Tawny Kitaen

Julie E. "Tawny" Kitaen (born August 5, 1961) is an American actress, comedian and media personality.

Tawny Kitaen
Born
Julie E. Kitaen

(1961-08-05) August 5, 1961
San Diego, California, US
OccupationActress, comedian
Years active1979–present
Spouse(s)David Coverdale (1989–1991)
Chuck Finley (1997–2002)
Children2

Early life

Tawny Kitaen was born in San Diego, California, in 1961, the daughter of Linda Kitaen (née Taylor), a housewife and a former beauty pageant participant, and Terry Kitaen, an employee of a neon sign company.[1] Julie began using the nickname "Tawny" at the age of 12 on her own initiative.[2]

Acting career

Kitaen began her acting career in 1983 with a minor role in the television movie Malibu. In 1984, she starred as the title character of the erotic-adventure movie The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik-Yak, also called Gwendoline. She also co-starred in the movie Bachelor Party as the bride-to-be of Tom Hanks’ character, and starred in the 1986 horror movie Witchboard.[3] She also starred in the 1997 movie "Dead Tides" with wrestler Roddy Piper.

Kitaen appeared in several videos in the 1980s for the band Whitesnake, including the hits "Here I Go Again", "Still of the Night", "Is This Love," and "The Deeper the Love". She was briefly married to Whitesnake's lead singer, David Coverdale.

Kitaen appeared in Seinfeld as Jerry’s girlfriend in the 1991 episode "The Nose Job".

She had recurring parts in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and co-hosted America's Funniest People from 1992 to 1994.

Kitaen was also in 19 episodes of the TV series The New WKRP in Cincinnati from 1991 to 1993 as a night-time DJ named Mona Loveland; in the show, her night-time program was called Mona Til Midnight.

Reality TV

Kitaen was one of the cast of the sixth edition of the VH1 reality television show The Surreal Life, which began airing in March 2006. Kitaen also appeared in the second season of the VH1 reality TV show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, which began in October 2008.[4][5][6]

Personal life

Kitaen dated Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby during and after high school. She followed the band to Los Angeles in the late 1970s to pursue a career of her own. Kitaen married Whitesnake singer David Coverdale in 1989. Coverdale and Kitaen divorced in 1991. Kitaen had an affair with O.J. Simpson.[7]

Kitaen was married to baseball player Chuck Finley from 1997 to 2002. In 2002, she was charged with domestic violence for an incident involving Finley, whom she had kicked in the face repeatedly with high-heeled shoes.[8] Three days later, Finley filed for divorce.[8] After a plea bargain, Kitaen agreed to "enter a spousal battery counseling program and avoid contact with Finley."[8] The couple had been married for five years and had two daughters together.[9]

In November 2006, prosecutors charged Kitaen with possessing 15 grams of cocaine in her San Juan Capistrano home in Orange County. The authorities said her two children were home at the time and Kitaen had given deputies permission for the search.[10] In December 2006, she entered a six-month rehabilitation program in exchange for the dismissal of a felony drug possession charge.[11][12][13]

On September 26, 2009, Kitaen was arrested for driving under the influence in Newport Beach, California.[14] The following July, she pleaded no contest to misdemeanor DUI and was sentenced to two days in jail, ordered to attend a first-offender alcohol program, and required to perform 64 hours of community service[15]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1984 The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik-Yak Gwendoline
1984 Bachelor Party Debbie Thompson
1986 Witchboard Linda Brewster
1986 Crystal Heart Alley Daniels
1986 Instant Justice Virginia
1987 Happy Hour Misty Roberts
1989 White Hot Vanessa
1993 Three of Hearts Woman in Bar
1996 Playback Sara Burgess
1997 Dead Tides Nola
2002 Happy Hour Short film
2009 Too Cool
2011 Here We Go Again Short film
2014 After Midnight Rikki

