• Charlene Tilton is an all-American actress who rose to fame for her role as Lucy Ewing in the show “Dallas”.
• She grew up in foster care as her mother was ill and her father had left them.
• She began her career at 17, when she was cast as Bambi in the 1976 film “Freaky Friday”.
• She had a long and successful career, appearing in films and television shows, as well as reality TV and celebrity game shows.
• Her net worth is estimated at $2 million as of 2020.
Known for movies
Dallas (1978-1990)
as Lucy Ewing Cooper / Lucy Ewing
#1 Cheerleader Camp (2010)
as Charlene Tilton
Problem Child 2 (1991)
as Debbie Claukinski
Superhero Movie (2008)
as Jill's Mother
Short Info
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| Date Of Birth | December 1, 1958 |
| Spouse | Domenick Allen, Johnny Lee |
| Mark | Lisp, breathless voice |
| Fact | She posed topless in Playboy magazine in the 1980s. |
Charlene Tilton will perhaps be best remembered for her iconic role as Lucy Ewing, the niece of JR Ewing on the legendary television show “Dallas”. She is an all-American actress who starred in a vast repertoire of films and also surprised the world with her lovely voice. However, her life was not without its fair share of tragedies and difficulties, as she did not always have the best in life. Read on as we discuss the life of the veteran actress, who in 2020 celebrates her 62nd birthday.
Contents
Early life and family
Charlene L Tilton was born in San Diego, California, USA, on 1 December 1958.
Her early life was not the fondest time of her life, as her mother, Katherine Thacker, struggled as a single parent. Katherine worked as a secretary and did not receive financial aid from her daughter’s father. The man had walked out on them when she was still young, and she Charlene grew-up without knowing him.
In her teen years, Charlene’s mother would fall ill to mental disorder, forcing Charlene to live in foster care for most of her high school career. It was during this time in her life that Charlene had met the actor Larry Hagman, who became a godfather and mentor for her. They later co-starred in the “Dallas” soap opera.
As a teenager, she had dreamed of becoming an actress, a dream that was realized at the age of 17, when she was cast as Bambi in the 1976 film “Freaky Friday”.
Educational background
Charlene attended Hollywood High School, where she was a cheerleader and president of the Thespians Club. She matriculated from high school, but has since had no need to further her education, and has not attended any other institutes.
Career
Charlene’s career started with a few small roles in both television shows and films, but she quickly rose to fame for her iconic role as Lucy Ewing Cooper, the role she played throughout eight seasons of “Dallas”.
Her first roles were in the comedy shows “Eight Is Enough” and “Happy Days”, appearing in one episode of each. She was also seen in the films “Freaky Friday”, “Sweater Girls” and “Big Wednesday”, then landed her role as a cast member of “Dallas” in 1978, at the age of 19, and stayed on until 1990.
Her career boomed throughout the airing of the popular soap opera, and landed her on the cover of several magazines. She was also rewarded the Young Artist Award for Juvenile Actress in a TV Series for her role as Lucy, as well as several other awards.
She starred in several shows and films in the eighties, include a few iconic titles such as “The Love Boat”, “Fantasy Island” and “Murder, She Wrote”. She also appeared as herself in “Married… With Children”.
Following her success with the “Dallas” soap opera, she gained several roles spanning across the nineties, including the films “Problem Child 2”, “For Parents Only”, and the television movies “Favorite Deadly Sins” and “Safety Patrol”.
Since 2000, Charlene has mostly appeared in few comedy spoof films, which include “#1 Cheerleader Camp” and “Superhero Movie”.
She also reprised her role as Lucy for the 2012 “Dallas” revival.
Her latest appearance was in the 2017 film “The Road Less Travelled”.
Other than a successful career in television and film, Charlene is also a singer. She performed the lead vocals in episodes of “Dallas”, when her character Lucy ran away to become a country singer.
She also starred alongside singer Michael Buble in the film “Totally Blonde”, and participated in several reality TV and celebrity game shows, which include “Dancing On Ice”.
Hobbies, favourite things and interesting facts
Not much is known about Charlene’s personal preferences, but in the early eighties she made headlines in scandal tabloids for appearing topless in a ‘Playboy’ issue. Other than that, it is known that she was a good friend to co-star Larry Hagman, and was the only “Dallas” cast member to have been at his 70th birthday. Upon his death in 2012, she attended his funeral and in a statement said that he was her biggest acting inspiration.
