Dark-haired and petite American comic actress Cynthia Stevenson first made a name for herself appearing on various television shows during the 1980s. On television she was typically cast as flighty somewhat forgetful optimists. In 1990, Stevenson was the host of the unsuccessful syndicated My Talk Show, a parody of talk shows in which she interviewed unknown celebrities in her living room. The show only lasted three months and nearly led Stevenson to leave acting. Then Robert Altman cast her as Bonnie Sherow in The Player. After that she won the second lead in Bob, a television sitcom starring Bob Newhart. Despite favorable critical reviews, the show only briefly aired. More sporadic film and television work followed until 1995, when Stevenson's career finally took flight and she appeared in three major feature films, including Live Nude Girls. As icing on the cake, she also landed the role of Gloria on the television sitcom Hope & Gloria.
Cynthia Stevenson
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- Attended a summer camp run by her mother on Orcas Island in Washington state.
- Honed her acting skills at the American Conservatory Theatre and the Drama Studio London, both in the Bay Area.
- Considered leaving Hollywood to teach in Vancouver in the late '80s, only to be tabbed by Robert Altman for a role in The Player.
- Was named one of a dozen Promising New Actors of 1992 on the annual list in John Willis' Screen World.
- Cast as Bob Newhart's first-ever TV offspring in Bob.
- Met her husband on the set of The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag; he was an assistant director and she had a small part in the film.