{{short description|American retired actress}} {{Infobox person | name = Gail Edwards | image = File:Gail Edwards at Warner Bros. 2017.jpg | caption = Edwards in 2017 | birth_name = <!-- Valid citation required for full name for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) --> | birth_date = <!-- Valid citation required for date of birth for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) --> | birth_place = United States | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1973–1994, 2017 & 2020 | spouse = {{marriage|Robert Decker|1986}} | children = | website = {{url|http://gailedwards.com/}} }} '''Gail Edwards''' is an American retired actress. She has appeared as Dot Higgins in ABC's ''It's a Living'', Sharon LeMeure in NBC's ''Blossom'', and Vicky Larson in ABC's ''Full House.''
==Early life and education== Edwards was raised in Coral Gables, Florida. Her father hung the curtain and lights while she choreographed, costumed, and starred in her own neighborhood musicals. In the sixth grade, Edwards played Little Mary in ''The Women'' at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Coconut Grove, Florida, where playwright George Abbott came backstage to single out her performance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gail Edwards: "The Women" w/ Audio Commentary|website = YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHWQfPvfTL8}}</ref>
==Career== [[File:Mckenna Grace & Gail Edwards - Fuller House - 2017.jpg|thumb|Gail Edwards with Mckenna Grace on the set of ''Fuller House'' September 1, 2017]] Edwards wrote, produced, and starred in the off-Broadway musical ''Becoming''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gail Edwards in Becoming|url=http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/2601|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517005930/http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/2601 |archive-date=May 17, 2018}}</ref> It won the Miami Herald Critics’ Choice award three times before the musical debuted in New York. While in New York, Edwards signed with the LeMond/Zetter Management Group. Soon afterward, she landed the role of Sandy opposite Peter Gallagher in Broadway's East Coast tour of ''Grease''. After producing and starring in two additional productions, ''The Good One'' and ''Vanities'', both earning her the Drama-Logue Critics' Award, Edwards turned her focus toward television acting.
Upon moving to Los Angeles in 1976, Edwards signed with the Ro Diamond Agency (later with the Gersh Agency){{Citation needed |date=April 2023}} and immediately began landing guest-star roles on such television series as ''Happy Days'', ''Lou Grant'', ''M*A*S*H'' and ''Taxi''.
In 1979, Edwards auditioned for a Witt/Thomas production, in which she landed the role of Dot Higgins on ABC's ''It’s a Living''. The series ran on ABC from 1980 to 1982 and was revived in first-run syndication from 1985 to 1989. Edwards, along with Barrie Youngfellow, Paul Kreppel, and Marian Mercer, were the only four members of the ''It's a Living'' cast who lasted during the network and syndicated runs. After ABC canceled the show in 1982, Edwards's management was informed by the producers of ''Happy Days'' that they were offering her the role of new character K.C. Cunningham, the niece of Howard and Marion Cunningham who was moving in with the family. Without informing Edwards of the offer, her management declined the opportunity, reportedly stating that they did not want Edwards "playing a new character on an old show".{{Citation needed |date=April 2023}} Crystal Bernard was then hired for the part. Edwards did not learn of the incident until many years later. In 1985, Edwards and Bernard wound up as co-stars on ''It's a Living'', when the latter resumed production for first-run syndication.
Edwards also appeared in many movies-of-the-week during the 1980s, along with numerous other guest-star appearances in such series as ''Benson'', ''Buffalo Bill'', ''Doogie Howser, M.D.'', ''Knight Rider'', ''Night Court'' and the premiere episode of ''Amazing Stories'', directed by Steven Spielberg and original music/score by John Williams.
In 1990, Edwards was reunited with former ''Happy Days'' producers Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett, when she was cast as divorced mother Hilary Kozak on their single-season CBS sitcom ''The Family Man''. Upon the series' cancellation in the summer of 1991, Edwards was asked by Miller and Boyett to join the cast of their hit ABC series ''Full House''. They felt Edwards was right for the role of Vicky Larson, a talk show host who strikes up a relationship with Danny Tanner. Edwards made her ''Full House'' debut late that year, when the Vicky character first appeared as a substitute host for Rebecca Donaldson, who was on maternity leave, on (the fictional) ''Wake Up, San Francisco''. Vicky and Danny soon embark on a long-term relationship and are engaged in the show's seventh season. Edwards's co-star on ''The Family Man'', Scott Weinger, was transferred over to ''Full House'' along with her, playing Steve Hale, the high school boyfriend of D.J. Tanner.
During her tenure on ''Full House'', Edwards also had the recurring guest role of Sharon LeMeure, the fast-talking mother of Six on NBC’s ''Blossom''. Edwards's work on ''Blossom'' reunited her with former ''It's a Living'' producers Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas, who produced both series.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/show/156763/It-s-a-Living/overview|title=The New York Times}}</ref> thumb|right|Romero Britto and Gail Edwards Edwards concluded her roles in ''Full House'' (with Vicky Larson having a mutual breakup with Danny Tanner) and ''Blossom'' in the spring of 1994. She retired from show business at that time and moved to the Southwest.