Relationships
Charlene’s romances have also been riddled with difficulties and tragedy.
She had been married and divorced twice, first to country singer Johnny Lee, with whom she has a daughter Cherish Lee, from 1982 until 1984. Following this, Charlene was involved with Scottish actor Domenick Allen, whom she married on 7 April 1985, but their relationship ended in divorce in 1992 without any children. She then formed a relationship with the cinematographer Cheddy Hart, but who passed away in 2009. It is not known if Charlene has had another relationship since then. Her daughter was born in 1982, and like her father, has followed a career in country singing.
Physical characteristics
- Date of Birth: 1 December 1958
- Hair colour: Blonde
- Eye colour: Blue
- Height: 4ft 11ins (1.5m)
- Weight: 119lbs ( 48kgs)
- Dress Size: 4 (1980)
- Shoe Size: 5 (US)
- Bra Size: 32C (1980)
- Star Sign: Sagittarius
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
Net worth
Charlene’s net worth that she’s accumulated over the long years of her successful acting career stands at an estimated total of $2 million as of 2020.
General Info
| Full Name | Charlene Tilton |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| Date Of Birth | December 1, 1958 |
| Height | 1.5 m |
| Profession | Actor, Singer |
| Education | Hollywood High School |
| Nationality | American |
Family
| Spouse | Domenick Allen, Johnny Lee |
| Children | Cherish Lee |
| Parents | Katherine Thacker |
Accomplishments
| Awards | TV Land Pop Culture Award |
| Movies | Problem Child 2, The Silence of the Hams, 1 Cheerleader Camp, Deadly Bet, Superhero Movie, Center of the Web, Totally Blonde, Paranormal Calamity, Ragin' Cajun, Sarah's Choice, A Distant Thunder, Samaritan |
| TV Shows | The Farm, Dallas |
Social profile links
Marks
| # | Marks / Signs |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lisp, breathless voice |
| 2 | Voluptuous figure |
| 3 | Sparkling blue eyes |
| 4 | Platinum blonde hair |
Quotes
| # | Quote |
|---|---|
| 1 | Apple box... I've lived my whole life on an apple box. |
| 2 | [Of Larry Hagman]: When I met the force of nature that is Larry Hagman, I was 17-years-old. I was raised by a single mother who is mentally ill, I had my own apartment. By the time I was 15-years-old; and I never had a father figure I have longed for and really needed me. He was a guiding force in my life. He taught me how to be professional, he taught me the craft of acting, he taught me how to behave on the set, he was an amazing, amazing, human being. He was so protective of me, because I was so young starting the show, but at the same time, he expected and demanded a lot from me, because he believed in me. So, on a general, personal note, he meant so much to me. |
| 3 | [on her on- and off-screen chemistry with Larry Hagman, who played JR Ewing]: He's the greatest. He really is. He and his wife Maj are two of the nicest people on the planet. Larry really was the glue that kept us all together, off- camera as well as on, he was always having parties and get togethers and when we were on location, he was just so much fun. He helped us all bond as a unit and I have to attribute the huge success to Dallas because we had this chemistry but it was really Larry Hagman keeping us all together and we really grew to love each other He's a really amazing person and one of the most amazing actors, the fact he was never nominated for an Emmy award is such a shock for me, its an outrage. |
| 4 | [Who was praying so hard for Larry Hagman to win the Emmy Award for Best Leading Actor in a Drama Series, which was Dallas (1978)]: To this day, I cannot believe Larry never won an Emmy Award. He's an amazing actor and he did an amazing thing with that character. But not only on-screen. Because he was the male lead on the show, he really set the tone in the very beginning of our filming. He was the one that kept us together as a group. We were always together in his big van, of his house, in his hotel rooms, wherever. He was the glue that kept us together on-screen and -off. |
| 5 | I did it when I ran into a table-leg at the Dallas 30th Anniversary Reunion at Southfork Ranch last month. |
| 6 | [When she was about to return to Dallas (1978)]: It can still go either way. I guess it depends on how bad they want me back. They have to want me back bad enough to give me the storylines I'm looking for. |
