Misty Rowe

Actress-singer-comedienne Misty Rowe's career peaked in the 1970s and 1980s and placed its strongest emphasis on television and stage. Born in 1952, Rowe studied under the preeminent acting coach Stella Adler, and achieved her most enduring fame as one of the longest-reigning contributors (outstripped only by a handful of regulars including Roy Clark and Minnie Pearl) to the country music-themed comedy variety program Hee Haw; Rowe signed on with the program in 1972 and remained with the cast until 1991, or two years before its first-run syndication ended. In the interim, she joined the cast of Happy Days for the first season only, won the part of Maid Marian in Mel Brooks's short-lived sitcom farce When Things Were Rotten (1975), and - very briefly - starred opposite Kathie Lee Johnson (soon to become Kathie Lee Gifford), Lulu Roman and others in the comedy variety spinoff of Hee Haw, Hee Haw Honeys (1978). Meanwhile, Rowe also eked out a presence on stage, in such productions as the musical comedy Lil' Abner, opposite Joe Namath.

Following Rowe's stint on Hee Haw, she endured a bout of personal tragedy, but overcame the related emotional difficulties and scored a triumph by headlining the touring stage production Always… Patsy Cline as the famous, tragic country crooner. Rowe then embarked on a stand-up act, headlining clubs including Caroline's, Stand-Up New York and Don't Tell Mama.

Rowe's feature film career witnessed her landing supporting roles in projects including Loose Shoes (1980), National Lampoon's Class Reunion (1982) and Meatballs Part II (1984).

~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide