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Valerie Landsburg(I)

  • Actress
  • Director
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Valerie Landsburg in Fame (1982)
Although she has a very large body of work, with 35 years working as an actor, director and writer, most of the world knows Valerie as Doris Schwartz from the television series Fame. She became a globally recognized star in a role that moved deeply into the hearts of people young and old. She performed with her cast mates for the sold out reunion concert in Salsomaggiore Terme, Italy last December.

Having resided mostly on the other side of camera for the last twenty years Valerie is completing her indie feature Offer and Compromise, with Tom Cavanagh, Bellamy Young and Bailee Madison. Her short form film Trixie's Score was picked up by Shorts International..As a Writer/Director she penned Belters for Profile Films America, An Unexpected Gift for The Hallmark Channel and Norwegian Wood, a teen comedy for Kinetic Arts as well as directing the action-thriller Bound By Lies, with Kristie Swanson and Stephen Baldwin.

Her other work as an actor includes multiple roles as a television-series regular or a recurring role as well as multiple movies made for the small screen. She made her film debut in the disco classic TGIF. She appeared on Broadway in Neil Simon's I Ought To Be In Pictures, Off-Broadway in Surviving Grace and Woody Allen's The Floating Lightbulb. She is a long time improviser and performs yearly at the Groundlings Theater with various groups. Valerie has worked as an on set coach for both actors and directors.

She travels extensively teaching as an adjunct faculty member at UCLA, Rockport College and guest lecturer at the University Of Southern Maine, and the University of Central Florida. She created Master CLass for Euro Disney and has just joined the International faculty of The Asian Academy of Film and Television in New Delhi, India. She consults independent business professional both inside and outside the entertainment industry..

She lives in a 600 square foot loft on the coast of Maine, A photographer and singer-songwriter/musician with gold and platinum records for her work in Fame and is now preparing to record her second CD Firebrand. Grownup still sells worldwide.
BornAugust 12, 1958
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    • Agent info
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BornAugust 12, 1958
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    Known for

    Debbie Allen, Lee Curreri, Cynthia Gibb, Erica Gimpel, Bill Hufsey, Carlo Imperato, Valerie Landsburg, and Gene Anthony Ray in Fame (1982)
    Fame
    7.1
    TV Series
    • Doris Schwartz
    Jeff Goldblum, Lionel Richie, Hilary Beane, Andrea Howard, Valerie Landsburg, Mark Lonow, Terri Nunn, Chuck Sacci, Mews Small, Donna Summer, Chick Vennera, William King, Ronald La Pread, Thomas McClary, Walter Orange, Milan Williams, and The Commodores in Thank God It's Friday (1978)
    Thank God It's Friday
    5.5
    • Frannie
    • 1978
    Winona Ryder in Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990)
    Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael
    5.9
    • Miss Day Ashburn(as Valerie Landsberg)
    • 1990
    Dream On (1990)
    Dream On
    7.6
    TV Series
    • Gina Pedalbee

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actress



    • 26 Words (2019)
      26 Words
      TV Series
      • Boy
      • 2019
    • Ally Sheedy, Sean Patrick Flanery, Meat Loaf, and Nia Peeples in Citizen Jane (2009)
      Citizen Jane
      5.6
      TV Movie
      • Sheryl Jackman
      • 2009
    • Cybill Shepherd in Mrs. Washington Goes to Smith (2009)
      Mrs. Washington Goes to Smith
      5.4
      TV Movie
      • Noreen
      • 2009
    • The Cleaner (2008)
      The Cleaner
      7.1
      TV Series
      • Casting Director
      • 2008
    • Luke Perry, Jason Gedrick, Jaclyn DeSantis, Jon Foster, Lana Parrilla, Malinda Williams, Sarah Wynter, D.J. Cotrona, and Alice Greczyn in Windfall (2006)
      Windfall
      6.0
      TV Series
      • Sean's Lawyer
      • 2006
    • The Unit (2006)
      The Unit
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Marge
      • 2006
    • Julian McMahon and Dylan Walsh in Nip/Tuck (2003)
      Nip/Tuck
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Marian Berg
      • 2005
    • American Dreams (2002)
      American Dreams
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Sister Natalie
      • 2004–2005
    • Columbo: Columbo Likes the Nightlife (2003)
      Columbo: Columbo Likes the Nightlife
      7.1
      TV Movie
      • Inquisitor Editor
      • 2003
    • Mark Wahlberg in Rock Star (2001)
      Rock Star
      6.3
      • Concert After-Party Guest (uncredited)
      • 2001
    • Scott Baio, Kelly Preston, and Nicole Sullivan in Bar Hopping (2000)
      Bar Hopping
      3.8
      TV Movie
      • Agent #4
      • 2000
    • Beau Bridges, Charlotte Ross, Colin Cunningham, Brian Kerwin, Sherri Saum, and Tuc Watkins in Beggars and Choosers (1999)
      Beggars and Choosers
      7.9
      TV Series
      • Dr. Jocelyn Felt
      • 2000
    • Dream On (1990)
      Dream On
      7.6
      TV Series
      • Gina Pedalbee
      • 1992–1995
    • Dinah Manoff, Kristy McNichol, David Leisure, Richard Mulligan, and Park Overall in Empty Nest (1988)
      Empty Nest
      6.6
      TV Series
      • Valerie
      • 1995
    • Martin Sheen and Lori Loughlin in One of Her Own (1994)
      One of Her Own
      6.1
      TV Movie
      • Stacy Schoep
      • 1994