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1976 To Tell the Truth Herself Game show
1983 Malibu Mahoney's girlfriend TV film
1985 California Girls Karen Malone TV film
1986-1987 Capitol Meredith Ross TV series
1987 Glory Years Melinda Murphy TV film
1989 Santa Barbara Lisa DiNapoli Appeared between February 28, 1989 and July 21, 1989[16][17]
1989 Booker Skylar Samperton Episode: "Someone Stole Lucille"
1991 They Came From Outer Space Monica Bates Episode: "Sex, Lies & UFOs: Part 2"
1991 Shades of L.A. Linda Makowski Episodes: "Line of Fire: Parts 1 & 2"
1991 Veronica Clare Episodes: "The Boxing Story", "Slow Violence"
1991 Seinfeld Isabel Episode: "The Nose Job"
1991-1993 The New WKRP in Cincinnati Mona Loveland Main role (19 episodes)
1992-1994 America's Funniest People Co-host Succeeded Arleen Sorkin
1992-1996 Eek! The Cat Annabelle (voice) Main role (39 episodes)
1994 Married... with Children Dominique Episode: "Shoeway to Heaven"
1994 Hercules and the Circle of Fire Deianeira TV film
1994 Hercules in the Underworld Deianeira TV film
1994 Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur Deianeira TV film
1995 Burke's Law Rhonda Dooley Episode: "Who Killed Cock-a-Doodle Dooley?"
1995 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Deianeira Episodes: "The Wrong Path", "The Other Side"
1997 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Deianeira Episode: "When a Man Loves a Woman"
2006 The Surreal Life Herself
2011 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Lydia Kole Episode: "Father of the Bride"
2012 Life@Large TV miniseries
2017 Botched Herself Episode Boob Trains and Big Butts
gollark: Extra tickets, not an actual prize.
gollark: To Suggestions/Requests! Again!
gollark: Hmm... good idea.
gollark: 🌵
gollark: I think they should limit it to one per person though.

References
  1. Seinfeld. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  2. "Celebrity Rehab 2 with Dr. Drew | Show Cast, Episodes, Guides, Trailers, Web Exclusives, Previews". VH1. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  3. James, Caryn (March 15, 1987). "LOVE TRIANGLE IN 'WITCHBOARD'". The New York Times.
  4. "VH1 Heads Back to Rehab With Dr. Drew Pinsky for a Second Season of 'Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew'". EarthTimes.org. June 10, 2008.
  5. TV Guide, June 23, 2008; Page 8
  6. ""Celebs Check Into Rehab 2 With Dr. Drew"". VH1.com. June 10, 2008. Archived from the original on June 13, 2008.
  7. Deutsch, Linda (13 January 1997). "Surprise letter: Nicole wrote O.J. Simpson 'beat holy hell' out of her". The Associated Press. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  8. Silverman, Stephen M. (September 24, 2002). "Kitaen Files $12-Mil Lawsuit Against Ex". People.
  9. "Wife accepts Chuck Finley plea bargain". cbcsports. September 18, 2002.
  10. Faber, Judy (November 22, 2006). "Tawny Kitaen Faces Felony Drug Charges". CBS News. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
  11. "MSN | Outlook, Office, Skype, Bing, Breaking News, and Latest Videos". www.msn.com.
  12. Vyas, Sunil; 'Bachelor Party' actress Tawny Kitaen in cocaine possession row earthtimes.org; November 23, 2006
  13. Reuters; Tawny Kitaen enters drug rehab for cocaine msnbc; December 18, 2006
  14. Dinunno, Gina (September 28, 2009). "Actress Tawny Kitaen Arrested for DUI". TV Guide. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  15. Kalfus, Marilyn (4 November 2010). "Actress Tawny Kitaen sells homes at loss". The Orange County Register. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  16. "Lisa DiNapoli". santabarbara-online.com.
  17. "Lisa DiNapoli - Santa Barbara". February 23, 2015. Archived from the original on February 23, 2015.
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