In September 2017, it was announced that Edwards would return to acting by reprising her role as Vicky Larson in the third season of the ''Full House'' sequel series ''Fuller House''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/fuller-house-season-3-spoilers-wedding-japan-1202559872/|work=Variety|title='Fuller House' Season 3 Will Include a Musical Number, Wedding and Trip to Japan (Watch)|date=15 September 2017}}</ref> She appears in the Season 3 finale, "Here Comes the Sun". Edwards then made another appearance in the series finale, "Our Very Last Show, Again".<ref>{{cite episode|title=Our Very Last Show Again|credits=Story by: Beth Crudele Teleplay by: John D. Beck & Ron Hart Director: Correll, Rich|series=Fuller House|network=Netflix|airdate=June 2, 2020|season=5|number=18}}</ref>
==Retirement== Edwards has supported and participated in several charities, including performing for the Veterans Administration, where she played ukulele that she learned just for this purpose. While in Miami, Edwards had an impromptu visit with Romero Britto who painted her ukulele,<ref>{{cite web|title=Romero Britto paints Gail Edwards' ukulele|website = YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIuSsLeSHW0|date=26 August 2016}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> for which she thanked him in song via YouTube.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gail Edwards thanks Romero Britto in song|website = YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSrqzh9iRh0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/cSrqzh9iRh0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|date=18 August 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==Filmography== {|class="wikitable sortable" |- |+Television and film roles ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1977 |''Lou Grant'' |Karen |Episode: "Hooker" |- |1978 |''Taxi'' |Denise |Episode: "Men Are Such Beasts" |- |1978 |''Danny Thomas: Young & Foolish'' |Gail |TV movie |- |1979 |''Barnaby Jones'' |Karen Webster |Episode: "Girl on the Road" |- |1979 |''Starting Fresh'' |Gale |TV movie |- |1979 |''The Last Resort'' |Beverly |Episode: "Here Comes the Bride" |- |1979 |''Working Stiffs'' |Sandy |Episode: "Looking for Mr. Goodwrench" |- |1980 |''When the Whistle Blows'' |Jolene Jennings |Episode: "Love Is a Four-Letter Word" |- |1980 |''Blinded by the Light'' |Zora | TV movie |- |1980 |''Happy Days'' |Loretta |Episode: "A Potsie Is Born" |- |1980–82 <br>1985–89 |''It's a Living/<br>Making a Living'' |Dot Higgins |ABC/Lorimar-Telepictures/Warner Bros. Television Distribution |- |1980 |''Celebrity Family Feud'' |Herself |''It's a Living'' vs. ''Dallas'' |- |1981 |''M*A*S*H'' |Marina Ryan |Episodes: Parts 1 & 2 "That's Show Biz" |- |1983 |''Buffalo Bill'' |Reporter |Episode: "The Interview" |- |1983 |''Get Crazy'' |Willy Loman |Movie |- |1983 |''Jennifer Slept Here'' |Pam Wilson |Episode: "The Tutor Who Came to Dinner" |- |1983 |''Knight Rider'' |Flannery Roe |Episode: "Nobody Does It Better" |- |1984 |''Benson'' |Jill |Episode: "Double Date" |- |1984 |''Brothers'' |Liza |Episode: "Liza" |- |1985 |''Three's a Crowd'' |Dorothy |Episode: "A Friend in Deed" |- |1985 |''Amazing Stories'' |Joleen |Episode: "Ghost Train" |- |1985 |''J.O.E. and the Colonel • Humanoid Defender'' |Dr. Lena Gant | TV movie |- |1986 |''Tough Cookies'' |Diane Taylor |Episode: "Ships in the Night" |- |1986 |''You Are the Jury'' |Maggie Henshaw |Episode: "The State of Arizona vs. Dr. Evan Blake" |- |1986 |''TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes'' |Herself |Guest host |- |1986 |''New Love, American Style'' |Lucy |Episode: "Love and the End" |- |1987 |''In Self Defense'' |Alice Miller | TV movie |- |1989 |''Night Court'' |Tracy Knight |Episode: "Attack of the Mac Snacks" |- |1989 |''Duet'' |Dr. Dellerton |Episode: "On the Nose" |- |1990 |''A Quiet Little Neighborhood, A Perfect Little Murder'' |Judy Lipton | TV movie |- |1990–91 |''The Family Man'' |Hilary Kozak |3 episodes |- |1991–93 |''Blossom'' |Sharon Lemure |10 episodes |- |1991–93 |''Full House'' |Vicky Larson |17 episodes |- |1992 |''Doogie Howser, M.D.'' |Mrs. Fukes |Episode: "The Big Sleep... Not!" |- |1994 |''Touched by an Angel'' |Barbara Archibald |Episode: "Manny" |- |2004 |''E! True Hollywood Story'' |Herself |''Blossom'' interview |- |2017, 2020 |''Fuller House'' |Vicky Larson |Episodes: "Here Comes the Sun", "Our Very Last Show, Again" |}
===TV commercials===
