Former child star Lauri Hendler made a rare public appearance in Los Angeles on Sunday as she ran errands with her husband. The 61-year-old actress looked unrecognizable during the outing in the city, which serves as the principal center of the American film and television industry.
Hendler cut a youthful figure during the weekend outing, wearing a pale blue denim dress over a long-sleeved pink shirt. She was accompanied by her husband, Steven Reizes, whom she tied the knot with in 1990.
The actress is rarely spotted in public as she goes about her daily life. The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Hendler for comment regarding her outing.
Breakout Role on Gimme A Break!
Hendler achieved her major career breakout in 1981 on the NBC sitcom Gimme A Break!, an American television comedy that aired for six seasons until 1987 on the broadcast network NBC. She starred during the first five seasons as Julie Kanisky Maxwell, the middle daughter of Police Chief Carl "Chief" Kanisky, played by actor Dolph Sweet.
The popular sitcom was led by Nell Carter, an acclaimed singer and actress who played a former singer agreeing to become Chief Kanisky's housekeeper and watch over his family as a favor to his dying wife. Hendler was featured in a classic cast photo alongside Carter, Sweet, Jonathan Silverman, Kari Michaelson, and Joey Lawrence.
Hendler's character Julie was written out of the show before its sixth and final season after marrying and getting pregnant during the fifth season. In the storyline, Julie, her new husband, and their daughter made a move to San Jose, a major city in Northern California's Silicon Valley, and were never seen again on screen. Hendler was also pictured during a public appearance in Beverly Hills in 1985 during the show's run.
Early Life and Childhood Acting Career
Hendler's entertainment career began when she was still a baby, modeling while less than a year old, according to Virginia's Daily Press newspaper. She was born in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, a major United States Army installation located in Fairfax County.
Hendler later relocated to California with her mother, who raised her alongside her two siblings. As an in-demand child star during the late 1970s, she appeared in screen projects including the 1979 television movie The Child Steeler, in which she starred alongside actress Tracey Gold.
After graduating from Beverly Hills High School in Southern California, Hendler returned to acting professionally as an adult while studying at the University of California, Los Angeles, a prominent public research university.
Television Guest Roles and Game Shows
Throughout her career, Hendler built an extensive list of credits across iconic television series. Her early guest roles included appearances on major shows such as CHiPs, Lou Grant, Three's Company, Magnum, P.I., and Mr. Belvedere.
During her stint on Gimme A Break!, Hendler starred opposite Michael J. Fox in the 1983 television movie High School USA. Fox went on to international stardom in the 1980s with Family Ties and Back to the Future.
Hendler also appeared on a bevy of television game shows throughout the 1980s, including popular guessing games The $25,000 Pyramid, The $100,000 Pyramid, and Super Password. She was also photographed attending an event at Universal Studios Hollywood in 1989.
Later Television Work and Recent Credits
Hendler never had a television success as big as Gimme A Break! after her time on the series ended. However, she continued to appear regularly in guest roles on series such as Harry And The Hendersons, Charmed, The West Wing, Becker, Without A Trace, and ER.
In recent years, Hendler has maintained a continuous presence on film and television. Her recent screen appearances include roles on hit shows such as Young Sheldon and The Goldbergs, as well as comedian Tim Robinson's critically acclaimed Netflix sketch-comedy series I Think You Should Leave.