| 7 | My mother decided that I was Lithuania's answer to Shirley Temple, and so I ended up here. I wrote, produced and starred in shows here. |
Facts
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | Was the only Dallas (1978) cast to attend her TV uncle's Larry Hagman's 70th Birthday in 2001. |
| 2 | Once danced with Larry Hagman. |
| 3 | Credits Larry Hagman and Barbara Bel Geddes as her favorite acting mentors/best friends. |
| 4 | Met Larry Hagman prior to attending high school, when her single mother was mentally ill, and wasn't raised without a father, therefore, Hagman became her 'surrogate father' on Dallas (1978). |
| 5 | Beat out Stefanie Kramer for the role of Lucy Ewing in Dallas (1978). |
| 6 | Her acting mentors are the late Larry Hagman and the late Barbara Bel Geddes. |
| 7 | She has played the same character (Lucy Ewing) in three different series: Dallas (1978), Knots Landing (1979) and Dallas (2012). |
| 8 | Best remembered by the public for her role as Lucy Ewing Cooper on the 1980s soap opera Dallas (1978). |
| 9 | Ex-niece-in-law of Annie Ross. |
| 10 | She posed topless in Playboy magazine in the 1980s. |
| 11 | She is an only child, as is her daughter Cherish Lee. However, Cherish does have a younger half-brother on her father's side of the family. |
| 12 | Is a professional-caliber singer; she did all her own vocals in the Dallas (1978) episode where "Lucy Ewing" runs away with the Greg Evigan character, to try and become a country-western star. In real life, Charlene was offered the role of Rizzo in "Grease" during the 1990s; however, she turned it down because "my daughter (Cherish) was just starting high school, and I wanted to be there for her." However, she has released a single with the title "Cest La Vie". |
| 13 | She attended Hollywood High School, where she was a varsity cheerleader and President of the Thespians' Club. |
| 14 | Her daughter, Cherish Lee, was only 17 when she started working as a gossip columnist for "The Globe" tabloid magazine. |
Pictures
Movies
Actress
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Theory of Everything | 2000 | TV Movie | Stephanie |
| Guido Takes a Hike | 2000 | Short | Bartender |
| Detonator | 1998 | Gail Davies | |
| Safety Patrol | 1998 | TV Movie | Mrs. Zapruder |
| Star Witness | 1995 | TV Movie | Grace Kelly |
| Haunted Lives: True Ghost Stories | 1995 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Vicki the Bartender ('The Headless Ghost') |
| Favorite Deadly Sins | 1995 | TV Movie | Actress playing Norma Jean |
| Night Stand | 1995 | TV Series | Charlene |
| The Silence of the Hams | 1994 | Jane Wine | |
| Center of the Web | 1992 | Kathryn Lockwood | |
| Deadly Bet | 1992 | Isabella | |
| For Parents Only | 1991 | Mrs. Farell | |
| Ragin' Cajun | 1991 | Ali Webster | |
| Problem Child 2 | 1991 | Debbie Claukinski | |
| Border Shootout | 1990 | Edith Hanasain | |
| Dallas | 1978-1990 | TV Series | Lucy Ewing Cooper Lucy Ewing |
| Murder, She Wrote | 1987 | TV Series | Cindy March |
| The Love Boat | 1980-1987 | TV Series | Emily Marcus / Secretary / Ellen |
| New Love, American Style | 1986 | TV Series | |
| Hotel | 1983 | TV Series | Holly Lane |
| Fantasy Island | 1980 | TV Series | Charlotte 'Charlie' Johnson |
| Laverne & Shirley | 1980 | TV Series | The Girl at Bar |
| Knots Landing | 1980 | TV Series | Lucy Ewing |
| Pale Horse Pale Rider | 1980 | Short | Miranda |
| The Fall of the House of Usher | 1979 | TV Movie | Jennifer Cresswell |
| Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker | 1979 | TV Movie | Julie Thurston |
| Big Wednesday | 1978 | Party Girl | |
| Sweater Girls | 1978 | Candy | |
| Eight Is Enough | 1977 | TV Series | Wendy Springer |
| Freaky Friday | 1976 | Bambi | |
| Happy Days | 1976 | TV Series | Jill Higgins |
| Road Less Traveled | 2017 | pre-production | Babs |
| Doctor Spine | 2015 | Aunt Sally | |
| The Middle | 2015 | TV Series | Rhonda |
| The Michaels | 2014 | TV Movie | |
| TMI Hollywood | 2014 | TV Series | Host / Various |
| Lucky Dog | 2014 | Jeanie | |
| Buttwhistle | 2014 | Mrs. Podgorney | |
| Dallas | 2012-2014 | TV Series | Lucy Ewing |
| Reading Writing & Romance | 2013 | TV Movie | Penny |
| DeVanity | 2013 | TV Series | Francesca DeVanity |
| Not Another Celebrity Movie | 2013 | Chef | |
| Hemingway | 2012 | Mrs. Hemingway | |
| Edge of Salvation | 2012 | Sarah Malone | |
| Cloud Boy | 2011 | TV Series | Dianne Majors |
