American actress of film and TV who made her strongest mark in TV movies. She started out in teenage-mother-victim roles for which she earned her first Emmy award in 1974. She worked in the ABC hit mini-series drama “Rich Man, Poor Man” in 1976. The ’80s were a time of uphill career battles for Lenz. She had such difficulties in getting film and television roles that on her 30th birthday, friends gave her presents of food. By 1987, Lenz appeared in “Stripped to Kill” playing a stripper performing in a G-string before the movie camera. In 1989, Lenz made a television comeback in the NBC drama “Midnight Caller,” for which she won her second Emmy award.
Lenz grew up in Los Angeles as the daughter of Ted Lenz, a broadcast producer and her mother, Kay, a radio engineer and sometimes model. Lenz made her acting debut at six weeks old in the arms of Betty White on the show, “Hollywood on Television.” At 19, she got her big break starring in “Breezy” with William Holden and directed by Clint Eastwood.
Lenz met “Partridge Family” heart-throb actor David Cassidy on a blind date and the two married two and 1/2 months later, April 1977. Their elopement received national attention from the media. The couple did drugs in their four-year marriage, first at her Hollywood Hills home that she bought with her television income then at the ranch they bought in late 1977. In 1981, the couple parted amicably. Cassidy remarried, but Lenz lost her self-confidence as she slid into a career slump. Marriage had not brought happiness and she learned to prefer the single life. She found her own strength and independence, not minding if people label her a loner. Her greatest joy comes from fixing up her house and tending her garden. She has occasional friends who visit her but prefers living a quiet, private life.
In 1991, Lenz guested on the hit TV series “Reasonable Doubts,” leading to a sign-on as a regular by 1993.
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