WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO: Melody Anderson

Melody Anderson may not have been one of the best known actresses of the 1980’s. However, she was one of the busiest, and certainly one of the most beautiful.

Yet, two decades later, she is no longer in the business.

Born in Canada, she got her start in TV. There were episodes of WELCOME BACK, KOTTER, LOGAN’S RUN, B.J. AND THE BEAR, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and John Carpenter’s TV movie ELVIS.


Her best known role to some was her first feature film, FLASH GORDON. As the female lead, she still has a following to this day from this one film.

She next appeared in another cult film, the 1981 horror film DEAD AND BURIED, a film popular enough to have an upcoming Blu-Ray release.

In 1982 and 1983, she appeared on all of the following TV series. ARCHIE BUNKER’S PLACE, DALLAS, T.J. HOOKER, THE FALL GUY (in a two part episode), CHIPS, THE A-TEAM, and a recurring role on ST. ELSEWHERE as a nurse.

Next came another cult favorite, often named as one of the worst shows ever to appear on TV.



MANIMAL.

Yes, the series where Simon MacCorkindale transformed himself into different animals. Jay Leno used the show as a punch line in his stand up act throughout the 80’s. (Although watching that above clip, I now WANT this show on DVD!!)

Possibly her best role, in that it was a starring role in a film about her character, came as the title character in the 1983 TV movie POLICEWOMAN CENTERFOLD. As a policewoman who, you guessed it, poses for a men’s magazine, this still turns up on TV and is even available as part of Netflix’s Watch It Now feature.

MANIMAL was quickly cancelled and Melody want back to work, playing Edie Adams in the TV movie ERNIE KOVACS: BETWEEN THE LAUGHTER, opposite Nic Cage in the rowing film THE BOY IN BLUE, episodes of HOTEL and PHILIP MARLOWE, PRIVATE EYE, along with the TV movie BEVERLY HILLS MADAM.


Melody starred with Chuck Norris and Louis Gossett Jr. in the 1986 J. Lee Thompson directed action film FIREWALKER, a TV movie DEEP DARK SECRETS and, like just about everyone else in this series, she starred in an episode of MURDER SHE WROTE.

But wait, there's more (I told you she was busy).

In 1989, she appeared in SPEED ZONE (aka CANNONBALL RUN 3), an episode of HBO's THE HITCHHIKER, and went on to star in several forgotten TV movies. She appeared on the final season of JAKE AND THE FATMAN in 1992, and on ALL MY CHILDREN for a couple of years.


In 1993 she played Marilyn Monroe in the TV movie MARILYN & BOBBY: HER FINAL AFFAIR. While I never saw this, one internet review says Melody was one of the best to ever play Marilyn.

A 1995 episode of BURKE’S LAW was Melody’s final performance.



What Ever Happened To Her?

Melody left the business entirely and went back to school. She earned a Masters Degree in Social Work.

Today, she works as a family therapist and Substance Abuse Counselor.

She is also a frequent participant at fan conventions, signing autographs.



In 2007 she gave the above interview at a Convention in New York. She talks about the business being difficult, and how it is hard for women over 50 to find good roles.

She says she had a wonderful time during her career.

That is what is most important.

MELODY ANDERSON ON DVD



MELODY ANDERSON ON VHS