Wendy Schaal (born July 2, 1954) is an American actress known for her work in Joe Dante films, such as Innerspace, The 'Burbs, and Small Soldiers. Her other film credits include starring in Where the Boys Are '84, Creature, Going Under, and Munchies. She had many roles on television series in the 1980s, most notably as Vicki Allen on It's a Living and Marilyn Kelsy on Airwolf. Since 2005, she has primarily worked in voice acting, most notably voicing Francine Smith on the animated comedy television series American Dad!

Early years Schaal was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Lois Schaal ( Treacy) and actor Richard Schaal. Schaal's father was married to actress Valerie Harper from 1964 to 1978, during which time Harper was her stepmother. From birth until she was five, Schaal lived with her parents in Crete, Illinois. She moved with her mother to Newport Beach, California after her parents divorced. Schaal studied acting with Viola Spolin in Chicago when she was nine years old, later moving to Wisconsin and then California when she was 11. When she was 14, a trip to New York to be with her father and Harper soon led her to California again when her father and stepmother chose to settle in Hollywood.

Schaal earned an Associate of Arts degree from Los Angeles City College, acting and working in set construction. After she attended an acting workshop led by her father, she began to work on television.

Career

Schaal's early work on television included roles on Fish, Little House on the Prairie, Phyllis, Rhoda, and Welcome Back, Kotter. In 1981, Schaal joined the cast of the ABC-TV series Fantasy Island, portraying Julie, the niece of the program's central character, Mr. Roarke. Her other roles on TV included Bonnie Hornback in AfterMASH, Debbie Pepper in Good Grief, Vickie Allen in It's a Living, and Liz Dooley in Nearly Departed. She also provides the voice of Francine Smith in the cartoon series American Dad!

Personal life Schaal was married to Stephen M. Schwartz on September 4, 1977, but divorced in October 1987. They have one son.

Union activism On March 30, 2012, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) completed a merger of equals forming a new union SAG-AFTRA. As a result of this merger, a group of actors including Schaal, fellow voice actors Michael Bell, Clancy Brown, Schaal's former stepmother Valerie Harper, and other actors including former SAG President Edward Asner, Martin Sheen, Ed Harris, and Nancy Sinatra immediately sued the incumbent SAG President Ken Howard and several SAG Vice Presidents to overturn the merger and separate the two unions because of their claims that the election was improper. The plaintiffs dropped their lawsuit several months later.

Filmography +Film Year Title Role Notes1976Bound for GloryMary Jo Guthrie1978Record CityLorraine1984Where the Boys Are '84Sandra Roxbury1985CreatureBeth Sladen1987MunchiesMarge Mavalle1987InnerspaceWendy1987Batteries Not IncludedPamela1989The 'BurbsBonnie Rumsfield1991Going UnderJan Michaels1994My Girl 2Emily Pommeroy 1995Out TherePaige1998Small SoldiersMarion Fimple2001Holiday in the SunJill2005Inside the CIAFrancine Smith (voice)Short film2006Loving AnnabelleSenator Tillman

+Television Year Title Role Notes1976Welcome Back, KotterGirl in HallwayEpisode: "Sadie Hawkins Day"1976RhodaJanRecurring role (2 episodes)1977FishPeggy DunnaganEpisode: "Fish's Job"1979FamilySarahEpisode: "Malicious Mischief"1979Little House on the PrairieChristie NortonEpisode: "Annabelle"1980–1981It's a LivingVicki AllenMain cast (13 episodes)1981–1982Fantasy IslandJulieMain cast (19 episodes)1982Strike ForceMandyEpisode: "Chinatown"1982Happy DaysLorraineEpisode: "Since I Don't Have You"1982–83The Love BoatElaine Hamilton / Millicent FinleyS6 E9 / S7 E141983AfterMASHBonnie HornbackRecurring role (5 episodes)1984Fatal VisionColette MacDonaldMiniseries1984Cover UpRebeccaEpisode: "Midnight Highway"1985Knight RiderJamie DownsEpisode: "The Nineteenth Hole"1985Finder of Lost LovesEmma TateEpisode: "Connections"1985The A-TeamKarenEpisode: "Lease with an Option to Die"1986MacGyverKaren BlakeEpisode: "Deathlock"1986AirwolfMarilyn KelsyEpisode: "Hawke's Run"1986Amazing StoriesSheenaEpisode: "Boo!"1987Gung HoKellyEpisode: "Love Me Tender"1987DuetElectraEpisode: "Satin Doll"1987My Two DadsChristineEpisode: "Sex, Judge, and Rock & Roll"1988Full HouseVivianEpisode: "Sisterly Love"1988Night CourtDianeEpisode: "Harry and the Tramp"1989Nearly DepartedLiz DooleyMain cast (6 episodes)1989Dear JohnLisaEpisode: "Sisters"1990–1991Good GriefDebbie LapidusMain cast (13 episodes)1992Northern ExposureTammy TamboEpisode: "My Mother, My Sister"1993Red Shoe Diaries'Lilac' BossEpisode: "Hotline"1994Runaway DaughtersMrs. Mildred CahnTelevision film1995Murder, She WroteZuleika BrownEpisodes: "Nan's Ghost: Parts 1 & 2"1995Hope and GloriaNurse NancyEpisode: "Money You Should Mention"1995The John Larroquette ShowBrendaEpisode: "An Odd Cup of Tea"1997FriendsJeannineEpisode: "The One with All the Jealousy" (as 'Wendy Schall')1997Star Trek: VoyagerCharleneEpisode: "Real Life"1997Fired UpSusanEpisode: "Are We Not Friends?"1998Beyond Belief: Fact or FictionMomEpisode: "The Woods"2000The X-FilesMartha CrittendonEpisode: "Chimera"2001Boston PublicMrs. Callie WebbEpisode: "Chapter 15"2001The HuntressHelena BarsamianEpisode: "Undercover"2001Six Feet UnderVicki DimasRecurring role (3 episodes)2002ProvidenceNancy NeimanEpisode: "Limbo"2002BoomtownDarlene BeechemEpisode: "The Freak"2005–presentAmerican Dad!Francine Smith (voice)Main cast 2013; 2017; 2018Family GuyFrancine Smith (voice)VariousEpisodes: "Bigfat", "The Peter Principal", "Con Heiress"2026The 'BurbsJudy2 episodes

+Video Games Year Title Role Notes2014Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff Francine Smith (voice)2022Warped Kart Racers Francine Smith (voice) Archived recordings

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