    Director



    • Tom Cavanagh, Yeardley Smith, Brynn Thayer, Bellamy Young, Bailee Madison, Casey Abrams, Lillian Ellen Jones, and Maël Fergio in Love & Debt (2019)
      Love & Debt
      5.3
      • Director
      • 2019
    • Trixie's Score (2012)
      Trixie's Score
      8.1
      Short
      • Director
      • 2012
    • Bound by Lies (2005)
      Bound by Lies
      3.8
      Video
      • Director
      • 2005
    • Devinn Lane, Jacy Andrews, Christopher John Kapanke, Cassie Townsend, Candace Washington, and Tom Walken in 7 Lives Xposed (2001)
      7 Lives Xposed
      6.4
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2002–2003
    • The Best Sex Ever (2002)
      The Best Sex Ever
      6.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2002
    • Maria Conchita Alonso in Women: Stories of Passion (1996)
      Women: Stories of Passion
      6.2
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 1996–1999
    • Drawn to the Flame (1997)
      Drawn to the Flame
      4.2
      • Director
      • 1997
    • Michelle Agnew and Glen Hill in Borrowed Life Stolen Love (1997)
      Borrowed Life Stolen Love
      6.3
      • Director
      • 1997
    • Debbie Allen, Lee Curreri, Cynthia Gibb, Erica Gimpel, Bill Hufsey, Carlo Imperato, Valerie Landsburg, and Gene Anthony Ray in Fame (1982)
      Fame
      7.1
      TV Series
      • Director (as Valerie Landsburg McVay)
      • 1985

    Writer



    • Maria Conchita Alonso in Women: Stories of Passion (1996)
      Women: Stories of Passion
      6.2
      TV Series
      • writer
      • teleplay
      • 1997–1999
    • Drawn to the Flame (1997)
      Drawn to the Flame
      4.2
      • Writer
      • 1997
    • Dinah Manoff, Kristy McNichol, David Leisure, Richard Mulligan, and Park Overall in Empty Nest (1988)
      Empty Nest
      6.6
      TV Series
      • written by
      • 1995
    • Debbie Allen, Lee Curreri, Cynthia Gibb, Erica Gimpel, Bill Hufsey, Carlo Imperato, Valerie Landsburg, and Gene Anthony Ray in Fame (1982)
      Fame
      7.1
      TV Series
      • written by
      • 1984

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Office Actor Site
      • Official Site
    • Alternative names
      • Valerie Landsberg
    • Height
      • 5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
    • Born
      • August 12, 1958
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Spouse
      • James McVayDecember 1, 1984 - ? (divorced, 2 children)
    • Children
        Taylor McVay
    • Parents
        Sally Landsburg
    • Relatives
        Shana Landsburg(Sibling)
    • Other works
      (Summer 1978) She played Abby Kingsley in Bob Fisher and Arthur Marx's play, "The Impossible Years," in a Kenley Players production at the Veterans Memorial Theatre in Columbus; Memorial Hall in Dayton and in Akron, Ohio with Paul Lynde (Dr. Jack Kingsley); Elizabeth Allen (Alice Kingsley); Darleen Valentine (Linda Kingsley); Scott Stevenson (Richard Merrick); Lawrence Vincent (Arnold Brechner); Charles Caron (Dr. Harold Fleisher); Schorling Schneider (Dennis);Diane Gibbons (Miss Hammer); Dan Denoi (Smuts); Will Kinghorn (Andy); Dour O'Rear (Ricky); Brenda Cibelli (Francine) and Paul Gerstenfeld (Wally) in the cast. Leslie B. Cutler was director. Phillip Louis Rodzen was scenic production designer. George Salisbury was production stage manager. Joe Vispi was associate producer. John Kenley was artistic director.
    • Publicity listings
      • 2 Articles
      • 2 Magazine Cover Photos

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Beat Madonna for the role of Doris Schwartz in Fame (1982) at the final auditions.

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