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Erin Gray Biography
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When Erin Gray's parents divorced when she was eight, her mother decided to leave Hawaii and moved to California. In California, she then attended the Redwood High School and then later went to the Pacific Palisades High School, where she graduated. In 1965, when Erin was 15, she met by chance the head of one of the top modeling agencies, Nina Blanchard, who offered her a chance to go into modeling.
Soon enough, Erin Gray became one of the top models in the US. She also became the spokeswoman of several top cosmetics and fashion companies at that time. This included Bloomingdale’s, L’Oreal and Max Factor. While enjoying her career in modeling, she decided to pursue acting and moved with her family to Hollywood.
Erin Gray's first professional appearance as an actor was in the variety series Malibu U, where she was a dancer. This was followed by a starring role in Evening In Byzantium, a miniseries in 1978. Her successful portrayal led to Universal offering her a seven year contract which she gladly accepted. As part of the contract, she landed the role of Wilma Deering in the television show Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Her role as a female colonel was considered significant at that time.
Then, Erin Gray was next seen in the hit series Magnum P.I. She appeared in the first season in the episode J. Digger Doyle and played the character of Joy “Digger” Doyle, a security expert. Then in 1982, she landed the role of Kate Summer in the hit comedy series Silver Spoons. She stayed with Silver Spoons until 1987, when the show ended. In 1993, she was seen in the film Jason Goes to Hell and in the 9th Friday the 13th. In 1995, she auditioned for Star Trek: Voyager but she unfortunately did not get the part. In 2005, she was then seen in the movie, Siren.
Erin Gray was once married to her teenage sweetheart, Ken Schwartz. They got married in 1968 and had a son in 1976. Then after more than twenty years of being married, they divorced in 1990. She then married Richard Hissong, with whom she has a daughter named Samantha. In 1990, she wrote and published a book, Act Right. Aside from acting, she is busy teaching Tai Chi.