| Actors Anonymous | 2011 | TV Movie | Charlene Tilton |
| Mean Parents Suck | 2010 | Judy Farell | |
| #1 Cheerleader Camp | 2010 | Video | Charlene Tilton |
| Paranormal Calamity | 2010 | Jacquiline | |
| Sarah's Choice | 2009 | Video | Abortion doctor |
| Superhero Movie | 2008 | Jill's Mother | |
| Tell Veronica | 2008 | Video short | Veronica Star |
| Point of Entry | 2007 | TV Movie | Helen |
| Getting It Straight | 2006 | Short | Cynthia Rosenburg |
| A Distant Thunder | 2005 | Short | Susan |
| Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star | 2003 | Charlene Tilton | |
| Zombie Rights! | 2003 | Short | Host |
| Totally Blonde | 2001 | Blonde Scool Director | |
| Bar Hopping | 2000 | TV Movie | Actress |
Soundtrack
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Chaparall | 2004 | TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode | |
| Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star | 2003 | "Child Stars on Your Television" | |
| Ragin' Cajun | 1991 | "I Slipped on My Best Friend" / performer: "I L.U.V.Y.O.U.", "The Heart of You", "We Can Make It" |
Producer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Reunion: Return to Southfork | 2004 | TV Movie documentary co-executive producer | |
| Pale Horse Pale Rider | 1980 | Short executive producer |
Thanks
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Massacre: Richard Speck | 2007 | Video special thanks |
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Hollywood Cinemas | 2016 | Documentary | Herself |
| Entertainment Tonight | 2015 | TV Series | Herself |
| Oprah: Where Are They Now? | 2015 | TV Series | Herself |
| We Love Soaps TV | 2014 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Charlene Tilton & Actors for Autism PSA | 2014 | Short | Herself |
| Inside Web Series | 2013 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Marie | 2013 | TV Series documentary | |
| Celebrity Ghost Stories | 2013 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Pioneers of Television | 2013 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Herself |
| Sugar Dome | 2013 | TV Series | Herself - Guest Judge |
| The Wright Stuff | 2012 | TV Series | Herself - Guest Panelist |
| Let's Do Lunch with Gino & Mel | 2012 | TV Series | Herself |
| Loose Women | 2008-2012 | TV Series | Herself |
| Aspiring Hollywood | 2011 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Celebrity Close Calls | 2011 | TV Series | Herself |
| Breakfast | 2011 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| The Wendy Williams Show | 2011 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Totally Tracked Down | 2010 | TV Series | Herself |
| RuPaul's Drag U | 2010 | TV Series | Herself - Contestant |
| Dish it Out! | 2010 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Dallas VIP: 30 Year Reunion at Southfork Ranch | 2010 | Video documentary | |
| Catch 21 | 2009 | TV Series | Herself - Celebrity Contestant |
| London by Night | 2009 | TV Movie | Herself |
| The Fish | 2009/I | Herself | |
| 1 vs. 100 | 2008 | TV Series | Herself |
| Paula's Party | 2008 | TV Series | Herself |
| TV Land Confidential | 2005-2007 | TV Series documentary | Herself / Herself - Interviewee |
| 20 heures le journal | 2007 | TV Series | Herself |
| In the Cutz | 2006 | TV Series | Herself |
| Stars in Their Eyes | 2006 | TV Series | Herself / Madonna |
| The 4th Annual TV Land Awards | 2006 | TV Special | Herself |
| The Paul O'Grady Show | 2005 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| The Farm | 2005 | TV Series | Herself |
| The British Comedy Awards 2004 | 2004 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter |
| Dallas Reunion: Return to Southfork | 2004 | TV Movie documentary | Herself / Lucy Ewing |
| GMTV | 2004 | TV Series | Herself |
| The John Kerwin Show | 2004 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Living in TV Land | 2004 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Hollywood Squares | 2004 | TV Series | Herself |
| High Chaparall | 2004 | TV Series documentary | Herself - Guest |
| Pyramid | 2004 | TV Series | Herself |
| Discovery Health Celebrity Body Challenge | 2004 | TV Series | Herself |
| SoapTalk | 2003 | TV Series | Herself / Lucy Ewing |
| After Dallas | 2002 | TV Movie | Herself |
| After They Were Famous | 2002 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| When Shoulderpads Ruled the World | 2002 | TV Special | Herself |
