had her own share of relationships. She was previously married to David Waldock who was a Mercedes-Benz executive. The duo got hitched in 2002 and later on, welcomed their son, Nickolas. However, after seven years of marriage, the couple went their separate ways and their divorce was completed in 2009.
While there is no news of Kari’s subsequent relationships, it might interest you to know that she once had a relationship with the famous American pop star named Andy Gibb in 1983. However, their relationship was short-lived and ended a few months later. She also dated Michael J. Fox from 1985 to 1986.
Kari Michaelsen Net Worth
Kari Michaelsen was a spectacular actress during her days in the Hollywood industry. She appeared on several films as well as TV series for which she got fat paychecks. Michaelson is currently living a decent lifestyle and her net worth is currently penned at $500 thousand. She made most of her wealth from her acting career and the rest from her later career as a motivational speaker.
Height
Kari Michaelsen is a very charming lady with a wonderful personality. Although she is not considered as one of the tallest in the American movie industry; with a height of 5 feet 3 inches, Kari still made waves in the industry. She has a gorgeous physique and curvaceous figure. In addition to her dazzling blue eyes, the actress also has blonde hair. Her weight and other body measurements are currently unavailable.