{|class="wikitable sortable |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Product ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1976 |Johnson's Baby Shampoo<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp-ek8Pi8no|title=Gail Edwards appearing in Johnson's Baby Oil commercial|date=16 June 2009|publisher=|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> |Teenager | |- |1978 |Bold Detergent<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl9WalNaiRo&lc=IXu6pZbAPYqstlyntjI6ESvjD-dfOwnB7dHyZtakStI|title=Bold 3 Detergent Commercial (Circa '80s)|date=6 May 2007|publisher=|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> |Mother | |- |1984 |Dr. Pepper<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baChXz9OKOw|title=Gail Edwards appearing in Clio-Award-winning Dr. Pepper commercial|date=14 June 2009|publisher=|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> |Esmeralda |Clio Award |- |1984 |Kodak<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr-xTzG3enU|title=Gail Edwards appearing in Kodak commercial|date=21 June 2009|publisher=|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> |Pitchwoman |with David Copperfield |- |1986 |Sizzler<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6L9ZYLiZJE|title=Gail Edwards appearing in Sizzler commercial|date=15 June 2009|publisher=|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> |Secretary | |- |1988 |[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAELVZvkYg4 Canon Copiers] |Executive |with Jack Klugman |}
==Theatre== {|class="wikitable sortable" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1963 |''The Women'' |Little Mary<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHWQfPvfTL8|title=Gail Edwards: "The Women" w/ Audio Commentary|date=1 July 2011|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref> |Coconut Grove Playhouse |- |1973 |''Cabaret'' |Sally Bowles |Olympia Theater (Miami) |- |1975 |''Jacques Brel'' |Woman 1 |Parker Playhouse |- |1975–76 |''Becoming'' |Woman 1 |Miami / Off-Broadway |- |1977 |''Grease'' |Sandy |East Coast Tour |- |1979 |''Vanities'' |Joanne |Drama-Logue Critic's Award |- |1983 |''All About Eve'' |Eve |Directed by Dalton Cathey |- |1985 |''The Good One'' |Tura |Drama-Logue Critic's Award |- |1985 |''To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday'' |Kevin |West Coast Premiere |- |1996 |''Mame'' |Mame |Jerry Herman Ring Theatre (Christening) |}
==Awards and honors== *2001: Inducted alongside Janet Reno and Al Del Greco in the Coral Gables High School Hall of Fame.{{Citation needed |date=September 2022}}
==Points of interest== *1974: Opened for Frank Sinatra at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach on March 24, benefiting Danny Thomas’ St. Jude Children's Research Hospital *1976: Backup vocalist for Sergio Franchi's U.S. tour *1978: Upon moving to Los Angeles, Edwards lived with former MGM contract star, Gloria DeHaven *Being offered a role without the grueling audition process is the height of tribute in Hollywood. Seven such roles: Anson Williams ([https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100450/ A Perfect Little Murder]), Steven Spielberg (''Amazing Stories''), Gary David Goldberg (''Family Ties''), Don Reo (''Blossom''), Martha Williamson (''Touched by an Angel''), Jerry Herman (''Mame'') and (''Fuller House'') Jeff Franklin.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07BbASyofsw Fuller House Podcast]</ref>
==See also==
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Gail Edwards}} *{{YouTube|CBTFnTsX58o|Gail Edwards Acting Reel}} * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07BbASyofsw Gail Edwards “The Fuller House Podcast” Interview] Part 1 • Edwards talks: “Happy Days,” “Gary David Goldberg,” Steven Spielberg’s, “Amazing Stories,” “Blossom,” and “Full House." * Gail Edwards [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-4IVwWuCc “The Fuller House Podcast” Interview] Part 2 • Edwards talks reprising her role as Vicky Larson on “Fuller House.” *{{IMDb name|0249997}} *[http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/gail-edwards/credits/151138 Gail Edwards] on TVGuide.com *[http://www.tv.com/gail-edwards/person/267/summary.html Gail Edwards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805020106/http://www.tv.com/gail-edwards/person/267/summary.html |date=2011-08-05 }} on TV.com
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Gail}} Category:20th-century American actresses Category:Actors from Coral Gables, Florida Category:Actresses from Miami-Dade County, Florida Category:American film actresses Category:American stage actresses Category:American television actresses Category:Coral Gables Senior High School alumni Category:Living people Category:University of Miami alumni Category:21st-century American women Category:Year of birth missing (living people)