| VH-1 Where Are They Now? | 2000 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| E! True Hollywood Story | 1997-2000 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| Doing Dallas | 2000 | TV Special | Herself |
| Good vs Evil | 1999 | TV Series | Herself |
| Match Game | 1997 | TV Series | Herself - Host |
| The Geraldo Rivera Show | 1995 | TV Series | Herself |
| Married with Children | 1993 | TV Series | Herself |
| Circus of the Stars #16 | 1991 | TV Special documentary | Herself |
| The New Hollywood Squares | 1988-1989 | TV Series | Herself / Herself - Panelist |
| The Arsenio Hall Show | 1989 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Stand-up Comics Take a Stand | 1988 | TV Special documentary | Herself |
| Hour Magazine | 1983-1988 | TV Series | Herself |
| America: The Great Mississippi | 1987 | TV Movie | Herself |
| This Is Your Life | 1987 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 4th Annual American Cinema Awards | 1987 | TV Special | Herself |
| Academy of Country Music's 20th Anniversary Reunion | 1986 | TV Special | Herself |
| Battle of the Network Stars XVII | 1984 | TV Special | Herself - CBS Team |
| The 36th Primetime Emmy Awards | 1984 | TV Special | Herself - Presenter: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special & Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special |
| Battle of the Network Stars XVI | 1984 | TV Special | Herself - CBS Team |
| Àngel Casas Show | 1984 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| exclusiv | 1983 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| The 10th Annual American Music Awards | 1983 | TV Special | Herself (in audience) |
| The Fall Guy | 1982 | TV Series | Herself |
| Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny | 1982 | TV Movie | Herself |
| The 39th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1982 | TV Special documentary | Herself |
| The American Music Awards | 1982 | TV Special | Herself |
| Battle of the Network Stars XI | 1981 | TV Special | Herself - CBS Team |
| The Alan Thicke Show | 1981 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Battle of the Network Stars X | 1981 | TV Special | Herself - CBS Team |
| Saturday Night Live | 1981 | TV Series | Herself - Host / Starla / Molly Dawson / ... |
| The Bob Hope Funny Valentine Special | 1981 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 38th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1981 | TV Special | Herself |
| CBS All American Thanksgiving Day Parade | 1980 | TV Special | Herself |
| Battle of the Network Stars VIII | 1980 | TV Special | Herself - CBS Team |
| The Hollywood Squares | 1979-1980 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Mike Douglas Show | 1978-1980 | TV Series | Herself - Guest / Herself - Co-Host |
| Circus of the Stars #4 | 1979 | TV Special documentary | Herself - Performer |
| The Muppets Go Hollywood | 1979 | TV Special | Herself (uncredited) |
| All-Star Family Feud Special | 1979 | TV Series | Herself - Celebrity Contestant |
| Family Feud | 1979 | TV Series | Herself |
| Battle of the Network Stars V | 1978 | TV Special | Herself - CBS Team |
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 quart de 3 | 2008 | TV Series | Herself |
| Saturday Night Live in the '80s: Lost & Found | 2005 | TV Special documentary | Herself |
| High Chaparall | 2004 | TV Series documentary | Herself - Previous Guest |
| Dallas | 1986 | TV Series | Lucy Ewing Cooper |
| Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color | 1982 | TV Series | Bambi |
| Happy Days | 1977 | TV Series | Jill Higgins |
Awards
Won Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | ISA | Indie Series Awards | Best Guest Star - Drama | DeVanity (2011) |
| 2006 | Pop Culture Award | TV Land Awards | Dallas (1978) | |
| 2001 | Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award | Young Artist Awards | Dallas (1978) | |
| 1987 | Bambi | Bambi Awards | Jubilee | Dallas (1978) |
| 1980 | Young Artist Award | Young Artist Awards | Best Juvenile Actress in a TV Series or Special | Dallas (1978) |
Nominated Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Sour Apple | Golden Apple Awards |
3rd Place Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Bravo Otto Germany | Bravo Otto | Best Female TV Star (TV-Star w) |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia
