Melendy Britt (born Harriet Melendy; ) is an American actress. She is best known for her voice work in animation, particularly for voicing She-Ra in the 1985 animated series She-Ra: Princess of Power and for her extensive work in various Filmation productions. Britt has also appeared in live-action television and film roles, contributing to a diverse body of work throughout her career since the 1970s.
Early years Britt was born Harriet Melendy in North Carolina and moved to Texas with her family in 1949. Her mother remarried after a divorce from her merchant-mariner father. She gained early experience on children's television and began performing on stage when she was 12 years old. Venues included the Alley Theater and The Playhouse in Houston. While she was a student at Lamar High School in Houston, she appeared regularly on the program Teen Time Party on KPRC-TV. In the summer of 1961 she was one of a dozen apprentices who learned various aspects of theatrical production at the Alley Theatre in Houston. She graduated from Lamar in 1961.
Career Britt's most notable animated work is for Filmation, voicing characters such as She-Ra, and the second animated Batgirl (Jane Webb was the first). She also provided the voice for Penny, would-be love interest and aide to Plastic Man on The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show, which was produced by Ruby-Spears. She was also the voice of Kanna in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
On television Britt was seen in Then Came Bronson and The Psychiatrist. She also appeared in three different roles in three episodes of The Rockford Files, and on Cheers she played Kelly Gaines' mother, Roxanne Gaines, in the episode "Woody or Won't He". Her film credits include roles in Gray Lady Down (1978) and Being There (1979).
Britt portrayed an alcoholic mother in "Francesca, Baby", an episode of ABC Afterschool Special in October 1976.
Britt's work on stage included performing in the farce-comedy Once Over Nightly at the On Broadway theater in San Francisco. and in the musical comedy Bottoms Up '68 at the Hotel Sahara-Tahoe. Her work in Carnival at the Playhouse in Houston led a critic to write, "Harriet Melendy, as The Incomparable Rosalie, a jealous beauty with a troublesome liaison, is another solid hit — a definite wow in the show's funniest song, 'Here's to a Son', let us say."
Personal life She married singer Jimmy Britt, and they had two children.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1970The LawyerAnn Greer1978Gray Lady DownLiz Bennett1979Being ThereSophie1985The Secret of the SwordAdora/She-Ra, Catra, Hunga the HarpyVoiceGirls of the Moulin RougeNarratorDocumentary2015Hotel Transylvania 2Additional voices
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1970Then Came BronsonMarcia FordEpisode: "The Mountain"1971The InternsRoseEpisode: "Changes"Men at LawTina EdwardsEpisode: "Yesterday Is But a Dream"SargeCandy MillsEpisode: "Psst! Wanna Buy a Dirty Picture?"LongstreetLenore CrowleyEpisode: "The Girl with the Broom"1971–1972MannixVarious roles3 episodes1972The Brian Keith ShowClaire WellsEpisode: "Little Boy Flu"1973IronsideRona BartletEpisode: "A Special Person"1974KojakJoan MarlyEpisode: "Slay Ride"Police WomanMary KayEpisode: "Requiem for Bored Wives"1975They Only Come Out at NightMrs. OwensTelevision film1975–1977The Rockford FilesVarious roles3 episodes1976BronkBethEpisode: "Target: Unknown"FamilyMrs. RichardsonEpisode: "Monday Is Forever"The Tony Randall ShowMrs. JenkinsEpisode: "Pilot"ABC Afterschool SpecialVarious roles2 episodesStarsky & HutchJanice DrewEpisode: "The Specialist"1977The New Adventures of BatmanBarbara Gordon / Batgirl / CatwomanVoice, 16 episodes1978Barnaby JonesPhyllis HunterEpisode: "Deadly Sanctuary"The Love BoatGeorgina1 episode1978–1979Tarzan and the Super 7Batgirl / CatwomanVoice, 33 episodes1979–1980The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure ShowPenny / ChiefVoice, 19 episodes1979–1982The New Adventures of Flash GordonPrincess AuraVoice, 24 episodes1980Mother and Daughter: The Loving WarDinah DrakeTelevision filmThe Incredible HulkJoan SingerEpisode: "Deathmask"ReunionEvelyn HollanderTelevision filmA Snow White ChristmasWicked QueenVoice; television film1981TaxiJanineEpisode: "Jim Joins the Network"1981–1982ShannonPatty2 episodes1982Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of AllPrincess AuraVoice, television film1984Matt HoustonSheilaEpisode: "Stolen"1985The TransformersAlanaVoice, episode: "Sea Change"He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas SpecialAdora, She-Ra, Catra, Mermista, Castaspella, Octavia, Hunga, JewlestarVoice, television film1985–1987She-Ra: Princess of PowerVoice, 93 episodes1986Falcon CrestSkylar Kimball2 episodes1990CheersRoxanne GainesEpisode: "Woody or Won't He"1992Life Goes OnColette SwansonEpisode: "Corky's Romance"1993StarPriscilla BarclayTelevision film1994Weird ScienceMarcia Donnelly5 episodes2000Gilmore GirlsGloriaEpisode: "Kill Me Now"2001Jack & JillCecilia BarrettEpisode: "Caution: Parents Crossing"2003The Wild ThornberrysFoxVoice, episode: "Sir Nigel: Part 2"2005Avatar: The Last AirbenderKannaVoice, 2 episodesThe Young and the RestlessDr. Carlene Woods2 episodes2013Last Man StandingDoloresEpisode: "The Fight"2017Michael Jackson's HalloweenBerniceVoice; television film
References
External links Official site